Will I need to update this HTPC for ETH6 + Extenders?

[tzr916]

I've been testing WMC7 with an old single tuner clear qam card for about a month. I've managed to get commercial skip and channel logos running. So I decided to purchase the ETH6 and Echo (probably xbox for 3rd room). I will keep my Tivo for the living room and use this setup for the upstairs bedrooms (light use, mainly live Tv).

I will install the ETH6/Echo with this HTPC and test for a while, but 6 tuners & running extenders has me concerned. I currently have:
Intel core 2 duo 2.33GHz E6550
2x 2GB DDR2 800
7200 1TB drive
nvidia GT610
Win7 32bit

Do you think I will need any of these upgrades?
Core 2 Quad CPU
64bit Win7 & more DDR2
SSD for OS

Other questions-
Do I need tuner salad for WMC7 to see all 6 tuners?
How can I optimize/segregate my network to minimize impact on internet devices?
Are there known issues with any Gigabit switches?
Is there any WMC remote that can be programmed to control Tv power/volume?

[adam1991]

How many extenders? I would do x64 and bump the RAM, because each extender requires 1GB. Plan ahead.

Commercial skip processing is the only big thing you have going on. I say, leave it alone for now and see what happens.

Recording TV isn't processor intensive at all. Worst case, it's network intensive--you're shoving bits around. But that has nothing to do with the processing power. Make sure you have a solid network infrastructure.

You will not use this for "light use" for long. Once you have commercial skip running, you'll throw that Tivo into the river. This will become your main unit. You will find old XBoxen to use as extenders, and you will outfit the whole house for 7MC.

When that happens, start upgrading--in order:

x64
RAM
storage drive (6 tuners, needs lotsa space)
SSD for OS
processor

You will not need Tuner Salad, as the Ceton software handles that for you.

I have a single gigabit switch that I run everything through, and no problems.

There are plenty of remotes. Poke around the forum. I like Logitech as well as the MS XBox Universal Media Remote (large white one with the green button on it). You'll need an RC6 infrared receiver to plug into USB if you'll be watching TV directly from the PC.

[foxwood]

I will install the ETH6/Echo with this HTPC and test for a while, but 6 tuners & running extenders has me concerned. I currently have:
Intel core 2 duo 2.4GHz E6550
2x 2GB DDR2800
7200 1TB drive
nvidia GT610
Win7 32bit

Do you think I will need any of these upgrades?
Core 2 Quad CPU
64bit Win7 & more DDR2
SSD for OS

You don't need any of them, at least for running WMC with 2 Extenders. But running the analysis for commercial skipping at the same time would probably be pushing things a bit.
The SSD is a luxury - your system will run fine without it, you might see some minor benefit on your Extenders, but if you have access to a 64-bit copy of Win7, I'd sooner spend $60 on RAM than an SSD, if it's an either/or choice.

Do I need tuner salad for WMC7 to see all 6 tuners?

No. The Ceton drivers raise the Tuner limit (to something like 30).

[tzr916]

ETH6 installation went well:
Add 4GB more RAM for total of 8GB.
Clean install of Win7 64bit SP1.
Install updates & drivers.
Pickup M Card from local Comcast office.
Follow latest Ceton quick install guide.
Call Comcast for activation & verify pairing.
Verify that WMC getting all my channels.
Setup My Channel Logos.

Next up:
Setup commercial skip.
Schedule some recordings.
Setup & Test Echo.
Run network cable to the bedrooms.
Get an xbox 360.

[3rob3]

Add 4GB more RAM for total of 8GB.

Where did you get the ram, and how much? I've been looking and DDR2 is stupid expensive now, would almost be the same price to upgrade my motherboard and buy 8Gb of DDR3.

[tzr916]

NewEgg. I went with Mushkin Silverline PC2 6400 5-5-5-18 to match what I already had. They were $31/stick

[tzr916]

Next up:
Setup commercial skip.
Schedule some recordings.
Setup & Test Echo.
Run network cable to the bedrooms.
Get an xbox 360.

Commercial skip setup & tested.
Scheduled some overlapping recordings, no problems yet.
Setup & test Echo (in the same room with the HTPC). It downloaded an update first time I accessed Echo plugin. After reboot was able to turn on AC3 audio, 1080p, and customize startup/menus/screensaver. Tested playback of recordings & Live Tv - all good except HBO stutter.

Will HBO stutter ever be fixed?
Does commercial skip work on extenders? If so, what's the trick?

[tzr916]

Everything is working pretty good but my processor is at 100% with 4 tuners recording, comskip working on a file, and me playing back a show. This results in some picture stutters.

Will a quad core do better than my dual core?

[tzr916]

Replaced my E6550 with a Q9450. Did not have to call MS to re-activate windows but did have to reset DRM. Took me longer to swap the cpu/heatsink than to reset DRM. Ran Cat5e to master bedroom for Echo#1 (working fine fwiw). Got an xbox 360 slim and set it up as extender (on wifi for now).

Have Echo#2 sitting here in the box. Only thing left is two Cat5 runs. Hoping to finish up this weekend.

[tzr916]

All finished hard wiring the house. Quad processor made a huge difference. Hoping to have the few remaining bugs worked out soon, then I can send the Tivo off to eBay and say goodbye to subscription fees/box rentals/etc..

[3rob3]

Sounds like a nice setup! I've been running a Core 2 Quad (Q6600) for years now and still think it is more than powerful enough.