I've got two computers: Dell 2.66 Ghz
1.5gb ram
256mb video card

Gateway 450mhz
512mb ram
64mb video card

Have plenty of of diskspace for either...

I am looking to buy: Hauppauge PVR350
Hauppauge PVR500
HDTV5000

Requirements: Watch live tv
Watch live tv (while recording)
Record (duh)
Stream via MythStream
Possibly stream to a frontend in the future

What is the best configuration?
I would really like to keep the Dell for gaming. I bought a Macbook Pro so if it has to go I could live without it.

Any suggestions? I know the quick answer is the Dell, but would it be possible to use the Gateway with the PVR350 hardware decoding?

Yes. That should work for SDTV with the 350, just as long as your HD controller can do DMA under Linux. See:
http://www.knoppmythwiki.org/index.php?page=PickingComponents
http://www.knoppmythwiki.org/index.php?page=CPUs
I'm not sure how a machine that slow will do as even a BE only for HDTV.

BTW - For the moment you'll probably get better results using R5C7 with the 350. There's an unresolved problem with them under R5D1. See:
http://mysettopbox.tv/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=11311&highlight=pvr350

Hi,
Try the Dell for hd, you will probably need a good nvidia card for it to play out smoothly. The one I tried need the pcie card which I didn't have and the pci nvidia was not fast enough. You could keep it for gaming also with a dual boot setup, triple if you wanted ubuntu also.

The Gateway should work fine with the 350, I have done installs to Gw and both machines went smoothly. Definetly used the 350 decoder - tv out.

I have my 350 running on a 400mhz Dell Demension L400c. Just has a little trouble with some of the music graphical eye candy making the music stutter. At 600mhz it is ok.

Mike