[mythtv-users] Impossible to choose Motherboard?
Scott Alfter
mythtv at salfter.dyndns.org
Thu Dec 9 17:50:58 UTC 2004
On Thu, Dec 09, 2004 at 11:23:22AM +1100, Craig Read wrote:
> I'm using an AMD Athlon 2800+ cpu, but I think the principle is the
> same. I chose an Albatron nForce2 motherboard (KM18G-Pro2) with
> on-board video (nvidia GeForce4 MX440), audio (6 channel with digital
> out), networking, firewire, etc. I wanted an all-in-one motherboard to
> keep the cost of the system down. When I get around to replacing it,
> I'll probably go for a board without the video and use a GeForce FX5200
> (the MX440 doesn't seem to have any sort of mpeg decoder and it
> struggles with HD signals on my Twinhan card).
>
> I'd definitely recommend going for a nForce chipset as I've had zero
> problems with it. If you want "ok" quality audio, get one with it
> on-board and save a few dollars. If you want "great" quality audio,
> skip the on-board and look at one of the Creative THX certified cards.
With digital output on the motherboard, there's really no reason to add a
sound card if you're using SD MPEG-2 hardware compression or HD capture
cards. I have a PVR350 and an M179 on an FIC AU13, with the optical S/PDIF
output on the motherboard connected to a surround receiver. (The
motherboard also includes a coax output.) Audio is captured and compressed
on the capture boards; there's no analog audio path off of these cards. A
better sound card might make a difference if you're using something like a
cheap Bt878-based capture card, but replacing that with a hardware-
compression card would (IMHO) be a better upgrade.
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