Building a new system-questions and how to avoid 29/59 bug?

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wackychimp

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Building a new system-questions and how to avoid 29/59 bug?

#1

Post by wackychimp » Fri May 31, 2013 8:25 pm

I'm building a new system an plan to put Win7 WMC on it. Planning to leave it on 24/7 and use it with the Ceton 6 tuner box. Light gaming (if at all). Mostly used for ripping and watching DVDs and BluRays, DVR and watching HD sports. Occasional streaming to Xbox 360.

A few questions:

i3 or i5?

8GB or 16GB RAM?

Do I need a graphics card or can I get by with a mobo with HDMI out?

I've read about the 29/59 bug. How can I be sure to avoid it?

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makryger

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#2

Post by makryger » Fri May 31, 2013 8:30 pm

+1... also wondering the answers to these very questions
My Channel Logos XL: Get your Guide looking good! ~~~~ TunerSalad: Increase the 4-tuner limit in 7MC

adam1991

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#3

Post by adam1991 » Fri May 31, 2013 8:42 pm

HTPC does not require large amounts of processor. You're shuffling bits around, not processing them. Make sure you have a solid network, not something cobbled together from "old router I'm now using as a hub" and old wiring and things like that.

i3 is more than fine. 8GB of RAM is fine. I have a mobo with HDMI out (Intel with i3 Clarkdale CPU) that works great, so onboard can work. Just choose parts carefully. If in doubt, poke around here and you'll find references to an inexpensive graphics card that does everything you need it to for HTPC work, including masking the effects of the improper 29/59 encoding of the program material.

That's for HTPC use. Anything you want to do for gaming, is on you.

Everyone will tell you, SSD for OS install, large spinning 4200 or 5400 rpm drive for recorded TV and movie storage. No need for fast hard drive for HTPC use. The slower hard drives will put out less heat and will take less power.

richard1980

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#4

Post by richard1980 » Fri May 31, 2013 9:26 pm

Adam is dead on. The 29/59 issue can't be avoided, but certain adverse effects of it certainly can. If you plan on using the Intel integrated graphics, you'll need to go with either Clarkdale or Ivy Bridge. Sandy Bridge is no good for 29/59 due to stuttering.

wackychimp

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#5

Post by wackychimp » Fri May 31, 2013 9:39 pm

adam1991
You're shuffling bits around, not processing them
This wording... now it all makes sense to me. Thanks!
richard1980
you'll need to go with either Clarkdale or Ivy Bridge. Sandy Bridge is no good for 29/59 due to stuttering.
Great to know. Thanks!

mdamron2

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#6

Post by mdamron2 » Fri May 31, 2013 10:38 pm

My advice is to stay away from ceton. Just had the infinittv 6 and after a week of working on it and emailing tech support it still didn't work. Take a look at hd home prime by silicon dust

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makryger

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#7

Post by makryger » Fri May 31, 2013 11:43 pm

mdamron2 wrote:My advice is to stay away from ceton. Just had the infinittv 6 and after a week of working on it and emailing tech support it still didn't work. Take a look at hd home prime by silicon dust
I've had a ceton InfiniTV 4 PCIe for 2+ years and it has been rock solid.
My Channel Logos XL: Get your Guide looking good! ~~~~ TunerSalad: Increase the 4-tuner limit in 7MC

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woodchuck

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#8

Post by woodchuck » Sat Jun 01, 2013 12:57 am

mdamron2 wrote:My advice is to stay away from ceton. Just had the infinittv 6 and after a week of working on it and emailing tech support it still didn't work. Take a look at hd home prime by silicon dust
I'm sorry to hear of your trouble. I've had an Infinitv 4 PCIe for 2 years with no issues, and just moved to the Ceton ETH 6, also with no issues.

SilverRubicon

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#9

Post by SilverRubicon » Mon Jun 03, 2013 9:31 pm

makryger wrote:I've had a ceton InfiniTV 4 PCIe for 2+ years and it has been rock solid.
ditto.

richard1980

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#10

Post by richard1980 » Mon Jun 03, 2013 11:33 pm

My InfiniTV4 has been very good as well (sans the single-line pixelation problem), but I don't see how that has anything to do with the 6 ETH.

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#11

Post by jjhtpc » Sat Jun 29, 2013 4:03 pm

To the original OP. I just rebuilt my system with an AMD a10-5700. I say don't overlook the APUs (trinity/richland), they are great processors at amazing prices that do a very good job of masking the 29/59 bug, but also making sure you have as close to true 24p as possible.

The A10 5700 is also the 65w version and runs very cool and thus near silent.

To the comments of the Ceton cards I was a wave 1 purchaser of the infinitv 4pcie and have had it for 2.5 years, and have never had an issue. I've heard the SD prime is a great product as well so really I don't think you can go wrong there.

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