HTPC Bandwidth Question on Accessing Content Via Network

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jeffesonm

n00b
Joined
Apr 25, 2006
Messages
11
Okay, so here's my setup:

Server
P4, 1.7 Ghz
512 RDRAM
40GB IDE HDD for O/S
2x300GB 7200 RPM SATA HDDs for content (RAID 0)
PVR-150
LAN cable to router.

Client 1
P4, 1.5 Ghz
256 RDRAM
40GB IDE HDD for O/S
G-wireless

Client 2
Dell laptop (no details, roommate's computer)
G-wireless

What activities will I be able to support concurrently with this setup? i.e. can I watch a pre-recorded show through Client 1, while Client 2 plays music, while Server records another show? What, if any, will be the practical limiting bandwidth factors in this configuration? I should also mention that this is all using SDTV.
 
Since you only have one tuner you'll only be able to record/watch on channel on any of the systems, just so you know. The situation you descirbed should be possible.
 
Sorry, that was a little vague.

The plan is to put Client 1 in the living room, hooked up to a 32" SDTV via s-video, and access pre-recorded shows stored on Server 1 through the network. I'll also have a regular cable box connected for watching live TV.

Server 1 will just hang out in my bedroom, record TV shows, and serve up TV/movies/MP3s. From what I've read it doesn't seem like the network will be a limiting factor, so I'm most worried about the capacity of this machine. Would it have the bandwidth to record a show while streaming TV to Client 1 and music to Client 2? I guess I don't know what the key factors to consider are.

I know the PVR has hardware encoding so CPU usage is very low while recording TV. What does that leave? Some bus speed? HDD speed? RAID controller? (model POS-$20)
 
Man for your usage, you should just get a modded XBOX as your second machine. Using XBOX media center, you can do everything you want with no issues.

Just a different option that would work really well.
 
That leaves nothing really, the machine is only recording content. It is not rendering or playing that content so I don't see what the problem could/would be with the system.
 
I was worried about read/write contention on the HHDs, but I guess it's safe to say this won't be a problem. :) Thanks for the input.

As for the setup itself... apart from the PVR-150, the two 300GB drives, and about $75 of misc parts, this was all put together from spare stuff lying around.
 
i have a setup pretty much like yours, but the pc with the tv tuner is not the server. but even tho my wireless runs at only 11mbps a lot of the time (so my kid can play on line with his nin ds) i can record live tv from the client to the server, and watch recorded content or live tv on the client also (i have 2 tuners). but if you get an xbox 360, a lot of this stuff is run on media extender. being able to leave a pc out of the network is a plus. no pc probs, hangs, bsod, virus, booting probs, updates, heat, noise. while the 360 is a little toasty, it is quiet and much simpler to set up than a mc pc. prob cheaper, too. and i hear you can play games on it.
 
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