[mythtv-users] Sort of OT, but about the Chaintech 7NIF2

[Bela Lubkin]

Aaron Griffin <aaronmgriffin at gmail.com> wrote:

> Reply-To: Aaron Griffin <aaronmgriffin at gmail.com>,
>         Discussion about mythtv <mythtv-users at mythtv.org>

Is this something that gmail automatically supplies?  I've honored it
for two replies to gmail users, but surely you don't really need your
own private reply + one from the list?

> Seeing as the 7NIF2 doesn't have SPDIF sound output (northbridge
> fan/heatsink doesn't matter to me as much) is there any other board
> suggestions someone would have?  That is, has someone replaced their
> 7NIF2 with a different board or decided for a different board over the
> 7NIF2... I'd really like SPDIF sound, though it's not a huge issue...

Albatron KM18G Pro 2.0.  I chose it over the Chaintech, then it went out
of stock just before I submitted my order to NewEgg.com; then
disappeared entirely from their catalog.  :-(  It was ~$80 from NewEgg,
~$120 from other suppliers; I wasn't going to pay $40 extra + more
shipping.

KM18G Pro 2.0 has everything the 7NIF2 has, plus: composite TV-out (as
well as Svideo); S/PDIF pinout (still have to buy the bracket); audio
chip is ALC650 instead of CMEDIA CMI9739A -- I've seen references to the
650 working better under Linux or with MythTV.

If you can find the board.

The only nForce2 IGP micro-ATX board that's underclock/undervoltable is
the Biostar M7NCG 400.  It has limited S/PDIF support (KM18G Pro 2.0 has
multiple S/PDIF connectors -- coax in/out, optical out, analog) while
the Biostar has only a coax out.

John Goerzen wrote a very nice description comparing the two boards,
which I would like to quote, but it was private email.  John, do you
mind if I paste in your paragraphs that convinced me to skip the
Biostar?

>Bela<