I'm looking into getting a new desktop. What do I need (and recommendations) for the following:

1. Run TV signal through the computer and watch on the monitor.
2. Do Tivo-like stuff, like record shows and pause live TV.
3. Hook an XBOX/N64/whatever up and play that on the monitor.

thx

8/1/2006 8:26:58 PM

price range?

8/1/2006 8:28:47 PM

I'm too lazy to see what is out there now. If you are getting a relatively new computer, the only thing you really have to have is a TV Capture Card. To put things in perspective, I used an 800 MHz box with 256 MB of ram to serve as my DVR. Granted, I was not using the box for anything else.

Some things to know:
Some cards support HDTV. Some don't.
Some can do the video decoding/encoding on board and save CPU. Some can't.
Some have S-Video/Composite inputs. Some don't.

8/2/2006 10:27:37 AM

some are cool colors, some arent

8/2/2006 10:47:53 AM

HP Media Center Edition computer

8/2/2006 11:44:55 AM

i want to be able to watch tv where ever i am using my cable at home and the internet

what do i need

8/2/2006 11:50:00 AM

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/compare_category.do?storeName=&category=desktops/media_center&catLevel=1

i'm not sure which model i have, but they set these things up for exactly what you're looking for

a few Coax (cable) ins, S-Video ins, Audio ins...use a hard drive as a DVR...easy to use...burn recorded programs to DVD if you want...check out the link

8/2/2006 11:54:05 AM

^^ Not exactly sure what you are asking for but if I am right then this is what you want:
http://www.slingmedia.com/

8/2/2006 11:55:36 AM

can i just get a tv tuner card

i have enough computers already

8/2/2006 12:04:30 PM

^yep...i got my tv tuner card for 100 after 50 dollar instant rebate

8/2/2006 12:22:22 PM

Price range trying to stay under 700 (hoping for some good deals with the combination of amd/intel dual-core competition and the tax-free weekend.)

I was just wondering what the minimum components needed are. So I can get a computer set up for TV or I can just buy the right video card?

8/2/2006 5:59:22 PM

I just got a WinTV-PVR-150 by Haupauge (SP) for 100 bucks at Circuit City. It's great because its got onboard encoding, which I think is very important. You may want to consider a video card with a TV out...

8/3/2006 12:58:53 PM

best buy has...http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6803863&type=product&id=1091099928443

8/3/2006 1:37:46 PM

and same thing mr teeny was talking about too...also for 100 bucks

8/3/2006 1:39:20 PM