[mythtv-users] ananolg tuner recommendations

[Mark]

Brian Wood wrote:
> It's certainly cheaper to just let the CPU do the job, as opposed to putting 
> compression hardware on the card. It's the old "WinModem" theory. Now that 
> most Windows machines being sold are way overpowered for what the buyers need, 
> it almost makes sense.
>
> Most buyers just want to watch TV on their Windows machines, and buy based on 
> price, this does not lead to many cards optimized for Myth systems. As you 
> said, there weren't that many of them even before the digital changeover.
>
> Maybe we need a reverse Broadcom Crystal HD module, to handle compression.
>   
I don't know that it is cheaper to do it in cpu cycles or not, my gut 
feel is not, seems like dedicated hardware
can do it with less watt input than cpu.  I know that my proc didn't go 
into low power mode while the tuners were
recording, that's for sure.  I couldn't believe how much power it was 
taking to record two streams at once.
The quad 6600 isn't exactly a lightweight proc.   I still like the 
Nvidia ION approach to things.  Keep the watts
on the grid when I can, it doesn't do me any good to pay for them....  :)