[mythtv-users] Where to start?

Brian Wood beww at beww.org
Tue Jan 9 12:17:26 UTC 2007


On Jan 9, 2007, at 5:03 AM, Damian Surr wrote:

>
>>>
>> 120Mhz ??? Do you perhaps mean 1200 or is that machine *really* old?
>> Since you say it has DIMMs I'm assuming you mean 1200Mhz.
>>
> Sorry, yes, it's a 1200MHz!

That's what I figured. My first PC ran at 4.7 Mhz. (not a typo), but  
"athlon" and "DIMMS" indicated you were probably running at 1200.

>>>
>> The PVR cards will not help you with the reception any digital TV in
>> the UK. You could perhaps use the MPEG decoder output of a PVR-350
>> but that would be a waste of money as the nVidia cards are much
>> cheaper, and the 350s output is no longer being actively developed
>> and won't do the OpenGL stuff or HD. The tuners would be useless but
>> the encoders could be used with composite SD material if you had some
>> sort of STB that output that sort of signal.
>>
> Right, thanks for that. I'm left wondering what to buy again though.
>>> Also, the output.
>>> Can my ATI All in Wonder Pro do the output? What kind of output do I
>>> need? Is it different if I use a projector? Different if I'd like
>>> higher
>>> res graphics when emailing etc using the projector?
>>>
>> The nVidia 5200s are pretty much the baseline for Myth systems. You
>> don't mention if you have an AGP slot - if you don't you'll have to
>> try and get a PCI card, but if you *really* have a 120Mhz. system you
>> may need an ISA or VESA video card.
>>
> Right, I'll look into the nVidia 5200, thanks. And yes, I believe  
> the motherboard has an AGP2 slot.
>> Some folks are using ATI cards but they seem to have a lot of trouble
>> with them. I don't think you can use XvMC with them, which you may
>> well need on a slow machine.
>>
> Right, I'll ditch the ATI card then. Does the nVidia5200 have the  
> XvMC you mentioned? I'll have a look.

Yes, any nVidia-based card since the MX4 (I think) does XvMC under  
Linux. The 5200s are "baseline" because they are cheap,easily  
available and can be had fan-less. I've seen them as low as $30US but  
I know prices in the UK are ridiculous.

As I said, ATI cards *can* be used, but with that CPU you will need  
XvMC for any HD programming and maybe even for SD if you want to de- 
interlace and/or commflag at the same time. I'm not sure what  
resolutions are presently being used in the UK.


> There's a 250GB disk in there at the moment. I'll maybe add more  
> when I see how it's getting used.

That's certainly enough to start with, it would give you enough room  
for the OS and Myth plus about 100 hours of DVD-quality MPEG2.
>
> Can anyone offer advice on TV tuners for Freeview in the UK?  
> Someone posted on another tread that I'd need a satellite dish. Is  
> that right? I thought it came though a normal aerial.

That you will have to find out from some of your EU brethren.


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