[mythtv-users] recommendations for a media box

[Dr NoName]

Thank you very much for detailed response.

> > Here are the specs I have to work with:
> >
> > AMD Athlon XP 2400+
> > 512MB RAM
> > 40GB HD (plus possibly a second 120GB HD)
> > DVD-ROM
> > DVR+/-RW
> 
> DVD-ROM and RW? Why?

So that RW doesn't wear out. From my (admittedly
somewhat dated) experience, all optical drives tend to
deteriorate after a few years of use. I would rather
lose a $30 reader than a $150 writer. But maybe they
got better and I'm just being paranoid...


> Yes. I have four. They kick the crap out of my
> software-only cards.

...

> > What's the CPU utilization then?
> 
> Damn near zero for capture.

Wow! You've convinced me. I don't think it's feasible
to have more than one software-only card in a box.
Even if CPU can handle it, the PCI bus will be
saturated.


> Depends on what all you're going to do with your
> system, and what sort of 
> display you'll be connected to. An nVidia card is
> better for movies and 
> games, displays much better to a High-Def TV, etc.,
> but for SVideo, the 350's 
> image quality is better (the driver is less stable,
> but getting better).

ok, I think having a video card with TV out is
definitely more flexible, so I'll probably stick with
that. Could you elaborate a little on the quality
issues? In what way is 350 image quality better than
nvidia? And why would nvidia be better for HDTV?

At the moment I have a plain CRT TV with only RCA
inputs (no Svideo), and I'm not planning to buy a new
one any time soon. So, is it really worth spending the
extra cash on the 350?

> For a video card, you use the sound card for all
> audio output. The only 
> "outputs" your TV has to have are its internal
> speakers (though I bypass my 
> TV entirely, feeding audio to an amp -- well,
> actually, my TV is the 
> front-rear channel in my 6.1 surround-sound setup).


ok, is it possible to route ALL audio, both live TV
and recording, to the sound card? My 5.1 surround
system is sure better than the shitty speakers I have
in my TV.

> > 6. How well does the remote work? It's quite
> important
> > for a dedicated  media box.
> 
> Works great for me.
> http://wilsonet.com/mythtv/remotes.php

so does Hauppauge PVR-250 come with a remote or do you
have to buy one separately?

thanks a lot,


Eugene


	
		
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