Sorry for incomplete details on the platform. I'm going from memory.
The mobo on this thing is some odd MSI I was given, can't remember the model # off the top of my head... AM2 platform...
Never had issues with my other AMD X2 rigs, except for one that had a ECS board (those have never been good IMO).
I know my media center box isn't "top of the line" by any means - it was built (ahem, "thrown together out of old misc parts" except for the tuner card) at first to see if it'd be a viable solution, and since it performed adequately, I've basically left it alone...
Couple updates here and there as I cycled through parts etc. (bigger hard drive, better power supply, newer optical drive), couple tweaks for things like larger pause buffer was one of the 1st, couple other registry tweaks for misc. things, codecs added later for FLAC audio, and then some video ones. Otherwise I don't play with it much.
One nifty program that I can't say enough good about - "Input Director" - pretty cool to control it with a laptop on the couch when needed. No need for a separate keyboard/mouse ...supreme lazyness
It's basically been "rock solid" for what it is...
Someday, I would like to build a "nice one," but what started as an experiment has done fine for the past year + now, and I feel like I should get some more usefulness out of it before moving on and spending any significant money on something nicer/newer.
Anyway, yeah, I think the new card route is where I'm headed. $30 after MIR is worth a shot
Always wanted the HD PVR, those are nifty!