Hauppauge Colossus: HD PVR with HDMI Support
by Andrew Van Til on April 14, 2011 5:40 PM EST- Posted in
- HTPC
- Home Theater
- Hauppauge
System Impact
While recording quality is critical, it cannot be the only criteria used to measure a “tuner”. We performed some additional testing to assess the overall impact on a typical HTPC system when using the Colossus. It is more difficult to create a “worst case” environment with a full height card than would be possible if it were low-profile, since we can’t put the Colossus into some of the smaller HTPC cases. However, we did try to simulate use in a hotter chassis by utilizing the highest TDP CPU we had on hand as well as removing all but one of the case fans in the Ahanix D4 used in testing. Here are the specs for our test HTPC; this is hardly state-of-the-art, but it works well for our purposes.
| HTPC System Specifications | |
| Case | Ahanix D4 (Modified for better cooling) |
| Cooling | SilenX 60mm (Exhaust) |
| PSU | Antec EarthWatts 380 |
| CPU | Intel Q6600 (4x2.4GHz 105W TDP) with retail HSF |
| Motherboard | ASUS PK5-Pro |
| RAM | 4GB (2x2GB) ADATA DDR2-800 |
| Storage | 500GB Samsung F1 (7200RPM) |
| GPU | NVIDIA GT 430 |
| Optical | Lite-On iHOS104-04 |
| OS | Windows 7 32-bit |
With our test setup, we measured five temperatures at sixty-minute intervals while recording HD content. The five points we measures are the system (chipset), CPU, hard drive, and case, and the surface temperature of the ViXS encoding chip on the Colossus. System, CPU, and hard drive numbers were captured using SpeedFan, while internal case temperature was measured with a thermometer placed inside the case. We used an infrared thermometer to check the ViXS chip (after briefly removing the top of the case).
As we can see from the graph above the Colossus has almost no thermal impact in its environment, with the only significant gains measured by the hard drive and the card itself—both understandable given that is where the majority of recording load is realized. While temperatures weren’t noticeably impacted, we also checked system power use.
| System Power Draw | ||
| Baseline | Colossus Installed | |
| Idle | 68.5W | 76.1W |
| Recording | N/A | 77.1W |
Taking a look at power usage, the system’s draw was measured at the wall with a P3 Kill-A-Watt EZ P4460. We checked power draw first without the Colossus, then installed it and checked idle and recording power use. I was somewhat surprised by the initial difference (7.6W) after installing the card, but after looking at the results while recording where the delta between the two states is probably due to additional hard drive load it appears that the card does not utilize a low power idle state when not capturing data.
Having had a somewhat rough experience with the original HD PVR’s stability, we put the Colossus through a series of extended stress tests. The good news is that I was not able to reproduce the lockup problems that plagued its predecessor. Unfortunately, the device consistently caused BSODs (Blue Screen of Death) after sixteen to twenty hours of continuous recording. The conditions required to reproduce this issue are uncommon for HTPC DVR use so it is unlikely that most users would experience it. However, it does make the device currently unsuitable for some scenarios like a security system. We notified Hauppauge of the issue and provided a memory dump to help isolate the root cause. Hopefully they can trace the problem and patch it in the near future.
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fri2219 - Thursday, April 14, 2011 - link
An HTPC with a quad processor bearing an actual 105W TDP?Just one 60mm fan?
Really?
Get ready to RMA your PVR card. Often.
JarredWalton - Thursday, April 14, 2011 - link
"It is more difficult to create a “worst case” environment with a full height card than would be possible if it were low-profile, since we can’t put the Colossus into some of the smaller HTPC cases. However, we did try to simulate use in a hotter chassis by utilizing the highest TDP CPU we had on hand as well as removing all but one of the case fans in the Ahanix D4 used in testing."The CPU was chosen specifically to put the card under duress. That's what "worst case" means. Would we recommend that sort of setup? Not necessarily, but at least it worked reasonably well in our testing. Now stick several Colossus cards next to each other and you could be in for trouble without additional fans.
babgvant - Thursday, April 14, 2011 - link
Couldn't have said it better :)vol7ron - Thursday, April 14, 2011 - link
Heh. Much love Jarred.vol7ron - Thursday, April 14, 2011 - link
Wait ... I'm just now reading the article... when did you get the Ceton InfiniTV 4!? I've been asking Anand about that for a year :)Have you guys had a review - did I miss it!?
dagamer34 - Friday, April 15, 2011 - link
http://www.amazon.com/Ceton-Infinitv4-Digital-Cabl...Your welcome
Anthony Toste - Friday, April 15, 2011 - link
Jarred Walton"Now stick several Colossus cards next to each other and you could be in for trouble without additional fans"
Only a dumdee would try using a small HTPC cases with several Colossus card beside that it better suite for a media sevrer any way with that min card that if you can find a motherboard with that min slot that dosen't cost a arm and leg.
How did come up with that when dosen't even run hot at all in fact I can put my finger on main chip when it even recording and it bearlee even gets luke warm unlike USB HD-PVR model and min other Hauppauge card from pass days.
"Not all recordings are watchable"
That maybe the bitstream issue and they are looking in to this which also has to do the BSOD issue to so best thing to do is reboot ever day I know not idea way of doing things and I couldn't aggree more on that one.
"Software/hardware bundle adds unnecessary cost with not additional value for DVR use"
Don't you mean just the Software?
I find Arcsoft’s ShowBiz very useful but it not for DVR use it capture only for DVR use you used WinTV 7 or any 3rdparty you like
Who know maybe they do OEM ver where get nothing other then drivers.
"No HDMI pass-through"
And do you plan add that when there no room for it.
"BSOD when continuously recording for more than sixteen hours"
This being address
"Full height card leaves low-profile HTPC users out"
Who know maybe there plan on one but you see they have dump HDMI and all Audio/Video output
Any way Andrew nice review.
bobbozzo - Saturday, April 16, 2011 - link
"Software/hardware bundle adds unnecessary cost with not additional value for DVR use""Don't you mean just the Software?"
Seems like the reviewer didn't like the remote as well.
babgvant - Saturday, April 16, 2011 - link
That is correct - it is not useful in most HTPC scenarios.dastruch - Friday, April 15, 2011 - link
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