[mythtv-users] Best front-end machine?

[Brendan Pike]

On 04/09/11 02:41, Michael T. Dean wrote:
> On 09/03/2011 11:02 AM, jedi wrote:
>> On Fri, Sep 02, 2011 at 02:49:48AM -0400, Raymond Wagner wrote:
>>> On 9/2/2011 02:16, john.baab wrote:
>>>> There are some pre-built ion boxes too, which generally have smaller
>>>> cases but don't give you the flexibility of building your own.
>>> Pre-built or not, Atom-based systems have zero flexibility.  The CPU
>>      That's pretty much true of any low profile machine. It's not just
>> limited to Atom based machines. Lack of flexibility is a trade off for
>> greatly reduced size.
>>
> Losing flexibility in adding more hardware is a trade off of choosing a 
> small case.  Using a processor that can't process the data it's given in 
> any case--large or small--is just choosing to limit yourself for no good 
> reason, IMHO.
>
> You can get a good processor in a low-profile machine.  The old Apple 
> Mac Mini machines with nvidia GPUs were a good example (using a Core 2 
> Duo)--though current Mac Minis use Intel or AMD GPUs, so aren't really 
> appropriate, anymore.  And, now, the ASRock Vision 3D seems to be a 
> modern example (allowing your choice of Core i3/i5/i7 mobile processors).
>
> Mike
The ASRock Vision 3D is quite expensive compared to the Giaga
alternative though if its 'only' been used as a myth-frontend.  I'm
tempted to build my own since I want to make also use it as a audiophile
level system but buy a Giaga also for other places around my home.