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HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

I posted about it two days ago, and now HP has delivered.  Includes a single ATI Digital Cable Tuner (OCUR) and...

HP Pavilion Media Center m8010y

  • Intel Core 2 Duo processor E6320 (1.86GHz)
  • 1GB RAM
  • 250GB SATA HDD
  • LightScribe 16X DVD+/-R/RW
  • ATI TV Wonder digital cable tuner (1) + internal tuner
  • 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8500GT, TV-out, DVI-I, HDMI (Only option)
  • Integrated 7.1 Sound

Great job HP on this.  I’m not sure what “+ internal tuner” means, but I assume it means the Digital Cable Tuner is internal instead of external.  According to the "help me decide" feature, it's a external Digital Cable Tuner and Internal ATSC tuner (OTA HD).

It might only be a single tuner system, but for those who already have their own OTA HD tuners to add along with their own massive hard drive collections, this is a key product.

It includes one of those GeForce 8500's that I talked about the other day, only difference is the 512MB version instead of the $100 256MB version. You can also add a combo Blu-ray/HD DVD drive for only $560.00.  Not cheap by any means, but I was figuring this drive would come in at near $1000.  Price comes to $2,069.99 with the Blu-ray/HD DVD drive.

Click Here to configure your own. 

Looks like HP is already getting close to my CableCARD PC price points.  Hopefully in the next 2-4 months we will see the price drop a few hundred dollars to match them perfectly.

Note: A special note for CableCARD PC buyers.  While you can get a CableCARD PC for $1,500 you will not be able to upgrade the processor yourself.  Please don't purchase thinking you will be able to upgrade it at a later point, you can't.  Sound card, RAM, additional hard drives, etc should be fine.

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Published Wed, May 9 2007 20:00 by chrisl
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Comments

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

Clarify "can't" please?  Does this mean:

- your old recordings will no longer play?

- you can't make new OCUR recordings?

- windows activation will fail?

- the computer won't turn on?

Wednesday, May 09, 2007 11:18 PM by Richard Berg

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

How does one go about getting an upgrade? Is it expensive? Does it necessarily need professional work?

Thursday, May 10, 2007 12:47 AM by Nathan

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

Richard: Should mean old recordings will no longer play.  I'm not sure if it would limit the ability to do new recordings, it likely depends on if the single change keys something like WPA to go off.  If so, the PC is considered "different" and thus you should have issues with OCUR working in the first place.

Nathan: And upgrade meaning what?  New CPU after you buy? or upgrade your current PC to one with an OCUR?

CPU upgrades are basically non-supported AFAIK.  That's why I would note that while you can get a PC with CableCARD for $1,500, if you use dictates the faster CPU speed the money for it now.

As for upgrading a current PC, that can't be done at all.

Thursday, May 10, 2007 7:38 AM by chrisl

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

I was ready to buy, but I can't get it with two DCTs (an absolute requirement).  Velocity Micro's boxes can't be configured for under 2K (otherwise I'd buy one of theirs in a heartbeat) and don't get me started on Niveus. Also, HP forced me to upgrade the graphics card to get the DCT, even though (in my particular circumstance) I won't need it -- the machine will run "headless" and I'll use Xbox 360s to remote the experience to other televisions.

So, no go for me so far.

Thursday, May 10, 2007 9:47 AM by Dustin

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

No option to add a second DCT tuner?  No option to NOT preinstall crapware?  Both seem a little lame to me.

Thursday, May 10, 2007 9:47 AM by FirstSalvo

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

Here all this time I was hoping that some how, some way, Microsoft and Hardware mfgs would get the clue that people could very well make use of more that 2 tuners... But alas, my hope was in vein. Not only do we not get more than 2, now we're stuck with only 1?!

And no, OTA doesn't count.

Thursday, May 10, 2007 9:51 AM by Matt P

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

Since it includes the external DCT my hope is that they will sell the DCTs in the near future for current owners of the PC's.

