[mythtv-users] Looking for advice on components for new master system

[Dewey Smolka]

Hello all,

I'm speccing out a new master system to replace my current master
BE/FE. The goal is a system in the living room that runs mythbackend
and mysql, runs mythcomflag jobs, and can handle simultaneously one SD
channel from a Hauppauge PVR-250, two HD channels from a HDHomerun, HD
playback, and comflagging all at the same time, without causing
problems with HD playback on the master or either of the FEs.

The system will have three, eventually four, 500+ GB drives.

And it should also be quiet, though not silent.

I'm looking for the greatest value for expected performance (which is
a highly subjective measure).

A tall order, I know but here's what I'm looking at and some thoughts:

Case:

NORCO RPC-450 4U Rackmount Server Case 3 External 5.25" Drive Bays - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811219019

I'd really like to hear anyone's opinion on this case. Unless there's
a catch, a server case with room for 2 120mm fans, 2 80mm fans, an air
filter, and an unobtrusive look is well worth $75. Any hidden gotchas?


Board:

ASUS M2N-E AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131022

Seems a good deal too. I especially like the interesting means of
north bridge heat dissipation, at least if it works:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?CurImage=13-131-022-04.jpg&Image=13-131-022-02.jpg%2c13-131-022-03.jpg%2c13-131-022-04.jpg%2c13-131-022-05.jpg%2c13-131-022-06.jpg&S7ImageFlag=0&WaterMark=1&Item=N82E16813131022&Depa=1&Description=ASUS%20M2N-E%20ATX%20AMD%20Motherboard


Any experience here? How quickly does dust build up in that heatsink,
and how hard is it to blow it out?

Chip:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ Brisbane 2.8GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2
65W Dual-Core black edition Processor - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103289

Core  	Brisbane
Multi-Core 	Dual-Core
Name 	Athlon 64 X2 5400+
Operating Frequency 	2.8GHz
Hyper Transports 	2000MHz
L1 Cache 	128KB+128KB
L2 Cache 	2 x 512KB
Manufacturing Tech 	65 nm
64 bit Support 	Yes
Hyper-Transport Support 	Yes
Virtualization Technology Support 	Yes
Multimedia Instruction 	MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, 3DNOW! Professional
Voltage 	1.30 V/1.35 V
Thermal Power 	65W
Cooling Device 	Cooling device not included - Processor Only

Marked down from $87 to $77. Again, seems like an awful lot of bang
for the buck. Can it handle HD playback (with nvidia card and XvMC),
simultaneous recording of two HD sources and one SD source, and one
comflagging job at the same time? If it can, it seems a good deal; if
it can't, how high do I have to go?

CPU Cooling:

Thermaltake CL-P0296 CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835106073

Model
Brand 	Thermaltake
Series 	RX Series
Model 	CL-P0296

Fan Size 	92mm
Compatibility 	AMD Opteron/Athlon64/Athlon 64 FX/ Sempron Socket 939/754/M2
RPM 	2200±10% RPM
Air Flow 	38.7 CFM
Noise Level 	18 dBA
Power Connector 	3 Pin
Heatsink Material 	Copper
Weight 	543g

This is currently $8 off and going for $25. If it's really 18 dBA,
this seems a deal. Any real world experience with this model?

Any recommendations for AM2-compatible cooling solutions that are
quieter and in a nearby price range?


Power Supply:

XCLIO GOODPOWER 500W 500W ATX SLI Certified CrossFire Ready Power
Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817189005

$60. Has a 120mm fan, which ought to reduce noise. But the important
bit is this:

Output  	+3.3V at 30A; +5V at 28A; -5V at 0.5A; +12V1 at 16A; +12V2 at 17A;
-12V at 0.3A; +5VSB at 2.0A

Am I right in assuming that if I eventually want to be running two IDE
drives (a boot/system HDD and CD/DVD burner) and four SATA drives,
that I'm better off with this PSU's two 12V rails? I'm told that two
rails, as in this configuration, is better than a single 12V rail,
even when the single rail is capable of more amps. Any thoughts?

Video Card:

ASUS EN6200LE TC1G/TD/512M GeForce 6200LE 512MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI
Express x16 Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121249

$32. Am I still right in assuming that the 5x00 and 6x00 are more
desirable for HD playback with XvMC? Should I be looking for a 7x00 or
8x00 series card instead? Is XvMC even a concern with this chip?

RAM:

This seems too good to pass up:

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual
Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098

On sale for $37. Anyone know any issues?


Case Fans:

120mm: EVERCOOL EC-EGF-12 120mm Case Fan - Retail  (x2)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835119074

$8/ea. Run at only 800 RPM. These would be intake fans at the front.

Anyone using them? Do they really run so slow and quiet (<16dBA,
according to the specs)?

80mm: ARCTIC COOLING AF8025PWM 80mm Case Fan - Retail (x2)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186013

$7./ea. This one advertises variable RPM between 600 and 2000, and
noise level between 9.5 and 21.0 dBA. These would be exhaust fans at
the rear. I'm planning to daisy-chain two. Any experience with either
of these fans?


Plus two WD Caviar 500 GB SATA drives. I already have a third and will
probably want to add a fourth pretty soon.

Cature is through devices I already own -- SD through a PVR-250 and HD
through a HDHomerun

But I am curious if anyone has any experience with this keyboard:

BTC 9019URFIII Black 87 Normal Keys 12 Function Keys USB RF Wireless
Mini Multimedia Keyboard with Dual Mode Joystick Mouse Mouse Included
- Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823110017

Seems a good deal for $40. If the joystick-mousepointer works that's a
plus but even without the mouse it seems a good design and price for a
wireless keyboard.

Anyone have any experience with this?


I think this looks like a pretty good system for a hair over $600, but
I'd like to hear from anyone if any of these products are lemons, or
if this this rig won't be able to do what I want it to.

Thanks again,

Dewey