[mythtv-users] Hardware advice

[Duncan Brown]

plainfaceboy wrote:
>
> I'm planning on building an HTPC (also for internet and general use), 
> and after a bit of research am thinking of Mythdora, (I've not really 
> used a linux box to any degree), and re. hardware, so far I'm looking 
> at the following for case, MB and CPU;
> Silverstone Grandia GD01S-MXR Silver Desktop (with the display - I 
> know this has caused some people problems, but it does seem to work?)
> ASUS M3N78 PRO
> AMD Athlon 64 X2 4850e AM2 Dual Core 2.5GHz
>
> Would be using this with a Sony HD TV (with HDMI), and want the full 
> ATX to provide more options for expansion etc. Can anyone confirm if 
> this MB would work ok with MythTV and especially Mythdora?.
> It seems support for the integrated nVidia graphics is better than for 
> the ATX (780G), but it would be good to confirm Mythdora does work ok 
> with this?
>
> Will probably get a 500GB - 1TB HD and DVD-RW for now (Blu-Ray can wait).
>
> Not sure about tuners - I would want something to capture analogue 
> (old videos and camcorders etc), and as I'm in UK something to get 
> freeview (dual channel so I can watch and record?)
> I do also have an old sky dish and box - could I get a a card that 
> would replace my sky box - or is this not worth doing?
> What would be the easiest, most reliable way of doing all this?
>
> I'll probably have even more questions as I get into this, but any 
> help would hopefully set me in the right direction, and get me started 
> actually building something!
> Thanks.
>
Hi there

As you mentioned in your off-list mail, I am using an almost identical 
setup. Apologies for not noticing this mail earlier.

When I originally started building using this board it was a real pain 
to get working, now I know more it is working fine. This was after 
trying every distro I could find, and eventually settling on fedora 9.

Sata worked out the box with f9, with anything else I needed to pass 
various kernel options.

The onboard sound was recoginised out the box by both ubuntu and fedora, 
but was very crackly. This was solved by the latest bios upgrade 
available. (it wasnt released till almost 6 weeks after I bought the board)

The onboard graphics worked fine with the latest nvidia drivers (non 
beta) from atrpms. I am using the standard d-sub output to my 720p HDTV. 
I have not tried the HDMI output so have no idea about that. I seem to 
remember I had real issues with mythbuntu and the graphics though.

I am using it with 2 kworld DVB-T cards and a kworld DVB-S card. (all 
bought off ebay for less than 20 quid). The DVB-S card is connected to a 
sky dish that came with my flat and gets freesat fine.

As for the processor, it seems powerful enough for any HD file I 
download. I cannot playback anything recorded off BBC-HD though. I am 
not sure if this is a processor problem, or just a mythtv one, as I know 
BBC-HD is a bit weird.. Either way I just watch it via my PS3 through upnp

Hope this helps

Dunc