Learn how to turn an old computer into a DVR (Kim Komando article)

[Fringe Reception]

Kiss your monthly DVR subscription goodbye - Kim

* Pages 2 and 3 of the article cover the topic.

 

[JoeM]

Finally a practical use for those old pc's that accumulate dust . I've just been taking them apart and teaching my son about the inner workings, but this would be a fun project to try for sure!

 

[Piggie]

They don't say how fast a processor you need if the computer is running XP that I found. I have seen there is a break point for HD video where 2GHz is barely enough. More input on this is needed.

 

[Aaron62]

They don't say how fast a processor you need if the computer is running XP that I found. I have seen there is a break point for HD video where 2GHz is barely enough. More input on this is needed.

Yeah, most of the video cards/TV tuner cards I see these days call for a mildly fast processor.

 

[Orrymain]

I have no talent for any mechanical or electronic conversion. I admire you folks who do.

 

[scandiskwindows9x]

finally something to do with my older Pentium 4, 1.7GHZ,

lol

 

[Jason Groff]

You can use Boxee, which can be used underlinux for Low resouce use, and the only time you need a high end graphics card is if you are running a bluray player, and you have the need for the HDCP handshake for the content, including the HDMI connector, but adapters can be found for taking DVI-D to HDMI. Most of the time if you need not transcode, and are just streaming wysiwyg, you should be just fine.

 

[Jason Groff]

Here's the link

ttp://www.boxee.tv/make

 

[Jason Groff]

You can use Boxee, which can be used underlinux for Low resouce use, and the only time you need a high end graphics card is if you are running a bluray player, and you have the need for the HDCP handshake for the content, including the HDMI connector, but adapters can be found for taking DVI-D to HDMI. Most of the time if you need not transcode, and are just streaming wysiwyg, you should be just fine.

I need to add, this doesn't replace the need of the DVR, but it's streams practically anything you want. So you can usually log on to the network you want to watch, and just stream it from them nbc, WB, etc... Otherwise Centon makes one of thee best DVR replacement cards on the market, but then again you run into processing, and other resource requirments.

 

[MrPogi]

If your computer is older, make sure you buy a TV tuner that won't be a drain on your resources. Internal tuners tend to be a lot less taxing on older processors than USB tuners.