[mythtv-users] Cost of MythTV Machines

[Raphael Pooser]

Brian Wood wrote:
> With some recent discussion here about CPUs and costs I wonder what  
> the "average" cost of a MythTV machine might be.
>
> I have seen some "turnkey" machines offered for what I consider to be  
> very high prices, even given the fact that the builders deserve a  
> certain profit. I do not wish to mention names, but $1500 for what  
> seems to be a minimal front/back-end box with 1 capture card seems  
> quite high to me, although I will grant that it is a far better deal  
> than what Sony wants for a DRM-ridden MCE device.
>
> I think if one was constructing a computer specifically for MythTV a  
> minimal F/B configuration might cost $600, using refurbed components  
> perhaps, and with 1 MPEG-encoding capture card. $1500 would buy a  
> very nice machine with maybe 1TB of storage and 3 capture cards.  
> These guesses include a "computer" monitor but not an entertainment- 
> quality display.
>
> Anybody have ideas? What "should" a MythTV machine cost? Are the  
> "commercial" offerings realistic? Obviously a lot of us are re-using  
> hardware we have hanging around, it may be rare for somebody to  
> purchase gear solely to build a DVR. I'm just wondering what folks  
> are doing.
>
> A related matter - What is the position of Zap-2-It Labs on these pre- 
> built machines? Does this violate the "personal use" license? I admit  
> I have no idea on this one.
>
>
> Brian Wood
> beww at beww.org
>
>
>
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>
>   
I would say $600 would get you a very good mythtv machine, HD 
notwithstanding - I haven't done any research into that.  But, last 
October , after having my mythtv machine running for a few months, after 
spending $70 on new components and reusing my old-old computer, it came 
up in conversation with somone about whether it was worth it over Tivo, 
because don't you have to spend $600 on a mythtv machine, which is twice 
the price of a tivo without rebate with lifetime subscription?  The 
answer is no.  This is for tivos without HD, btw.  I went looking 
around, not even trying to find the lowest price on things, and found 
you can build a machine much more capable than Tivo for $300.  Below you 
can see an extremely bare bones mythtv machine using socket 754, but it 
is a proof of principle that you can actually build one for the same 
price or cheaper than a tivo.  Well, you have to add $40 for an encoder 
card, as the one there uses software.  Also, I kept all the rebate 
prices in this list, because no matter when you are buying, there will 
always be specific deals on the components that will probably bring your 
price to about the same.  Also this is like 4 months old now, so for 
$300 you are going to get a lot more for your money.

Component    Name    Price    Shipping and rebates
Mobo    ECS 760GX-M     46.5    2.99
Proc    AMD Sempron 64 2600+ Palermo     63    0.99
RAM    Adata 512MB DDR400    44.95    -5
Graphics    Onboard       
Sound    Onboard       
DVD ROM    Lite-On SOHD-16P9SBLK    19.99    4
DVD burner    NEC ND-3540A    37.99    0
Case    Athenatech A202BB.L220     44.99    15.99
Power Supply    Included       
TV tuner Card    Leadtek TV2000XP RM  with Remote Control     29    -15.01
Hard Drive    Seagate 200GB ATA Hard Drive     110    -60
Ethernet    On board       
Wireless    TRENDnet TEW-424UB IEEE 802.11b/g USB 2.0    20.5    -5.01
           
Total price        416.92    -61.05
Final total:        355.87   
Without DVD burner or wireless:        302.39   

Sorry for the formatting.  Yes this system sucks, but on the other hand 
my current mythtv machine is far worse in specs and can do 640x480 
software live TV or record and watch previously recorded simultaneously 
without so much as a single hiccup.  So, $600 in my mind gets me an 
ubermythtv box, nevermind $1500, lol.  Err of course that $600 would be 
probably 700 before rebates... but that is the nature of the beast these 
days, and sometimes you can get lucky and go w/o rebates.
Raphael