Need Help wasn't sure where to go.

[flotsam]

I know this isn't really the place but i couldn't figure out where to ask for help at.

Ok my DirecTV Tivo is slowly dying each day. So here is what i want to do but i need some help in a general direction. I want to build my own DVR but the catch is i want to be able to play PC games on the same PC at the same time i would be recording something. I have knowledge of how to build a PC, but lacking there on what options to go with inorder to make this monster work.

I know what requirments i need to make my PC games work. what i dont know is what all i need to make the DVR work. I know video capture card is needed. Shoudl i get two HD's one for video content and the other for OS and games?

Are there any recommendatoins for video card, capture cards, proc, hd, is onboard sound ok, etc.

This DVR/game system woudl be plugging into a 30' LCD with just the tv speakers only. No real big thing here just would like to have the option of playing on my computer or my TV.

Thanks for the help.

[HiDefGator]

Why would you want to build your own dvr? DirecTV will upgrade you to the new HR20 for a fraction of the cost of building your own. If you ask nice enough they might do it for free. If you build your own it won't be any better than the HR20.

[flotsam]

Because i can play games and DVR from one Box allow me to burn them to DVD and what not.

[classicsat]

I wouldn't reccomend it.

But with dual CPUs, separate HDD and audio board, it might be doable.

[macflauaus]

Dual CPUs? Are you serious????

If you are wanting two HD video cards, I believe AverMedia (??) make some good cards. ATI supposedly works well with HD, but it alone doesn't come with HD software. Honestly, I would look around like CNet Reviews and Tom's Hardware and see what the reviews say.

For video cards, what ever the best you can afford.

I currently use SageTV on a 1.2GHz Celeron system, 512MB, PCI Video Card, and around 60GB of storage. That's it. It runs okay for the most part but am looking into buying a three-year TiVo.

Also, if you want HD through DirecTV, you are SOL with an HD DVR on your PC. There is no way to, legally, decode the satellite signal on your PC.

[JJ]

Pfft...
Buy a CPU/RAM for games you expect to play, that will be fine for most any HDTV load except, while recording you may not want to be actively gaming. Confim that your video card is MCE compliant before getting too far into the process of going HTPC.

Avermedia A180 is a fine card for dual use. You may want to check other forums (like AVSforum.com) to determine if OTA multipath issues are common in your area, A180 is notorious for problems related to multipath signals. I now have 4 systems with dual A180s, and my bride prefers them to TiVo after a short learning curve. Get a SD tuner for DirecTV input (S-Video) and a Microsoft remote/receiver because it has IR blaster ports to control up to 2 external devices and you will probably truly enjoy a Media Center experience...