Re: [Dvr-devel]need recommendations for a dvr solution

[scott f. <sc...@bi...>]

On Wed, 30 Jan 2002, Mike Hull wrote:

> Sorry for the cross posting, I'm not getting any responses.
>  
> I'm building myself a digital video recorder computer. I want to be able
> to encode divx 4.12 or whatever the latest codec is and play it all
> realtime. I'm going to build one unit and if i like it I'm going to set
> them up on all the TVs in my house. I already have an above average
> collection of Divx Movies (131) and MP3 music (21951). I really want to
> add TV shows to my collection. And I'd like to be able to control
> everything through my TV and remote. 
> 
> What I want: 
> 1) Realtime Divx Encoding @ full frames and full resolution (Mp3 audio) 
> 2) Divx Playback 
> 3) MPEG2 Playback including DVD 
> 4) MP3 playback 
> 5) IR Remote Control 
> 
> What I need to know: 
> 1) What kind of hardware would you recommend? 
> a. Motherboard 
> b. CPU (I prefer Intel products) 

I'd say the fastest you can afford. I'd go for at least 1400MHz (AMD or 
INTEL)

> c. RAM

Again, as much as you can afford. Using DDR instead of SDRAM will help 
with thruput. I think there are intel DDR boards available now. 
 
> d. Video input/output 

I'm using a flyvideo card ($99AUD) without any dramas. Cant comment on 
video out though, as i haven't got that far yet.

> e. I have storage - my raid 0 of 60 gigs x 8 will be enough space - It
> will be through smb however I read at near 100 mbit and write at about
> 93 mbit (will this be good enough) 
> 2) What kind of software? 
> a. Is this Digtal Video Recorder software capable of doing this? I'd
> really like to use linux 

DVR should be fine for recording, i'm not sure how it goes for timed 
recording though. The interface currently doesn't lend itself to 'record 
2hours at 9pm'

Alternatively you could using something like ffmpeg to capture to divx and
piece together your own interface for controlling it.

Check out the kDVR project. It's based around euro DTV-B cards, but the 
ideas might help out.

> b. A lot of video cards with caputer and video out come with thier own
> dvr software, but for windows.

Depends on the chipset. If it's zoran or BTTV then you shouldn't have too 
many dramas.
 
> c. Remote control software? 

check out lirc

> d. GUI TV interface of somekind? 

Hmm .. not sure. Perhaps one of the twinview nvidia cards. One head can be 
a monitor and the other head a TV. X can then be configured to treat the 
two as one display.

> 
> I want to keep the cost under $1000, but if I can't it doesn't really
> matter. I work at a computer/networking shop so I get stuff at or just
> below the price you see stuff on pricewatch for. 
> 
> Thanks,
> Mike Hull
> 

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sc...@bi...