I've ordered a PVR-350, so I can hardware encode and decode to mpeg2. Using this card, is this setup fast enough?:

P2-450 mhz
256 MB RAM
Onboard Intel 810 graphics (This wouldnt really make a difference, correct?)
250 GB 7200 RPM, 8 MB HD

I would really like to use that machine if it is going to be fast enough. I plan on only recording one show at a time of course, and only watching pre-reocrded shows while recording something else.

TIA

that should be fast enough, just be aware of the limitations of the pvr350 when it comes to video playback, as in divx/xvid (not recordings) and also that getting the pvr350 working for tvout is still somewhat of a chore.

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Yeah, I've been reading that it doesnt exaclty work out of the box. I don't mind figuring it out though, and some people have done, so I know that it is at least possible.

When you say limitations of the 350 and divx/xvid, you mean that it does not hardware decode them, correct? Or does it not play them at all? I realize that with the software encoding that the proccessor would have to do, the P2 450 is not the best choice, but I dont plan on playing dvix/xvid really anyway.

well it definitely doesn't hardware decode them, and for the most part even people with very powerful processors have not been able to get smooth playback with them. I have heard just very recently that there are some new drivers that do allow smooth playback, but I still don't know if a 450 will cut it for divx/xvid playback.

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