[mythtv-users] mythtv noob - hardware questions

[Adam Biskobing]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org 
> [mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf Of 
> rook at homesonphones.com
> Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2004 3:53 PM
> To: mythtv-users at mythtv.org
> Subject: [mythtv-users] mythtv noob - hardware questions
> 
> 
> I've been looking at mythtv for awhile and have decided to 
> finally try to 
> create my own.  I'm new to linux as well, but feel as though 
> I'm pretty 
> familiar with system configuration and setup.  I also have 
> some friends 
> familiar with linux that I can ask for help.  My main issue 
> is making sure that 
> the hardware that I have or will buy is supported.
> 
> Here are my requirements:
> -Use my existing Dell Dimension 4100 as much as possible
>   -1.0 Ghz
>   -256MB RAM (I don't have a problem upgrading this)
>   -40GB HDD
> -Digital sound
>   -standard RCA is required (optical output desired as well)
>   -Dolby Digital 5.1 at least (DTS preferred)
> -S-Video out
> 
> It seems like the Hauppauge PVR-350 is the preferred tuner 
> card.  However, I 
> have some questions:
>   -Does this card have DVI?
>   -I've heard that this card uses hardware compression.  This 
> is appealing due 
> to the low processor speed that I'm working with.  Is this 
> true of the PVR- 350?  Will I have problems with the 
> processor and a hardware compression based 
> card?

The Hauppauge cards do not have a DVI connector, you shouldn't have any
problem with your processor, as long as it's not an old VIA based
motherboard (being dell it should be an Intel processor).

>   -Can I use the PVR-350 for video out in addition to the 
> tuner features?  I've 
> heard that it has a s-video tv-out, is this true?  Does it 
> have standard RCA 
> out as well?  Can I record while watching the tv with this 
> card alone, or would 
> I need a tuner and a graphic card combination?

You can display out using the PVR-350, it's not quite as solid as
displaying out on a video card though, but give it a month or two and it
should be.

> 
> I've heard that the M-audio revolution is a pretty good card 
> that might satisfy 
> my requirements.
>   -what outputs does this card have?  RCA? Optical? Component?
>   -How good are the linux drivers for this card?
>   -What audio software can it handle (5.1? DTS?)

No idea, never used this card.

> 
> What would be a good amount of RAM to upgrade to?  Over 512MB?

My mythbox running with one pvr-250 uses 256MB and doesn't seem to have
any memory problems.

> 
> I have wireless ethernet (802.11G) are there any cards that 
> are well supported 
> in linux?  I'm not too eager to run cat-5 around my house.

Check out http://prism54.org for well supported 802.11g cards in linux.
I haven't tried this with Myth yet, but that's my next project.

> 
> I have a CD-R, but I'm thinking about upgrading to a 
> DVD-R/CD-R.  I would like 
> to be able to rip DVDs (a feature of mythtv), but would also 
> like to convert 
> programs and burn them on DVD-Rs so free up space.  Are there 
> any devices that 
> are well supported by linux and run fairly well?

Just about any CD-R/DVD-R should work under linux, just read the HOWTOs

> 
> I think my old computer has an external port for an ATA 
> drive.  I would like to 
> get an external HDD to increase my capacity.  How do I find 
> out if my ATA card 
> is supported in linux so I can use this port?  Is adding an 
> external HDD fairly 
> difficult?

Never heard of an external ATA connection, unless you mean serial ATA,
but I doubt that came on a 1Ghz machine (too old).  Adding hard drives,
external or internal is fairly easy under linux.  I recommend starting
with an LVM setup, that way when you add a drive later it's really easy.


> 
> Thanks for your help,
> 
> b
> 
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