[mythtv-users] Building a FrontEnd Box (please help)

Brian Foddy bfoddy at visi.com
Fri Apr 13 01:49:44 UTC 2007


On Thursday 12 April 2007 08:34 pm, Raphael wrote:
> clemens at dwf.com wrote:
> > There was a thread on this list back the beginning of March discussing
> > a FE Box (FrontEnd Box) that Shane Hickey wanted to build to replace a
> > box that died.  I would like to get some similar comments on a box that I
> > want to build.
> >
> > The difference here is that everything I have is Intel, and I would hate
> > to have this one box be AMD unless there are really good reasons to go
> > that way.
>
> Well there are always good reasons for both sides. Intel has the
> performance crown right now; and I like AMD because I'm always rooting
> for the underdog. Not going to try and convert anyone though, to buy an
> A64X2 over a C2D for the same price wouldn't be too prudent right now,
> unless you had AMD mobos lying around - which you obviously don't from
> your post.
> <snip>
>
> > **CPU**
> > I cant see any advantage to using a dual core processor in this machine. 
> > It would
> > be *nice* to have two processors working from the same memory image, but
> > thats not
> > going to be the case.   So, I would suggest
> >
> >     Intel P4 631 (3.2GHz 60nm)  at about $75
>
> Comment about not needing dual core understood, except that maybe you
> might want to try a C2D because of other reasons, like heat and noise. I
> think those lower clocked C2Ds only pull something like 70W of power. A
> 3.2GHz P4, must be a Prescott(?); isn't that going to be a scorcher? I
> really don't like hearing cpu or power supply fans kick in.
>
> > ---
> >
> > **Memory**
> > Either 1 or 2GB of memory
> >
> > 	2x 512kB        at $94
> >   or    2x 1GB          at $272 (faster)
>
> For the price/perf ratio 1GB looks good there to me. That's what I use.
> Actually in my other frontend there's only 512MB and it's doing fine.
>
> > ---
> >
> > **Sound**
> > Either the onboard or a SoundBlaster Live!, I think I have an extra
> > around the house
>
> My SB live works well for output (I used it for capture a while back
> with mixed results). In general I found the SB was better than the
> onboard sound on two of my boards; they're older boards though.
> Good luck.
> Raphael
>
Not sure how it would have compared to an Intel duo-core, but my recently
built X2-3800EE for my parents has some real nice cpu slowdown and 
fan quieting features.  Most of the time (even while playing HD tv) the
cpu runs at only 1000Mhz (1/2 speed).  When the machine is totally idle,
the cpu fan completely STOPS, with the core temp stable about 30C.
That's sweet.




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