[mythtv-users] How much horsepower for dedicated back end with 2 x DVB-T cards?

[Phill Edwards]

> I've got a back-end setup using a DVB-T card in my existing server (1
> GHz Nehemiah).  It seems to be able to handle recording and serving
> front ends at the same time without breaking sweat (< 10% CPU usage).
> The only problem I have is there are now domestic conflicts over having
> just 1 input card.
> 
> I'm contemplating setting up a second box just to hold two DVB-T cards
> and function as a dedicated back end.  Disk-less and probably in the
> attic (near to my aerial amplifier, which has spare outlets).  Now if a
> 1 GHz Nehemiah can handle recording from one DVB-T card with hardly any
> load, how low power a unit can I get away with to handle two?  Anyone
> any experience of this?  I'm thinking of perhaps a 600 MHz Mini-ITX
> board.
> 
> Note that the existing server and the proposed new box are for use
> solely as back-ends.

Why not just bung a 2nd DVB-T card in the 1GHz box? I would have
thought you'd need more horesepower in the backend than the frontend
(guessing though!)

DVB-T cards use hardly any CPU because they do no processing on the
signal - they just dump the broadcast MPEG2 stream stright to disk.

Regards,
Phill