[mythtv-users] AM2 Motherboard with PCI slots galore

[Brian Wood]

Blammo wrote:
> On Fri, Feb 15, 2008 at 6:54 AM, Brian Wood <beww at beww.org> wrote:
>> <SNIP>
>> I guess you would have to go to server class mobos to get away from
>> products designed for gamers.
> 
> That's the conclusion I came to, however, even in most of the newer
> server class motherboards, the PCI slots are getting harder and harder
> to come by as well. PCI-X or PCI-E is it.
> 
> I'm in somewhat of the same situation as you. I have (4) PCI-based
> ATSC tuners, and looking to upgrade my backend. I'm not sure if this
> would work for your individual situation, but I'm strongly considering
> buying (2) of the HD Homerun boxes, and ditching the PCI tuners. In
> reality, in my entire Myth setup (backends, frontends, etc) the tuners
> are the only thing I need PCI for.
> 
> Ditching the PCI-tuners and going with 2 HDHR's, means that I can run
> a backend server motherboard with zero extra cards (save the raid card
> which is PCI-X, and every server motherboard in the last 5 years
> supports). GIG-E, lower-class video, etc, all on the motherboard.
> 
> Something to consider...

That's certainly a solution for digital sources, but not for analog 
ones. The HDHR is a digital-only device.

Other than PCI cards, the only analog capture solution I'm aware of is 
the Plextor ConvertX units. Myth does not support the MPEG2 modes of 
these units, only the MPEG4 modes, so that's not a perfect solution.

Of course there is the dual-tuner PVR-500, which does economize on PCI 
slots. My impression from reading this list is that the 500s work, but 
seem to have a few more problems than the 150/250/350 units. If you 
already own many single-tuner units getting rid of them and buying 500s 
is a significant expense.

Of course analog is supposed to go away in the USA in a year, so I 
suspect there won't be too much development of new analog tuners.

beww