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Parker Clack · 03-17-2008, 05:27 PM

If you want to continue to use Windows for your PVR you are going to have to have a Media Center Edition version of the software. There are some great third party programs out there, in particular Power DVD that does Hi Def.

I have an older HTPC that has an AMD Athlon 64 3200+, Socket 939 mobo with a gig of RAM and it records my SDTV great. I am not sure what you need at a minimum for recording HDM though.

I just picked up a Gateway HTPC that has a quad core AMD chipset with 3 gig of RAM, a terabyte of HD space and a Blu-ray/HD DVD combo drive. I got it all for around $1,000 which as far as I know is the cheapest HTPC out there with a combo HD drive.

Once you go to an HTPC for your PVR you will never go back to using a service like Tivo where you have to pay for the EPG again. Take the $100/month you have been spending and put it towards a new PC that you know will have the necessary software, horsepower, etc.

Parker

03-17-2008, 05:27 PM	#2 of 22
Parker Clack *Parker Clack* Owner Location: KC MO Join Date: Jul 1997 Local Time: 05:41 AM Local Date: 10-13-2008 Posts: 38,707	Re: Possible to build HD HTPC on the cheap? If you want to continue to use Windows for your PVR you are going to have to have a Media Center Edition version of the software. There are some great third party programs out there, in particular Power DVD that does Hi Def. I have an older HTPC that has an AMD Athlon 64 3200+, Socket 939 mobo with a gig of RAM and it records my SDTV great. I am not sure what you need at a minimum for recording HDM though. I just picked up a Gateway HTPC that has a quad core AMD chipset with 3 gig of RAM, a terabyte of HD space and a Blu-ray/HD DVD combo drive. I got it all for around $1,000 which as far as I know is the cheapest HTPC out there with a combo HD drive. Once you go to an HTPC for your PVR you will never go back to using a service like Tivo where you have to pay for the EPG again. Take the $100/month you have been spending and put it towards a new PC that you know will have the necessary software, horsepower, etc. Parker