[mythtv-users] $500 Myth Box

[Jean-Francois Perreault]

Andrew Hogue wrote:

>Hi,
>
>Well, how about the following: (I'm in canada so I'll do it in CDN funds
>and then change it to USD)
>
>AMD CPU 1800+ = $70
>Maxtor 120GB HD = $128
>  
>
maxtor .. yuck !  get a seagate

>512MB RAM = $100
>  
>
256MB would be more than enough

>Asus A7n8x-x Mobo = $90 (has sound,lan,usb)
>  
>
instead get
Biostar M7NCP   (matx)
Biostar M7VIW  (best value, no problematic nvidia chipset too)
MSI KM4M-L (matx)

>Geforce4MX440 = $70 w/tv-out
>  
>
instead get MSI GF FX 5200 VIVO  here it's 123$ CAD , has video-in 
supported by RivaTV (check to be sure)

>Cheap Case & pwr supply ~ $40
>  
>
don't sacrifice stability and reliability , this is the most common 
error amonst do-it-yourselfers crappy PSU lead to dead out of warranty PC
get something respectable like IN-WIN L545 or IN-WIN J508 or Chenbro 
PC-40522 or Chenbro  PC-80569
http://www.eprom.com/home/images_of_cases/chenbro_desktop.htm
http://www.eprom.com/home/images_of_cases/chenbro_slim.htm
this is probably THE most important part of your mythbox , also don't 
rate PSU with their power rating , they are ALWAYS meaningless , what's 
more important is quality and can only be checked with the brand

>Total before tv-tuner card = $498 CDN = $382 USD
>
>So, you have about $118 USD to work with for the tuner card.
>
>ATI TV Wonder VE = $49 USD but the sound is mono and not crystal clear,
>  
>
you should always use the sound from the sound card
also ati video cards are soso , especially under linux (compared to 
nvidia cards)

>but its cheap and watchable (this is what I'm currently using).
>
>Hauppauge 250 = $149 USD.
>
>Good luck,
>
>-- Andrew
>
>
>
>
>On Mon, 1 Dec 2003, Daragh Fitzpatrick wrote:
>
>  
>
>>Hi,
>>
>>I'm trying to get a 'cheap' PVR setup before Christmas
>>(so I can record the TBS day's worth of 'A Christmas
>>Story'!).
>>
>>I was hoping I could get a decent box set up for under
>>$500 - so I guess it's a challenge.
>>
>>Does anyone know of a list of standard configurations,
>>such as
>>'cheap' (under $500),
>>'good' (does the job well) and
>>'dream' (money no object)?
>>
>>I've seen the PVR Hardware database, but there's no
>>indication of price. I have a home theater system, so
>>I don't need to play DVDs on this box.
>>
>>So, can I do it for $500? I guess my config would have
>>to have the following:
>>
>>Small, quiet case
>>Motherboard (???)
>>Graphics (integrated?)
>>Sound (integrated?)
>>Network (integrated?)
>>CPU (P4-1Ghz?)
>>TV tuner card (encoder/decoder)
>>Hard disk (120Gb?)
>>Memory (512Mb?)
>>Wireless Mouse, Keyboard, Remote
>>
>>Optional:
>>Digital media slots
>>CD/DVD-burner
>>Firewire/iLink/IEEE 1394
>>FM Transmitter
>>
>>As well as the spec, the hardest part for me is
>>picking a manufacturer - Asus Pundit is worth a look,
>>I guess, or I could wait for the $500 DigiMatrix. Any
>>pointers on where I can buy this stuff would be
>>appreciated, too...
>>
>>I know this is a lot, so thanks in advance for any
>>advice you can give.
>>
>>Cheers,
>>
>>Daragh
>>
>>
>>=====
>>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>Daragh Fitzpatrick        daragh at i2i-Tech.com    http://www.i2i-Tech.com
>>
>>        i2i-Technology Consulting: 'From idea 2 implementation'
>>
>>   eMail just not interactive enough? I use Trillian (www.trillian.cc)
>>   ICQ:297606321 AIM:i2iconsulting Yahoo:i2itech MSN:i2i at i2i-tech.com
>>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>    
>>
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