DVB-T2 Card Picture Quality

[33pgr]

I'm planning to build an HTPC, probably around an Intel Core i5, which will also provide the graphics, and a Blackgold BGT3620 dual-tuner DVB-T2 card. I will be linking this by HDMI to my 40" Samsung LED TV.

My question is whether the picture quality I'll get is as good as from a decent Freeview HD set-top box?

Many thanks

[northan]

Yes, should be, a digital signal is a digital signal.
From my experience when something on paper says it should be fine, you often find the reality a little disappointing.
I have always bought mobos that have integrated graphics, good ones, but find that the hd content a little lack lustre/slow/or just won't work.
I would hope things are a lot better now on integrated graphics as I will also be looking at this option soon.
So what I'm trying to say is that although a i5 mobo/graphics should be OK, beware of variables. Like the difference in quality of 2 different bluray players.
Every time I re-read this back to myself Im not entirely sure this makes sense, let me know if it helped?

---

BTW welcome to the forum, just noticed it was your first post.

[33pgr]

Thanks northan & thanks for the welcome.

Sounds like you're saying there shouldn't be a problem but don't be surprised if there is! For just watching HD channels on my HTPC, would I be better with a separate graphics card with my Blackgold tuner?

If so, is there a model or spec you'd recommend?

Thanks

[northan]

It's really hard to determine a spec suitable for you without knowing what you trying to do.
I know you want hd content from a blackgold tuner, but need to know:-
Budget, allowable card height in case, are you gaming, fan of nvidia/ati, noise level,.
I really think the integrated should be ok if you take the time to get the right mobo though.
What is your budget do you think, is the htpc just to be a freeview box?

[33pgr]

No gaming. I want a full PVR for the Freeview channels, and watch footie a lot on Skyplayer. I also stream footie. Movies on BD/DVD or downloaded BD/DVDrips.

At the moment I have BT Vision giving me Freeview at SD, a separate DVD player that plays AVI files, and a PC connected to the TV via VGA cable. I've built a lot of computers before, but not HTPC. I can either build a new one or just upgrade bits of my current setup with an HD set-top box, etc. I can see lots advantages to an HTPC but want to be sure the picture quality will be at least the same as the alternative HD set-top box.

Budget is probably around £600. The case I have in mind is the Aerocool M40, which takes a mATX mobo & full-height cards. Probably a Core i5 CPU, 4gb RAM (at least), and Noctua fans so it's as quiet as possible.

My last few PCs have all had NVIDIA graphics cards, and I've always been happy with them.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

[northan]

Sounds decent.
You should get a comparable picture, if not better to a stand alone HD box.
The noise is my biggest problem, nothing more annoying than hearing fans or the click of a hard drive when the film is quiet. So noctura fans are great, especially if you change the cpu fan.
I have a palit nvidia gtx 460 which I believe is basic for 3d blu ray (in the future) I love the card, it's quiet but also a passive one would be great.
You sound like you know what you want and how to get it man.
Click on my computer spec if you like, its what I call budget computing (cost me all in around £400 6 months ago) but it really flies and is quiet enough I can't hear it 4ft away.

[elootos]

Hello and welcome

A modern HTPC is no real different from any other PC really.

I now only rely on on-board sound/graphics as it keeps cost down as well as power consumption and space etc. For my main HTPC in the lounge, I would always throw in a dedicated graphics card though for any gaming or 'showing off to ya mates' kinda thing.

Perhaps a £100ish graphics card (ATi) would be of benefit, but all depends on what chipset the onboard graphics is. If it's of similar spec, then no need for another card.

As for picture quality of Freeview, the signal is captured by the card then handed over to a software codec that the computer has installed, and in the case of Win7, it has Microsoft's own which is very good.

Pre Vista it was an nVidia codec that everyone used (Purevideo), but Microsoft decided their OS needed built-in MPEG decoding capabilities and the rest is history.

You won't find better Freeview PQ that on an HTPC. Guaranteed.

The MS codec can also handle .H264 for HD TV broadcast, but doesn't have any capabilities to play Blu-ray films. Thats where 3rd party players like TotalMediaTheatre come into the equation. Couple that with a film ripper of your choice (DVDFab, MakeMKV, AnyDVDHD etc etc...) as well as a film library manager (My Movies or Media Browser) and that's it.

A natty remote control or fancy keyboard later, and you have one bleedingly powerful monster of an HTPC

EDIT: Just one caveat to a Win7 HTPC; it's not quite as defacto as a standalone Freeview/Freesat box. Whereas dedicated set-top units are built to a standard for the region (UK, Europe etc), Media Center in Win7 has to be usable in all markets (Asia, America, Europe, Australia) and therefore is always about 6 months behind the curve. For example, you can have ITV HD over Freesat in Win7, but you have to add it manually. Automatic listing of the channel will happen to toward the end of this year I guess. All that aside, you won't be happier than when experiencing the power of your own-built HTPC.

[33pgr]

Thanks northan and elootos. You've convinced me - now I just have to convince the wife!

Excellent forum, by the way..

[northan]

ohh the power of the other half.
Good luck