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moving soon
Citizen
Username: Movingsoon
Post Number: 41
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2005 - 11:09 pm: |     |
Time for a new desktop computer, so I bought an HP Pavilion a1210n that said "Media Center PC" on it and came with XP Media Center.
But a little note in the box says that it can't support adding a TV tuner card (which I assumed it could when I bought it).
My main use is for work--word processing, internet, nothing too taxing. But I had fantasies of using it as a PVR (since I love my tivo but can't justify buying another one!)
A couple of questions:
1. any way to use this PC to play/record tv without the tuner card?
2. anyone using their pc as a pvr? is it working out, or is it not quite there yet in terms of user-friendliness?
I'm trying to figure out if I should return this for a true media center PC with tuner, or just plug the thing in and get to work... |
Mayor McCheese
Supporter
Username: Mayor_mccheese
Post Number: 658
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 12:34 am: | |
Moving, I don't know why the box would say that. I looked up the spec on the computer, and you should have 2 open PCI slots on the computer if you just bought it and didn't put any other new hardware on the system yet.
I can think of no reason why the computer would not be able to support a TV tuner card. |
Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 693
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 9:33 am: | |
If you can return it, you probably should. You'd want to try and get a video card (from ATI) that integrates the tuner.
If you can't return it, or just don't want to, PM me and we'll discuss some options. The only reason I can think of that for that odd note is that the existing video is onboard and incompatible with a Tuner card.... but then again, I've purchased tuner cards separately in the past and they work fine.
Let me know!
PS - for your intended purpose, a big hard drive is important. Just FYI, you can buy high quality 250GB hard drives for around $110. |
moving soon
Citizen
Username: Movingsoon
Post Number: 43
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 10:38 am: | |
Mayor & Case--
Thanks for your responses. I haven't owned a desktop for over 10 years, so I'm not conversant in the world of upgrades.
When I called HP, the tech guy said that the issue was with the motherboard not being able to handle a video card.
Case, I'll PM you per your suggestion. |
Politicalmon
Citizen
Username: Politicalmon
Post Number: 30
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 11:42 am: | |
I believe the issue concerns the PCI buss. The buss is based on a new technology called "PCI-Express". I don't believe there are any TV-tuner boards on the market that are compatable with this technology - see the primer at http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/hardware/pcie.ars/1. This new technology will eventually allow for quicker throughput on a pc-express enabled motherbord when it's related to video. This is good information since I was about to purchase the HD-TV tuner card, a High gain UHF attenna (since this is where the networks broadcast High Definition content) to record HD movies to my RAID 10 hard drive array. This changes everything.
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JMF
Citizen
Username: Jmf
Post Number: 164
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 11:59 am: | |
Politicalmon,
There are PCI-x TV tuner cards available now.
That article you mentioned was about a year and a half old.
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moving soon
Citizen
Username: Movingsoon
Post Number: 44
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 1:17 pm: | |
I tried HP cust serv again. This time they suggested a USB tv tuner card. Is there such a thing? Does this sound like a viable idea? |
Mayor McCheese
Supporter
Username: Mayor_mccheese
Post Number: 659
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 1:37 pm: | |
There certaintly are USB TV cards.
http://www.hauppauge.com/html/usb_data.htm |
Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 698
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 1:43 pm: | |
Yeah, they exist and they're not bad. How much did you pay for this thing, and is it returnable without cost to you? |
Politicalmon
Citizen
Username: Politicalmon
Post Number: 31
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 2:16 pm: | |
JMF,
Time for you to put your head on straight. PCI-x refers to PCI Extended not PCI Express.
The HP in question uses PCI-Express. }Regardless of how old the article is if you read it completly you may become enlightened.
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JMF
Citizen
Username: Jmf
Post Number: 165
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 2:40 pm: | |
Sorry, I know that. I just made a mistake.
My video card is PCI-x.
Still wrong though.
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=AA39580 |
Politicalmon
Citizen
Username: Politicalmon
Post Number: 33
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 2:59 pm: | |
The product you are talking about was released this month. The HP computer was manufactured when there were no PCIe based tuners available. This is probably why the disclaimer was in the box. What are the odds that the average homeowner would find a compatable product when all TV tuners were incompatable at the time the computer was manufactured. Let alone 99% of the TV tuners are currently incompatible? Perhaps the disclaimer should have read, "Make sure you purchase a PCIe TV tuner with this product" - I would be very surprised if this product did not work with the system unit in question. For $89 it's worth a shot, this is the only company that is actually mass producing a PCIe based TV tuner - I personally would wait for the HDTV version and Blue laser DVD burner. |
moving soon
Citizen
Username: Movingsoon
Post Number: 45
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 4:59 pm: | |
Politicalmon--
Thanks for the responses. The computer has both PCI and PCIe slots, according to the specs. The issue with the PCI card was related to the motherboard, HP told me. Does the "e" part change the equation? |
JMF
Citizen
Username: Jmf
Post Number: 166
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 5:06 pm: | |
moving soon, I don't quite understand the "issue" with your PCI slots.
If they are there, they should work.
The guy you were speaking with most likely made the mistake of thinking you needed an AGP slot.
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moving soon
Citizen
Username: Movingsoon
Post Number: 47
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 5:29 pm: | |
JMF--
According to HP, the issue isn't with the slots; it's with the motherboard. Three different techs have now told me that the motherboard does not support a video card. Here's my lastest chat with them:
MS: I have a 1210n desktop, just bought it. I was told that I can't hook up a PCI tv tuner card.
Oliver P: Okay.
MS: However, I have been told that there are now new PCIe (express) tv tuner cards available. can I use this with my computer?
Oliver P: I would like to inform you that I see that you can install the TV tunner card inyour computer but it may not support your computer it could be due to compatible issue. Even HP don't have any control on them if that doesn't work. So, the reason our previous agent earlier mentioned you that you cannot hook TV tunner card to your computer.
Even if you are using PCI or PCI Express slot for Tv tunner card it may incompatible.
MS: okay. but USB tuner is okay? that's what prior tech said...
Oliver P: Yes, you can use external TV tunner card.
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JMF
Citizen
Username: Jmf
Post Number: 167
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 7:13 pm: | |
Yeah, that just doesn't make sence.
If you have a PCIe slot, it would work as long as windows supports it.
Maybe HP just doesn't support TV cards?
Maybe there might be a problem with the onboard video?
In any case, the card would work. Worst case, it may need some tweaking, best case and it will work fine. |
Mayor McCheese
Supporter
Username: Mayor_mccheese
Post Number: 664
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, November 19, 2005 - 3:12 am: | |
I say go for it. If you buy a card and it doesn't work you can always return it. |
Camnol
Citizen
Username: Camnol
Post Number: 161
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, November 19, 2005 - 9:36 am: | |
Moving Soon,
The HP rep isn't saying that it can't be done, he/she is just saying that they aren't responsible--they aren't going to help you if you run into problems.
Give it a shot. You may have to go into bios and disable the integrated graphics.
I'm not a fan of HP/Compaq computers. I got so disgusted with all the proprietary equipement on off-the-shelf computers that I built my own this last go around. It's been the best, most stable computer I've ever owned and it was really easy to build. And best of all, if something breaks, I can easily replace it. I don't have to wait for a proprietary part to be shipped to me.
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Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 708
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, November 19, 2005 - 10:04 am: | |
Why not buy a PC with the proper video right from the start? An onboard video card is not going to have the 'legs' for TV... just a thought. |
Albatross
Citizen
Username: Albatross
Post Number: 771
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, November 19, 2005 - 3:13 pm: | |
Thread drift: note the tech rep's inability to use proper English. |
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