[mythtv-users] Hardware Installation Support for Basic PC

[Robert]

Mark Golledge wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I'm thinking about setting up MythTV for the first time.
> 
> I've recently managed to get hold of a Compaq Evo 500 Small Form Factor 
> PC (D5S) similar to the one here: 
> http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1386319
> 
> I've only got the motherboard and case at the moment, but I'm aiming to 
> purchase the rest (RAM, CPU, HDD, Graphics Card) giving me:
> 
> Pentium 4 1.7Ghz Processor (Socket 478)
> 512MB RAM
> 120GB HDD
> 
> Unfortunately the case isn't too high so I need a half height AGP Card 
> and there is only one PCI slot (although on-board sound).
> 
> I want to be able to watch and record live digital TV (as I'm living in 
> the UK) through mythtv (perhaps using XBMC which I currently have 
> operating as the frontend).
> 
> Can you let me know whether this spec would be up to the challenge. I 
> presume because there is only 1 PCI card, I wouldn't be able to watch 
> live tv and record another channel at the same time as I'd need two tuners.

I have a similar PC running as my combined frontend / backend and it 
works just fine.  Mine is a slightly later model, but similar case and 
spec - it's a P4 2.66Ghz with 1Gb RAM and I bought it for £30!

I have a half height NVidia graphics card - so you can get them - I 
think sometimes you can buy them with interchangeable back plates so the 
same card does full height and half height.  Sometimes the HH plate is 
included, sometimes you have to buy it separately.

I have an old WinTv framegrabber card (using software encoding) and a 
DVB-S card for satellite in mine - fortunately I have 2 pci slots.

As for tuners, you should be able to get a dual DVB-T tuner - I think 
the Hauppauge dual tuner one is supported under linux.  Recording 
digital TV shouldn't tax the processor at all, and I'd imagine the 1.7 
celeron should be able to play back without any problems at all.

Robert.