[mythtv-users] Yet another hardware (whole setup) advice thread!

[Matt G]

Sometime in the next 2 months I plan on building a new Myth system.
I'd like to get some advice and clarification so I can plan this out and
get the results I'd like.  First here's the background:

1. My current 27" TV is old (NTSC, I'm in the US) .  There's no inputs
besides composite and obviously coax.
2. I have no receiver or speakers other then those for my PC's
3. All my current systems are older.  Both my desktop and server are AMD
XP 2000+'s.  I have a 1Ghz Thunderbird test box as well.
4. I'm planning on buying a house in the very near future as well.
Money won't be an issue but still I can't go as overboard as I otherwise
might.
5. I have analog wide open west cable service /w a TV box for HBO.
6.  I plan to use Fedora Core 3

What I'd like to do....

1. Get a new 16:9 non-CRT HDTV.  40"+ sunlight readable preferred.  I
know I can't do anything other then OTA HDTV right now but in a couple
years when that changes I'd like to be able to switch.
2. Get a decent receiver  /w digital inputs and set of speakers
3. Get a whole new server and desktop system.  My Linux server would be
at a minimum a Myth backend with a whole bunch of disk space in RAID 5
and ~2 PVR-250's.

Now the questions:

1. I plan to watch DVD's and downloaded HDTV and other content through
myth too.  If I get a new HDTV is it possible to do direct DVI to DVI
output?   If so how difficult is this to get working?  If not what's the
next best option? VGA to Component converters?   Is there such a thing
as VGA (or DVI) to coax?  That way if I can't get the new TV right away
I could use it with my current TV too.  What's a good TV to look at that
meets my specs  (sub $2,000)?

2. To save some money I'd like to make my new Linux server (full
tower... lots of fans) a front end as well.  There might be an option to
silence it somewhat in a cabinet....  Any advice on this?

3. My Linux server does everything; firewall/router/QOS, SMTP/IMAP /w
anti spam/virus, DHCP, DNS, SAMBA file server, SFTP, SSH, Web server /w
MySQL DB (intranet).  I plan on adding VPN functionality and also making
it a backup server for client PC's.  I may also make it a VOIP
(asterisk) server and a home automation server (Mister House).  Given
all that what kind of load can I expect from Myth?  Right now it's not
much.  (And yes I realize it would be better to have some SOD's but more
servers = more expense and time, this is for a home)

4. Is a Nvidia Nforce based motherboard the way to go?  Nvidia Video
card too (model)?  Onboard digital audio output decent on those?