Since it already includes everything needed (BIOS, HDCP graphics, etc) there is no reason they can't sell you a standalone single DCT.  Plug it in via USB and it should work perfectly.

I searched their website earlier and didn't find it.

If anyone has order and got a part or item number of the Digital Cable Tuner (DCT/OCUR) please let me know what it is.

Thursday, May 10, 2007 9:56 AM by chrisl

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

Yes please post a part no. and/or link to a DCT add-on if its found.  I'm still excited about HP's offering yet like others there's no way I will purchase one on the chance that they MAY or SHOULD offer a second DCT option later... must know now.

<BEGIN RANT> Come on HP... we don't want Works on it, we don't want Norton on it... give us the configure option to get it clean. <END RANT>

Thursday, May 10, 2007 10:05 AM by FirstSalvo

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

I would also note that a second DCT is going to cost near $300, which puts the total on the cheap end at $1,800.  Just something to think about vs. the other options out there.

Thursday, May 10, 2007 10:10 AM by chrisl

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

Chris,

I "chatted" with HP's support about buying a second DCT.  They were thoroughly confused and little help.  

The $200 HD-DVD drive is especially interesting.  

Also, you cannot get a hard drive bigger than 400 GB.

Thursday, May 10, 2007 10:31 AM by Kevin

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

Yeah, support from these big OEM's on the subject of CableCARD is going to take a while.

Yes, the HD DVD is also very interesting.

As for the larger hard drive, non-issue to me.  The majority of users right now that will purchase these PC's know how to install their own hard drives.  Their upgrade from the stock 250GB to 400GB is $50.  For $50 more than that, I can get the stock 250GB plus my own 500GB.

With 500GB SATA drives going for $110 now, I wouldn't want HP to include more storage until they get rid of their current stock and start buying 500GB's at the sub-$100.

User installable hard drives are just fine in CableCARD machines.  External drives are another option.

Thursday, May 10, 2007 10:39 AM by chrisl

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

I need to tear one of these apart to see if the cooling system is a custom job or what. I would like to buy one and put it in a new case with an analog, OTA, and DCT. Although I think MCE would explode at that point and of course upgrade the hard drives etc.

Thursday, May 10, 2007 10:50 AM by Alan C

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

You can't use Vista Ultimate with CableCARD?  Is that an HP thing or CableCARD in general?  

Thursday, May 10, 2007 12:08 PM by Ericr34

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

Eric34: Vista Ultimate supports cable cards.

Also, my understanding about the Ocur was that there was a key in your BIOS that the Ocur looks for. If it doesn't find it then the Ocur will not work.

This makes me believe that you can upgrade your CPU. But not your motherboard.

Thursday, May 10, 2007 5:09 PM by JG

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

Only one way to really find out.  Who's buying one and when can I expect a report of what happens after a proc swap.

BTW, It's been noted elsewhere that someone did a swap with a VM machine.  So it might work and it might not.

Before anyone tries, I would make sure you have a backup of the system that can be fully restored including the special OCUR COA key within Windows.

Thursday, May 10, 2007 5:49 PM by chrisl

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

I know this is beating a dead horse, but all these restrictions are ridiculous...the BIOS key is one thing, but not being able to upgrade hardware, being stuck with these overpriced rigs, etc., etc.

All I want is a (minimum) dual CableCARD system in an attractive and functional HTPC case. I don't need a quad SLI capable HTPC with a 1,000 watt PSU like some other vendors sell.

Thursday, May 10, 2007 8:29 PM by sfiorito

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

My issue?  It's too much machine for what I need, which in turns makes it too expensive!

I run my MCE as basically a "media recording server" that sits in a closet, hidden away from the world with everything streamed via my 360.  In fact I've never even connected it to a TV before.  This means that...

