TC vs Weaknees S3 question [Text View]

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tripmaster

11-05-2006, 02:17 PM

geekmedic

11-05-2006, 03:13 PM

What is TC - Tivo Community Store? Does anyone know when Weaknees will have the Seagate DB35?

tripmaster

11-05-2006, 03:15 PM

Yes that's what I meant!

SCSIRAID

11-05-2006, 03:27 PM

I want to buy a S3 upgrade drive, and a S3. Questions:

1. I assume that if I buy the weaknees SKU, it comes with a 750gb and the orig 250gb drive?

2. Does the TC store drive have the same 'quiet mod' as weaknees?

3. Is there a similar promo weaknees is running to the TC 15% coupon?

On #1... If you buy a Weaknees S3 then it would have a single 750G drive in it. They 'keep' the original 250. It doesnt appear that there is any room or connector for a second internal drive.

As to the TC store... who IS the TC Store anyway. It could very well be a Weaknees supplied drive... or not....

supasta

11-05-2006, 03:27 PM

2. Does the TC store drive have the same 'quiet mod' as weaknees?
Not that I am aware of.
3. Is there a similar promo weaknees is running to the TC 15% coupon?
No.

Upgrade products in the TC Store are provided by PTVUpgrade.com IIRC.

If you buy an S3 already pre-upgraded it will come with the upgraded drive already installed. You will not get the factory 250 drive with it. They keep it.

tripmaster

11-05-2006, 04:25 PM

I've decided to buy the upgrade drive via Weaknees and use the google discount, and the S3 from TC and use the TCSALE promo... best of both worlds, spread the love around AND keep the orig 250GB HD in case of future disaster. Both have free shipping too. And saves me the hassle of going back to parents house where my spare PC is stashed to do the upgrade. These SFF PCs are a bit of a pain to use for TiVo upgrading.

srothkin

11-07-2006, 09:35 PM

You might be better off just buying the upgrade unit from TC. This way you get TC's warranty on the upgraded unit (to replace the voided Tivo warranty). If you buy the S3 from TC and the drive from weaknees and you later have a problem, you'd have to figure out whether it was a drive or main unit problem and send the appropriate parts to the appropriate vendor.

I got the 750gig unit from TC. With the living room silent, I generally can't hear the drive unless I walk right next to it (and then only if it's busy indexing or something). From across the room where I sit, it's completely inaudible.

Jerry_K

11-08-2006, 10:54 AM

There are upgrade drives available on eBay for the S3 as well.

ashu

11-08-2006, 08:41 PM

Yeah, but for less or same $$$, you would own 'your' original 250GB drive in case of emergencies/issues and as a test-case for 750GB drive failure ;)

I like how you think (tripmaster) ... this may well be the optimal solution for those who can plug in a drive, but don't necessarily want to do the MFS upgrade themselves.

(protect me from the droves who will pounce upon me for not mentioing the CHEAPEST self-upgrade option ;) )

Jerry_K

11-08-2006, 08:55 PM

Pounce

tripmaster

11-11-2006, 07:45 PM

Well, I did the TC Store for the S3, and Weaknees for the drive. Dropped the drive in, and everything went smoothly. Worried when it looked like the TiVo powered down after the start screen, but I think it was just initializing itself.

Waiting for cablecard guy Tuesday.

Only hiccup - the HDMI (and tried Optical too) into my receiver doesnt seem to have audio... I think it's a problem with the receiver settings (Denon AV4306 - horrible UI) so Im gonna call Denon CS Mon or Tues. But the RCA audio out works, so I have a fallback.

Yeah, but for less or same $$$, you would own 'your' original 250GB drive in case of emergencies/issues and as a test-case for 750GB drive failure ;)

I like how you think (tripmaster) ... this may well be the optimal solution for those who can plug in a drive, but don't necessarily want to do the MFS upgrade themselves.

(protect me from the droves who will pounce upon me for not mentioing the CHEAPEST self-upgrade option ;) )

ThreeSoFar

11-11-2006, 10:58 PM

I sent the 500G upgrade I bought from TCF back. It was way too loud.

phox_mulder

11-12-2006, 12:08 AM

I did the TCstore stock S3 and the 500gb Weaknees drive and couldn't be happier.

Quiet as quiet can be, and I have the stock 250gb drive set aside in case the 500gb should ever have problems.

phox

Jerry_K

11-12-2006, 12:49 AM

Tripmaster,

Do you have your denon set up to see the on screen menu easily? I ran a separate SVideo line from my Denon 2307 to an input on the TV just to use the Denon setup. The setup screen can only be output by the receiver in 480i. Whatever that is all about. If you do that, you can assign any of the audio inputs to the video inputs. I had to assign HDMI as audio the the HDMI1 input on the receiver to get my HD DVD audio over HDMI. Once that was done it is very very nice.

If you are connecting your S3 to a HDMI input on the Denon be sure to set that HDMI input up to receive the audio over HDMI as well.

tripmaster

11-12-2006, 01:40 AM

I had to cycle through the inputs via the remote -- went to Analog, Ext In, Auto.

Auto found the audio input. I couldnt do this via OSD though.

The new Sony AV receivers have a PSP-like interface. Man, I wish Denon had a better UI. It's coming but too late to help me!

tripmaster

11-12-2006, 01:41 AM

Let me add that the 750gb Weaknees drive seems pretty quiet to me as well.

RandyDtg

12-12-2006, 08:17 PM

I got my S3 750 gig from TCF. The hard drive seek noise is loud enough to interfere with watching TV. It can even be heard from the bedrooms at night. Turning the TV volume up helps until quieter scenes.
Any suggestions would be appreciated, I am hoping to hear a fix from TCF.

Foam padding ??? Plexiglass enclosure ????

ThreeSoFar

12-12-2006, 09:47 PM

RandyDtg

12-14-2006, 11:14 AM

So far they say loud is not a defect. I am praying for help.

VanGoghLikesTivo

12-14-2006, 12:32 PM

So far they say loud is not a defect. I am praying for help.

Return the drive for a refund.