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Resolved Desktop output to TV or laptop

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by zhshqzyc, 2013/09/21.

  1. 2013/09/21
    zhshqzyc

    zhshqzyc Inactive Thread Starter

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    Last edited: 2013/09/21
    zhshqzyc,
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  2. 2013/09/21
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Hi zhshqzyc.

    I don't think that tower includes an HDMI output so you may not be able to hook it up to a TV. I know that tower is cheap but its running a single core processor and the computer may struggle to stream HD videos to a TV or laptop.

    I would look at buying a traditional desktop tower so that its easier to add expansion cards later on. What is your budget for a new computer?
     
    Evan Omo,
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  4. 2013/09/21
    zhshqzyc

    zhshqzyc Inactive Thread Starter

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    I want to add ceton inifiniTV 4 card to the tower. I think that the card cab be hooked to TV via coax adapter cable. But I am not really sure. If so, I want to confirm that the tower has a slot and space for ceton inifiniTV 4 card.

    Or what I understand is total wrong.
     
    Last edited: 2013/09/21
    zhshqzyc,
    #3
  5. 2013/09/21
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    The specs of the computer on the URL you posted are very sparse and no mention is made of spare slots. A search for the model no. only brings up hits for Best Buy.

    So it would seem that no ifo is available in this respect - you may like to contact Best Buy direct.
     
    PeteC,
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  6. 2013/09/22
    Bill

    Bill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    "To" a laptop? I am not aware of any notebook (they don't belong on laps so I say "notebook ") that has video "inputs" allowing you to use the notebook monitor as an external monitor for your PC.

    But most (if not all) TVs made in recent years support inputs from a variety of sources.

    That card does not have any outputs. It is designed you turn your computer into a DVR where you can then stream the video over your network via your computer's network connection, to a networked TV.
     
    Bill,
    #5
  7. 2013/09/22
    zhshqzyc

    zhshqzyc Inactive Thread Starter

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    Eventually I found the requirement, I want to buy one, used one is okay. any recommendation?

    Minimum system requirements:
    •PC with Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8 Pro (64-bit) with Media Center
    ◦2.0 GHz or faster dual-core or quad-core 64-bit (x64) processor
    ◦3 GB of RAM (4 GB recommended)
    ◦350 GB of available hard disk drive space recommended for 50 hours of HDTV recordings
    ◦1 available PCI Express (PCIe) slot, which can be either an x1, x4, x8, or x16 type slot
    ◦HDCP-compliant graphics card or on-board graphics
    ◦HDMI output, or DVI output with separate 5.1 audio output required for Dolby 5.1 surround sound
    ◦Note: InfiniTV does not support nForce chipsets
    •One Multi-stream CableCARD™ (M-Card), available from your cable TV provider
    •A TV display with HDMI input, or HDCP-compliant DVI input and separate audio input
    •A Tuning Adapter from your cable operator might be required if your cable TV provider uses Switched Digital Video technology. Please check with your cable operator.
    •Digital cable TV subscription from your local cable TV provider. HD package required to receive High Definition TV channels
     
    zhshqzyc,
    #6
  8. 2013/09/22
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    The computer is below the system requirements for running a TV tuner card which is what I am assuming you want to install into a new computer that you end up getting.

    The refurbished HP computer that you linked to in your first post is not suited for this task. Like I said what is your budget for a desktop system so that you can smoothly stream videos to your TV?

    Also I don't see why you even need a TV tuner card if you end up using an HDMI output to display videos onto your TV anyway.
     
    Evan Omo,
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  9. 2013/09/22
    Bill

    Bill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    You need a tuner card to receive TV channels, either from a cable TV service provider, or over-the-air via an attached antenna, and to convert those signals to be viewed on a computer monitor. Since TVs, by definition, are monitors with built in tuners, I agree with Evan. Why do you need a tuner card?
     
    Bill,
    #8
  10. 2013/09/22
    zhshqzyc

    zhshqzyc Inactive Thread Starter

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    Forget my first link, my budget is below $400. Of course, a little high is acceptable. The cable provider gave me a Multi-Stream card. Please see the image attached. I know my HDTV has a built-in tuner.

    Why the cable provider ask me to buy the M-Card? There is no place to insert this card on TV. One technician of TWC asked me to insert the card into ceton inifitiTV 4 card and insert this card to the media computer.

    This is purpose of the question. I want to watch the ESPN programs on TV instead of computer. ESPN is provided by my cable provider company. Then I wanted to buy a tower. Of course, it is only for TV so I don't want it to be fancy.

    Thanks for inputs.
     

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    Last edited: 2013/09/22
    zhshqzyc,
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  11. 2013/09/22
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Evan Omo,
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  12. 2013/09/22
    zhshqzyc

    zhshqzyc Inactive Thread Starter

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    It matches greatly. The power supply is 300W. Is it too big?
     
    zhshqzyc,
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  13. 2013/09/22
    Bill

    Bill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    No such thing as too big. Electronics only draw what they need, not what the power supply is capable of delivering.
     
    Bill,
    #12
  14. 2013/09/22
    MrBill

    MrBill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    That card DOES NOT plug into your TV. It is a PCMCIA card which is for Laptops that have such slots. Never seen a desktop that had one of those slots.

    More reading below.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CableCARD
     
    MrBill,
    #13
  15. 2013/09/22
    Bill

    Bill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    I almost said the same thing, until I did a little digging.

    Installation Instructions
     
    Bill,
    #14
  16. 2013/09/22
    zhshqzyc

    zhshqzyc Inactive Thread Starter

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    Yes, you are right. The idea is that although the CableCard can not added to computer or TV directly but it can be inserted into a ceton inifiniTV 4 card. Then ceton inifiniTV 4 card can be put a pcie slot in a desktop. The desktop requires some conditions.

    And I don't have such a desktop. That is the whole story. Since the desktop is not cheap and will consume too much power, I might change my mind just rent a so called "VCR" from the cable provider.

    It is totally money trade off issue.
     
    zhshqzyc,
    #15
  17. 2013/09/22
    MrBill

    MrBill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    That desktop will not consume that much power. Where do you get the idea of it consuming to much power? It may do close to it if you have everything on it being used at the same time. If they put a smaller one in there, that would be something to worry about it not having enough power to do its job.
     
    MrBill,
    #16
  18. 2013/09/22
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    As MrBill stated the computer only consumes whatever power it needs. Even if you use the computer for regular tasks the energy that the computer uses throughout the year is miniscule compared to the other electronic devices that one would use in a household.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #17
  19. 2013/09/22
    MrBill

    MrBill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Bet that the TV will use more power than the desktop if they were both left on for the same amount of time.
     
    MrBill,
    #18

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