[mythtv-users] Need Help/Advice new Frontend/Backend Build

[Erik Sejr]

Hello,
My former Mythtv frontend/backend died a horrible horrible death. As
such I need to replace it and I'm looking for some advice/assistance on
the build. My goals for this machine are as follows:

-Run both MythTV frontend and backend, including VDPAU support.
-Capable of recording both HD (via HDMI or composite) and standard
analog cable. I live in Canada so we have no OTA HD, it would be off a
cable box. Possibly via firewire as well.
-Run a local-only instance of Sendmail
-Run a small IMAP mail server for personal e-mail
-Run a instance of asterisk for a small home-brew PBX
-HTTPd for Mythweb, Webmail and FreePBX

I had all this going (minus the HD stuff) on a single core Athlon64,
1.6GHz, 2GB RAM before it died. That machine just had a WinTV PVR 3xx
tuner/MPEG2 encoder, it didn't record any HD and could barely play HD
videos/trailers back at 1080p.

Here's what I've been thinking of so far, and the reason I was going to
use it:

* Geforce GT220 Based Video Card - The brand doesn't matter much, and a
realize that there's not many (if any) fanless options here. Thats OK
though, can someone recommend a relatively quiet one? I'd also like to
use HDMI w/audio for the output to the TV.

* Antec Fusion Remote MAX Case -
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=46220&vpn=FUSION%20REMOTE%20MAX&manufacture=Antec

I know this is a large case, but I may need to use a ATX motherboard as
most mATX don't have 2x GigE ports and enough expansion slots to add
another tuner if needed. I'm not too concerned about the size. If anyone
has a similar recommended case I'd love to know about it.

* Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 -
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=34543&vpn=GA-EX58-UD5&manufacture=Gigabyte

Chosen just because it has all the features I need, and they're giving a
deal on RAM if you buy it and a i7.

* CPU will be a lower-end i7 (cheapest one) w/ 3GB RAM

* Tuner - Can someone suggest one based on the information above? I'm
new to HD in combination with MythTV (I've been working with just SD for
a long time) I'm not really familiar with my options in regards to HD
capture cards/tuners.

* PSU - Antec Truepower 550W Modular -
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=36262&vpn=TP-550&manufacture=Antec

Should be plenty to run this system, really just looking for a quiet
modular PSU so I don't have a cable jungle in the case.

* HD - One smallish hard drive just for the system, I have a 4TB Gigabit
NAS to take care of the storage of recordings.

* CD/DVD - Elcheapo CD/DVD ROM, not looking for blu-ray (yet).

This comes in just under my budget of $1500.

Any recommendations you can make are appreciated.

Thanks,
Erik