How much CPU and memory truly needed for InfiniTV4?

[brennok]

I couldn’t pass up the Newegg Business deal so I grabbed the Ceton InfiniTV4 for $219. Now I need to figure out a plan to use it.

I am tempted to put it in my main PC until I figure out a plan for my next build, which will be another post once I do some research.

I am concerned though that I may have issues with streaming to other rooms or recording since the PC may be doing other things at the same time. It is a i7-860, Gigabyte Ga-P55-UD4P, with 8gb of DDR3 1600. I would probably use a 1TB WD Black drive depending on what I can shuffle around to free a drive up.

 

[mikinho]

Do you plan to use it a network tuner using bridging for Live TV or record locally?

Depending on your usage a much bigger concern will be with your Realtek 8111D network cards.

[brennok]

My plan is to record locally. Even when I build a HTPC it will be for local recording only.

 

 

[mikinho]

[quote=brennok]

My plan is to record locally. Even when I build a HTPC it will be for local recording only.

[/quote]

OK, then you really shoudn’t have any issue unless you are pegging the CPU.  I do recommend have a dedicated drive for recording to prevent any I/O bottleneck but otherwise there is very little RAM or CPU requirements for a modern system.

[brennok]

Ok cool, thanks. Now to start researching potential builds.

[mikinho]

My biggest suggestion, and one I’m sure people are sick of hearing, get a board with an on-board Intel network card.

[brennok]

Assuming I go with something like the i5-2500, any boards you would recommend? I find myself going with Gigabyte lately since I have always had good luck with them, but open to other ideas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[swoon]

I have used Gigabyte P35, H55 and 790X boards and in the past bought into their “value”. For the Sandy Bridge gen, I decided to try Intel boards and have recently built 3 DH67BL boards (1 i3-2100 and 2 i5-2500k). I couldn’t be more pleased with the quality of the boards and utilities.

Gigabyte boards (and many other 3rd parties) use Realtek NICs. They are “OK” for a client, but they really aren’t that great. One of my Gigabyte boards even had Realtek silicon that caused all offloads to be incorrect. When I used an HDHomeRun, I had to buy an Intel NIC to make it work perfectly without incurring network losses.

Both my Gigabyte P35 and 790X boards also had issues with not resuming from sleep properly 100% of the time.

Intel boards have great BIOS features and boot much quicker. As a bonus, the BIOS can be configured to not display a splash such that all you see is the Windows splash when booting which is much more CE-like experience.

The management utilities and driver package are more professional and relevant.

DH67BL or DH67GD would both be good choices for micro-ATX boards.

[brennok]

Cool I will check those out. I have had Intel in the past and don’t remember having issues. I think I just found a good deal on a Gigabyte board and just have stuck with them since. I think my last Intel board was the 975BX2 also known as the Bad Axe 2. It is probably still around here somewhere.

[PLUCKYHD]

I have been there and use to buy gigabyte boards they make great boards if you are overclocking and such, but for htpc intel really is the best with an intel processor. The nic card alone is reason enough.

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