HP Hits Big with $1,500 CableCARD Desktops!

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

Tony — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:00:15 GMT

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.

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

Greg — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 13:05:09 GMT

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

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

Greg — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 13:01:42 GMT

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

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

chrisl — Sun, 27 May 2007 18:42:00 GMT

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.

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

The Jedi — Sun, 27 May 2007 18:17:07 GMT

"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.

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

chrisl — Fri, 18 May 2007 17:27:57 GMT

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.

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

oatmeal — Fri, 18 May 2007 14:36:32 GMT

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.

Zatz Not Funny!»Blog Archive » Do CableCARD PCs Really Matter?

Zatz Not Funny!»Blog Archive » Do CableCARD PCs Really Matter? — Thu, 17 May 2007 21:20:03 GMT

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

Ericr34 — Fri, 11 May 2007 11:52:45 GMT

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.

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

Shawn Oster — Fri, 11 May 2007 05:45:15 GMT

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".

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

sfiorito — Fri, 11 May 2007 01:29:14 GMT

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.

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

chrisl — Thu, 10 May 2007 22:49:08 GMT

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.

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

JG — Thu, 10 May 2007 22:09:01 GMT

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.

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

Ericr34 — Thu, 10 May 2007 17:08:17 GMT

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

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

Alan C — Thu, 10 May 2007 15:50:34 GMT

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.

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

chrisl — Thu, 10 May 2007 15:39:42 GMT

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.

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

Kevin — Thu, 10 May 2007 15:31:00 GMT

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.

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

chrisl — Thu, 10 May 2007 15:10:55 GMT

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.

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

FirstSalvo — Thu, 10 May 2007 15:05:09 GMT

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>

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

chrisl — Thu, 10 May 2007 14:56:59 GMT

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.