Problem watching/recording tv (do i need to upgrade)

[wildheart]

Morning everyone, i have set up a old system running windows XP to act as a media server storing the families photos, videos etc (we had the computer spare so might as well put it to some use)

I thought i would connect a USB TV tuner to it also so we could record tv series however whenever i record or even watch the TV on it, it will stutter every 20seconds or so. I was wondering if anyone can identify what the problem might be? is there an area that needs upgrading or do i just need a totally new system for it: ok the system:

CPU Intel Pentium 4 1.9GHz
Motherboard TriGem Dublin
Memory 384 MB PC133 SDRAM
Hard Drive 40GB Maxtor 4W040H2 + Maxtor MaxLine III 250GB 16MB
CD Drive Samsung SM-304B Combination Drive
Video Card nVidia Geforce2 MX 400 64MB
Sound Card Avance AC'97 SoundMax
TV Tuner AverMedia AverTV USB 2.0 DVB-T Digital TV Tuner

(TV tuner requirements)
SDTV
- Intel Pentium III 800MHz for Time Shift and Record in MPEG2
- VGA card supports DirectX 9
- 128 MB RAM or above
- USB 2.0
- Sound Card
- Windows ® 2000/XP

HDTV
- Intel Pentium 4 1.7GHz
- 256 MB RAM or above
- USB 2.0
- VGA card supports DirectX 9 and DxVA
- AC97 compatible sound card
- Windows ® 2000/XP

hmmm...... not sure if i have just answered my own question here but according to the manual USB 2.0 is only required for HDTV but from the info above it says for both

Ok so im guessing i need either:
USB 2.0 adaptor or
more RAM or
better CPU or
maybe a new graphics card or
hell a new computer

Anyone have any ideas what is best to try and upgrade first, as far as i can see the actual pc spec surpasses that required by the AverMedia AverTV appart from the USB 2.0

thanks anyone for responding - appreciated

 

[J.B]

Well your ram is slow, is that the fastest your board can handle?faster ram might to it but that would probably mean a new board. the easiest (and cheapest option) to start with is to try updating the drivers, and splashing out on a usb 2 card for a pci port

 

[wildheart]

thanks JB, yeah thats the best RAM the mobo can take and i have all the latest drivers...

Anyone else think what could be the problem? if not i guess its a USB 2.0 card first and if not that then new mobo RAM and CPU

 

[Joe42]

Tried updating the drivers or everything, particularly sound and graphics?

 

[wildheart]

yeah all the drivers are up to date that was the first thing i tried guess i will have to order a USB 2.0 pci drive and hope its that

 

[hybrid]

Does it stutter when you are watching live TV or recorded TV?

I know that the USB sticks take up more resources than a PCI card would too.

Also, it might be worth trying another TV Viewer, maybe Media Portal or something? Its free