non-dedicated PVR

[LG_SW]

Hello,

I'm replacing my aging PC and would like some advice from those who've been there before. I'd like to build the new PC as a HTPC but continue to use it as a my usual PC as well. PC use would be limited to email, web browsing and MS Office-type apps; not into gaming or anything that would drain resources too much.

I have a few specific concerns I'd appreciate help with:

1) This is my main concern...Is it viable to use a non-dedicated HTPC? Assuming one output is to the TV (direct , not MVP) and the other is to PC monitor, can one person watch media output while the other uses the PC without affecting one another?

2) If the above can be done, can anyone recommend a card to handle the dual output. I'm thinking that the PC monitor can run off the motherboard and a separate card would handle the TV side of things but I've not run two displays before so I'm not really sure if it's better to get one card that will do both. Also, realistically how long can a cable to the TV be?

3) Is my proposed config up to the job? I'm still finalising the components (and am open to suggestions) but for now I'm planning to use:
Antec Aria quiet cube case
Asus KV8-MX motherboard (or similar. Would like to try the AMD Cool'n'Quiet technology and have at least 3 free PCI slots - the antec case will accommodate 4 PCI cards).
AMD Athlon 64 3000
Some form of quiet heatsink/fan (possibly one of Zalman products)
Samsung spinpoint 200Gb HDD
1Gb RAM
NEC ND-3550A DVD/RW (or similar)
2x Twinhan D&A PCI tuners
Windows XP
and last but not least, GBPVR
TV input would be DVB-T (Freeview)

Any thoughts on the proposed setup?

There may well be other things I haven't considered. Am more than happy for people to point out if it looks like I'm going wrong somewhere!

Thanks!

[Big Adam]

Whilst what you are suggesting is (just) physically possible, I personally wouldn't go down the route of a single PC with dual format displays if I also wanted simultaneous inputs (one person typing and using mouse, while second changes channels).

If the HTPC is for basic non-gaming use, I'd be looking at recycling your existing PC to create a low-powered dedicated unit. What is the current spec? Chances are you'll be able to convert it relatively cheaply.

[stew]

Yeah as Adam says, its doable actually very easily.

However you will affect the person viewing media when using the computer for something else. Unless you were to spend a rather sizable chunk of money on it and then you're talking the same if not more than a dedicated PVR.

I put together the machine I am now using a PVR for just £250. Its an AMD64 (Winchester 3000), Asus A8V, 512mb Ram a Radeon 9500 and 2 160gb Seagate hard drives, add in the original cost my Winfast PVR 2000 (do NOT buy this card is sucks!) and its a total of around £250.

I havent checked up on those cards you've listed however if you are feeding a STB (Set top box) you can only output one channel from that at a time.

[Jamez_Warner]

I used to use my P4 3ghz as my HTPC

I had two digital tuners, and dual monitors. Media center 2005 is very good with resources, I could happily play an intensive game whilst recording ( frame rate was affected slightly) but recordings came out OK.
I used to leave TV up on one monitor and work on the other. worked very well for 6months or so !
When getting my own place I build a dedicated 2.7ghz machine to run it for the TV and got my gaming rig back!

James