- I don't need a fancy case,

- I don't a 15-in-1 reader,

- I don't need any audio or front controls,

- no fancy LightScribe DVD, I'll take a stock DVD player, doesn't even have to be a burner,

- no fancy graphics card, give me an Intel integrated graphics chip, I don't care.

I feel removing all of that should bring the price down to almost the $1,000 mark.  The whole ridiculus OCUR bit means I can't coble together a nice cheap "media recorder".  Instead I either have to pay out the nose for parts I don't need or wait for them to be on the market long enough for someone to hack the CableCARD or to start selling used ones on eBay.

I'm probably part of some "super niche" of power users but someday I really hope to see a "Windows Home Server, Media Recorder Edition".

Friday, May 11, 2007 12:45 AM by Shawn Oster

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

JG,  I assumed it did but The HP config site won't let you pick Vista Ultimate & the OCUR tuner.  It forces you to select Home Premium.

Friday, May 11, 2007 6:52 AM by Ericr34

# Zatz Not Funny!&raquo;Blog Archive &raquo; Do CableCARD PCs Really Matter?

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Thursday, May 17, 2007 4:20 PM by Zatz Not Funny!»Blog Archive » Do CableCARD PCs Really Matter?

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

You guys are forgetting that the 8500 nvidia card also does the playback of the video. This offloads the job from the CPU and the GPU is much more optimized for this task. Take a look a the video playback statitics on the new 8500 series of video cards on any review website. You can easily get by with the basic CPU and the 8500, especially with just one tuner.

Friday, May 18, 2007 9:36 AM by oatmeal

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

That's very true, but some people might want to use the PC for something like video encoding.  In this case, it's all CPU.  Faster CPU, faster encoding.

Friday, May 18, 2007 12:27 PM by chrisl

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

"Their upgrade from the stock 250GB to 400GB is $50.  For $50 more than that, I can get the stock 250GB plus my own 500GB.

With 500GB SATA drives going for $110 now, I wouldn't want HP to include more storage until they get rid of their current stock and start buying 500GB's at the sub-$100."

They may be using 5400 RPM drives to keep the heat under control.

"CPU upgrades are basically non-supported AFAIK."

That is HP's thing.  They lock the BIOSes so a different speed/multiplier of CPU will not work.  They want you to buy a whole new PC next time you need something more powerful.  Also, they don't release new BIOSes either.  Extremely rarely anyway.

Sunday, May 27, 2007 1:17 PM by The Jedi

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

HP uses 7200RPM drives on the m8010y, not 5400RPM.

As for CPU upgrades, the issue here is that CableCARD PCs work differently in terms of hardware.  If you change enough hardware, it can basically see it as a new PC.  If it sees a new PC, CableCARD recording will not work.

The BIOS is also different on these PCs, they have a special bit for the Digital Cable Tuners to actually function.  Without it, they don't work.

Sunday, May 27, 2007 1:42 PM by chrisl

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

Just checked this out and it doesn't seem to be an option any more.  I cannot add a digital tuner to the config, only the ATSC tuner.  What's the deal?  Also, there is no mention of OCUR support for this thing.  

I did find a cablecard internal card module.  Will that work with this box?

HP MDTV C-5 Cable Card Module:

www.shopping.hp.com/.../L2115A

Saturday, June 09, 2007 8:01 AM by Greg

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

Nevermind on the cable card module part of my last comment.  I realize now that it is for a HP TV, not a computer.

Saturday, June 09, 2007 8:05 AM by Greg

# re: HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

I purchased one of these and recieved it ~7/6; when I started it up it sounded like a table saw (nice feature for a media PC) and I shut it down after ~1 minute as the sound got worse instead of better.  I tried to exchange it for a new PC and HP inital attempted to exchange it for one without the digital tuner which I caught when I checked the status online.  When I contacted HP they said that they are not selling the digital tuner at this time (7/10) due to "problems with current configuration".  I sent the PC back for a refund.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007 12:00 PM by Tony