[mythtv-users] New MythBox H/W Check - 7NIF2/A7N8X-VM/7NIL1 +
512MB/80GB/PVR-250/A106SB Case/200W PSU
Sean
shomann2 at insightbb.com
Mon Dec 15 10:46:13 EST 2003
Pvrman,
Welcome!
I was in your exact shoes a few months back and you have come to the right
place for all types of advice and news concerning the phenomenon that is
MythTV.
I too was looking at a micro-Atx based system as I wanted a device the size
of a VCR or other home theater component. I looked at all the boards out
there and was kind of going towards a VIA KM400 varient (the ABIT VA-12 was
my prime choice) or an Intel 865G series board. However, I like you it
sounds, have had very good results from the nForce2 chipset in an Asus A7N8X
Deluxe. Finally (and I believe it was Jarod), someone suggested that I take
a look at the Shuttle MN31/N. It has all the usual nForce goodies including:
6 USB 2.0 connectors (2 on the back-plane/4 on the mobo)
2 Firewire 400 connections (2 on the mobo/included PCI bracket)
6-ch audio with SPDIF on-board (NO connection on the backplane, Shuttle
makes an adapter)
10/100 Ethernet
Dual-Channel 333MHz RAM (3slots, up to 1.5GB)
Dual VGA Video connect on backplane from Geforce4 IGP
Now, the most important thing to me was the firewire because I have several
external firewire enclosures already. I did not care about IGP support,
because I felt (and still do) that sharing the system RAM with the video
card could cause its own issues (I got a Chaintech 5200 FX 64MB with VGA,
DVI and Svideo and have been very happy with it). Of course, this board also
does not give an NTSC video out option though its IGP either.
About the only thing that would be a downside to this board would be it
inability for really serious overclocking. Again, this wasn't an issue to me
as the thing has MORE than enough power for Myth (usually less than 6% CPU
with both PVR-250s running, while watching recordings or DVDs). It has been
very stable (despite MY screw-ups with Linux) and reliable for me thus far.
In any case, good luck and enjoy...in less than a few days you will wonder
how you ever lived without it.
-Sean
> Hi All,
>
> I am new to MythTV and fairly inexperienced in Linux in general. I am in the
> process of building (actually still researching, but close to start building)
> a new MythTV box (primarily for TV recording). I may use the other modules of
> MythTV in the future, but for the time being I mostly want to watch and record
> TV and may be use the Weather module from time to time. I have recently found
> this list and wanted to check with you guys if my hardware selection looks
> okay.
>
> As mentioned above, I don't have much experience with Linux, but I have a fair
> amount of experience in building PCs. For my new MythTV box, I want to get up
> and running with as little effort as possible, and hence I have been reading
> this list quite a bit to figure out which hardware configuration and Linux
> distro is likely to give me the least headache. Here is what I have come up
> with so far. Please give me feedback if you know about /any/ known issues with
> /any/ of the items below alongwith other possible alternatives, if you know of
> any.
>
> * Motherboard - ASUS A7N8X-VM -or- Chaintech 7NIF2 -or- Chaintech 7NIL1
> (please see below)
> (A7N8X-VM Specs -- http://www.asus.com/prog/spec.asp?m=A7N8X-VM&langs=01#)
> (7NIF2 Specs --
> http://www.chaintechusa.com/tw/eng/product_spec.asp?MPSNo=13&PISNo=15)
> (7NIL1 Specs --
> http://www.chaintechusa.com/tw/eng/product_spec.asp?MPSNo=13&PISNo=14)
>
> * Processor - AMD Athlon XP 2000+ (Palomino core) with Alpha PAL8045 heatsink
> * Video/Audio/Network - Prefer to use on-board support, but can use an AGP
> nVidia Video card if necessary
> * Memory - 512MB PC2100 RAM (as a single stick ... can add another 512MB stick
> if dual channel RAM is /that/ much better)
> * Hard Disk - 80GB Maxtor 7200RPM (DiamondMax Plus 9 series). Will add a
> second 200GB disk later.
> * Vid Capture Card - Hauppauge WinTV PVR 250 (retail box with remote control)
> * Case - Athenatech A106SB case (note: this only supports micro-atx mobo)
> (Case Spec -- http://www.athenatech.us/Brouchures/A106.pdf)
> * Power Supply - 200W PSU that comes with the case
>
> * Optical Drive - LiteOn 52x CD-RW drive ... may upgrade to a DVD ROM drive
> later
> * Floppy - prefer not to use one, but can use if it is deemed absolutely
> essential
> * IR Device - I prefer to use the PVR-250 remote if that works well with Myth.
> But I have a spare IRMan that I can use if necessary.
> * Linux Distro - I will be using RH 9.0 and will follow Jarod's instructions,
> since that seems to be the most failproof way to get up and running quickly
>
>
> The area where I need the most amount of feedback is in motherboard selection.
> I prefer to go with the ASUS A7N8X-VM board simply because I have had very
> good luck with ASUS A7N8X Deluxe boards before (in Windows though) ... but if
> the Chaintech board is considered more hassle free for MythTV use, then I will
> go with that. I see that Jarod also wanted to go ahead with the ASUS board at
> first, but later decided to go ahead with the Chiantech board.
>
> I understand that the ASUS board doesn't include the S-Video and SPDIF
> brackets and these need to be purchased separately. However, this additional
> cost is NOT my primary concern. What I really want is maximum support under
> Linux for onboard accessories (e.g. audio, ethernet, video, USB/IEEE1394, I/O
> etc.) ... so whichever board is considered better in that respect, will earn
> my business.
>
> Based on better Myth/Linux support, if anyone wants to suggest a different
> motherboard, I am very willing to listen and possibly change my selection. The
> only three constraints I have are --
>
> - It MUST be an AMD board that supports AXP2000+ and above (266MHz FSB)
> - it MUST be a Micro-ATX form factor
> - should PREFERABLY be based on the nForce2 chipset
>
> Other than these, if the board has on board video that is good, but this is
> not necessary at all. I have two spare nVidia video cards that I can use in
> this system (one is GeForce2 Ti200 w/64MB another GeForce4 Ti4200 w/128MB).
>
> I see that the Chaintech 7NIL1 board is almost identical to the 7NIF2 board,
> only lacking onboard video and has 4 channel sound as opposed to 6 channels
> ... but about $20 cheaper as well. What do you guys think about this board ?
> Since this doesn't have onboard video, I will have to use either the GeForce3
> Ti200 or GeForce4 Ti4200 card ... which is okay with me as long as these are
> well supported by RH 9.0
>
> Thanks very much for ANY feedback about my configuration ! Like I said, I am
> VERY open to suggestions about ANY of the above components, and will highly
> appreciate any feedback about known issues or other possible choices.
>
> Thanks once again and wish you all happy holidays !
>
> pvrman at xemaps dot com
>
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