[mythtv-users] How to avoid problem hardware in a new system

[Brian Wood]

On Jun 17, 2006, at 11:29 AM, James Carrig wrote:

> My computer just up and died and I am suddenly forced in the market  
> to replace it.  I need a tower and I need to run Myth and I want  
> life to be easy, and so I am actively seeking to avoid problem  
> hardware, e.g., the VIA chipsets.  When I scan the ads, VIA  
> chipsets don't usually make the description.  Are these AGP  
> drivers?  Is there a rule of thumb I can use?  For example, do any  
> Dell's use these chips?

VIA makes many things, including CPUs, but they are probably best  
known for the "core logic" chip(s) on motherboards made for Intel or  
AMD CPUs.

Not everything they make has problems. The main problem that I know  
about is that their implementation of DMA with some chipsets is  
buggy. Since Myth systems tend to move a *lot* of data via DMA these  
problems tend to manifest themselves more so than with the average  
home system. I'm sure there are home users out there with buggy DMA  
chipsets who notice no problems at all.

I'm not aware of any Dell's that use VIA mobo chipsets, that's not to  
say there none. I'd stay away from Dell because they use non-standard  
motherboard form factors and power supplies, making future upgrades  
difficult or impossible. They also do not support anything they  
didn't sell to you, and can get uppity if you have problems with a  
system that you have enhanced.

Your best bet, as others here have said, is to put together your own  
system. You will get exactly what you want, and you will know what  
you have. You can also go to an integrator who will put together a  
system to your specs, in this way you can get a warranty on the  
system as a whole and not just on the individual components.

Good integrators are Monarch, IBuyPower and others. Personally I have  
had very good luck with Monarch, their prices are good,the only  
problem I have found is they tend to want to install CPU coolers that  
I consider inadequate (though they probably do meet manufacturers  
specs).