[mythtv-users] Newbie questions...

MagicITX magicitx at gmail.com
Wed May 25 03:03:16 UTC 2005


On 5/24/05, Ben Bargabus <ben_b at ppdonline.com> wrote:
> Hi Folks,
> I'm brand new to the MythTV world, I've been lurking here for a day and
> read the HOWTO but haven't yet touched the software.  I have MANY
> questions but I'll stick to just the few that are most pressing to me in
> this first post.
> 
> I'd like to experiment with this in a system with separate machines for
> back and front ends.  I'll be purchasing hardware for the backend but
> trying to make do with mostly spare parts on the front end.  First of
> all I'm interested in comments any of you have regarding the hardware
> I'm looking at for the backend...
> 
> MoBo/CPU:
> Chaintech SPT800 Motherboard and Intel Pentium 4 3.0Ghz Processor
> http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1209284&CatId=1235
> 
> Harddrive:
> Seagate's Barracuda 300GB (Model: 7200.8)
> http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1388892
> 
> Tuner Card:
> Hauppauge PVR-350
> http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=473901
> 
> DVD/CD Source:
> NEC ND3520 16x8x16x DVD+RW, 4x DVD+R DL, 48x24x48x CD-RW
> http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1337277&Sku=N27-1876
> 
> Other stuff:
> 1GB DDR400 RAM, Rackmount Case, LinkSys Gigabit NIC
> 
> It appears I can get all that stuff for a little under $1000.00 and from
> what I've read it should be capable of handling the load and then some.
> Anyone see holes in my plan so far?  A couple specific questions about
> my hardware...
> 
> 1) that mother board uses VIA chips, I've seen warnings about their DMA,
> is that a problem of the past or should I go with an Intel chipset
> board?
> 
> 2) my backend will be handling record duties for scheduled programs but
> won't be playing anything back directly, I kind of got the impression
> that the PVR-350's advantage was in decoding as well as encoding, should
> I save some money and go with a PVR-150 or 250?
> 
> 3) is a single gigabit NIC going to handle the network traffic necessary
> for high quality video?  What about when I expand my network to four or
> five front ends?
> 
> I think that's enough of the questions for one email.  I'll hit you guys
> with my front end questions once we tackle these. :)
> 
> Thanks for your time,
> Ben.
> 
> 
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> 
> 
> 

1. I've not had trouble with the VIA DMA problem.  I seem to recall
some talk that it could be an FC3 on VIA problem.  Maybe I shouldn't
say that since I can't recall specifics of the conversation.  YMMV

2. You don't need a 350 on the backend.  The decoding capability is a
frontend thing.

3. Gigabit NIC is more than enough bandwidth.

-- 
Tim
www.magicitx.com


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