[mythtv-users] Validating hardware - Biostar iDEQ200S

[David Fishburn]

I just decided to move forward with creating my own PVR.
The machine I will be installing will also be running my family webserver.

I have been reading through the list archives on hardware recommendations
and various other sources people have mentioned.

Basically it appears any CPU I get today will be adequate.
I will want to watch, tape and pause live TV.
My house has cable and that is my only source for TV.
I also will want to convert some VHS tapes to DVD.

Many posts have mentioned how important it is to have a quiet system if it
will be running anywhere near where you are watching TV.  Since this will
also double as the DVD player, I assumed I would put it right behind the TV.
I am hoping this will work.

I am assuming I will need to pick up a Hauppauge card to perform the
capture.
No idea if I should get the PVR 350 or 250, suggestions welcome.

I can buy this system, which looks promising due to the quiet nature.
I see some other people have used other Biostar boards, and managed to get
them to work.

I am as green as it comes to all of this, so please point out any issues
related to any of this hardware?

*** Choice 1 ***
Biostar P4 2.4GHz Small Form Factor (SFF) System

Biostar iDEQ200S SFF system  *EXTREMELY SMALL & QUIET*
Intel Prescott P4 2.26Ghz 533FSB CPU  (1meg Cache)
Corsair Value Select 256MB DDR 400Mhz PC3200
WD 40GB Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
Lite-On 4x DVD Burner
On-board SiS Video Graphics Chipset Controller
On-board C-Media 3D Sound System Controller
On-board 10/100 Ethernet Network Controller
On-board USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394(Firewire) Ports
Lightweight Aluminum Case w/ Infrared Interface
*** Choice 1 ***


*** Choice 2 ***
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ System

EPOX 8KDA3I nForce3 Chipset Mainboard
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ CPU & AMD Fan
Corsair Value Select 256MB 400Mhz (PC3200) DDR Ram
WD 40G (7200 RPM) Hard Drive
Lite-on 52X CD-RW + 16X DVD-ROM Combo Drive
ATI Radeon 9250 128MB AGP Video w/TV Out
Sound & 10/100 NIC On Board
PS/2 Keyboard & Mouse
110 ATX USB Case w/ P4 Power Supply
*** Choice 2 ***


For choice 2, ATI's are not recommended on Linux.  I suspect I would be
using Fedora3.
These were some of the options available for nVidia cards:
nVidia 	AGP 	8X 	ABIT Siluro GeForce4 TI4200 128M DDR with TV & DVI
Output (Retail Box) 	109
nVidia 	AGP 	8X 	ABIT GeForce4 TI4200 128M DDR with TV & DVI Output
OTES (Retail Box) 	109
nVidia 	AGP 	8X 	MSI FX5200 128meg DDR with TV & DVI Output 	89
nVidia 	AGP 	8X 	MSI FX5700LE 256M DDR 8X with TV Input & Output &
DVI Output (Box) 	199
nVidia 	AGP 	8X 	MSI FX5700LE 128M DDR 8X with TV & DVI Output (Box)
149
nVidia 	AGP 	8X 	MSI FX5900XT 128M DDR 8X with TV Output & DVI Output
(Box) 	299
nVidia 	AGP 	8X 	XFX X6800 128M DDR with Dual DVI & TV Output 	459
nVidia 	AGP 	8X 	BFG X6800 GT O/C 256M DDR with TV & DVI Output (OEM)
579
nVidia 	AGP 	8X 	XFX X6800 ULTRA 256M DDR3 with Dual DVI & TV Output
799

They all seem to have TV Out, so I am not sure which ones are adequate.  Can
I go with the cheapest $89 one (MSI FX5200 128meg DDR with TV & DVI Output)?
Or are other ones recommended?

I appreciate any insight you might have.

Thanks,
Dave