[mythtv-users] Seeking advice about components

[Mark Cooper]

azrael at azrael-uk.f2s.com wrote:
<SNIP>
> The main question would be what sort of specification is required and 
> where it becomes unnecessary. eg is 512ram enough, is there a 
> recognisable advantage to 1GB ram? Is there noticable performance 
> increase using an AMD XP 3200+ (barton) rather than just an AMD XP 2800+ 
> (thoroughbred) ?

Have you had a look at the PVR Hardware Database? It contains a large 
amount of people's set-up's which can help in your decision :)

Firstly, you will not need anywhere near a AMD XP3200+ to 
watch/record/etc if your intending on getting a PVR-350!! There are 
systems using just a 600MHz AMD with the PVR-350 as it does all the 
grunt work and leaves the CPU free to just generate heat ;)

Memory is like string....you can never have too much ;)

> Now.. when it comes to motherboard, microATX is good for size reasons. 
> But is there a loss of performance from using an ATX mobo? The two 
> mobo's I have in mind are:
> 

There are no fundamental performance difference's between microATX<>ATX, 
other than if there's a component difference...

> ATX - ASUS A7N8X-E-Deluxe - 
> http://web6.scan.co.uk/Products/Info.asp?WPID=90710

http://pvrhw.goldfish.org/tiki-pvrhwdb.php?find=A7N8X&search=find&sort_mode=lmodified_desc


> microATX - AOpen SoA nForce2 MATX A V L - 
> http://www.dabs.com/uk/channels/components/motherboardsandaccessories/productView.htm?quicklinx=2CR3 
> 
> 
> First takes BUS Speed CPU's up to 400, latter takes only 333 .. would 
> there be any noticable difference in mythtv performance?

...so here there would be a performance difference, but none that would 
effect MythTV going on your current spec!


> Are there any incompatabilities in certain motherboards I should be 
> aware of so they can be avoided?

Yes, but I don't have any decent data/notes/url's on this as yet, only 
thing is to trawl the Mailing list and the PVR HW DB :(


> The rest of the spec:
> 
> Hauppuage WinTV PVR 350
> Hauppuage DEC 1000t
> 802.11g PCI card
> DVD Burner - Pioneer DVR107 ± DVD
> RAM - 2 x 1.0Gb PC2700 (PC333) DDR Memory Major Non Ecc Retail

Sweet :)

HTH

-- 

Mark Cooper
http://pvrhw.goldfish.org/ - Open Source PVR Hardware Database
http://netmangler.sourceforge.net/ - Network Management with Attitude!