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<font face="Trebuchet MS">Hi Sean,<br>
<br>
Thanks very much for your feedback and words of encouragement :)<br>
<br>
I like the features of the Shuttle M31N in general, but I see a couple
of problems with this (for me). First of all, it has two VGA outs,
which I really don't need ... and in order to make room for the second
VGA out, they have removed the serial port, which I do plan to use (in
case the Hauppauge remote doesn't work and I need to use IRMan).
Looking at the detailed specs
(<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.shuttle.com/share/product_data/spec/MN31N_DM.pdf">http://www.shuttle.com/share/product_data/spec/MN31N_DM.pdf</a>) I see
that they have headers for two serial ports, and it seems a serial port
bracket is included in the package (see picture here --
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?image=13-150-041-02.JPG/13-150-041-01.JPG/13-150-041-03.JPG/13-150-041-04.JPG">http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?image=13-150-041-02.JPG/13-150-041-01.JPG/13-150-041-03.JPG/13-150-041-04.JPG</a>)
but that means I will have to give up a precious PCI slot in order to
make way for the serial port bracket.<br>
<br>
This being a micro atx board, I am already running short of PCI slots,
so I would prefer to use as little number of brackets as possible; for
which it is essential that the mobo back panel include most (if not
all) of the connectors I am looking for, namely S-Video, SPDIF out,
VGA, COM port, analog sound, PS/2 KB/Mouse, USB, Parallel Port etc.<br>
<br>
Thanks nonetheless for your valuable feedback !<br>
<br>
I am still looking for suggestion from folks on their experience using
the ASUS A7N8X-VM vs. Chaintech 7NIF2 ... </font><font
face="Trebuchet MS">specifically I want to know if the A7N8X-VM is as
well supported for MythTV usage as the 7NIF2. <br>
<br>
</font><font face="Trebuchet MS">I will also highly appreciate
suggestions for any other nForce2 based board(s) that is very well
supported under Linux (for MythTV usage) and has most, if not all, of
the above listed mobo back panel connectors.<br>
<br>
Any other feedback on my proposed hardware configuration will be great
too. Here is a quick refresher (so that you don't have to scroll all
the way down to the bottom of this mail :) --<br>
<br>
* Motherboard - ASUS A7N8X-VM/Chaintech 7NIF2/Chaintech 7NIL1<br>
(A7N8X-VM <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.asus.com/prog/spec.asp?m=A7N8X-VM&langs=01#">http://www.asus.com/prog/spec.asp?m=A7N8X-VM&langs=01#</a>)<br>
(7NIF2
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.chaintechusa.com/tw/eng/product_spec.asp?MPSNo=13&PISNo=15">http://www.chaintechusa.com/tw/eng/product_spec.asp?MPSNo=13&PISNo=15</a>)<br>
(7NIL1
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.chaintechusa.com/tw/eng/product_spec.asp?MPSNo=13&PISNo=14">http://www.chaintechusa.com/tw/eng/product_spec.asp?MPSNo=13&PISNo=14</a>)<br>
<br>
* Processor - AMD Athlon XP 2000+ (Palomino core)<br>
* Video/Audio/Network - Prefer to use on-board support, but can use an
AGP nVidia Video card if necessary<br>
* Memory - 512MB PC2100 RAM (as a single stick ... can add another
512MB stick if dual channel RAM is /that/ much better)<br>
* Hard Disk - 80GB Maxtor 7200RPM (DiamondMax Plus 9 series). Will add
a second 200GB disk later.<br>
* Vid Capture Card - Hauppauge WinTV PVR 250 or 350 (retail box with
remote control)<br>
* Second Vid capture card - Thinking about Avermedia M179 or M150<br>
<br>
* Case - Athenatech A106SB case (note: this only supports micro-atx
mobo)<br>
(Case Spec -- <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.athenatech.us/Brouchures/A106.pdf">http://www.athenatech.us/Brouchures/A106.pdf</a>)<br>
* Power Supply - 200W PSU that comes with the case<br>
<br>
* Optical Drive - LiteOn 52x CD-RW drive ... may upgrade to DVD drive
later<br>
* Floppy - prefer not to use one, but can use if it is absolutely
essential<br>
* IR Device - prefer to use the PVR-250/350 remote if that works well
with Myth. But I have a spare IRMan that I can use if necessary.<br>
* Linux Distro - I will be using RH 9.0 and will follow Jarod's
instructions, since that seems to be the most failproof way to get up
and running quickly<br>
<br>
<br>
Thanks !<br>
<br>
<br>
</font><br>
Sean wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="midBC033365.BA57%25shomann2@insightbb.com">
<pre wrap="">Pvrman,
Welcome!
I was in your exact shoes a few months back and you have come to the right
place for all types of advice and news concerning the phenomenon that is
MythTV.
I too was looking at a micro-Atx based system as I wanted a device the size
of a VCR or other home theater component. I looked at all the boards out
there and was kind of going towards a VIA KM400 varient (the ABIT VA-12 was
my prime choice) or an Intel 865G series board. However, I like you it
sounds, have had very good results from the nForce2 chipset in an Asus A7N8X
Deluxe. Finally (and I believe it was Jarod), someone suggested that I take
a look at the Shuttle MN31/N. It has all the usual nForce goodies including:
6 USB 2.0 connectors (2 on the back-plane/4 on the mobo)
2 Firewire 400 connections (2 on the mobo/included PCI bracket)
6-ch audio with SPDIF on-board (NO connection on the backplane, Shuttle
makes an adapter)
10/100 Ethernet
Dual-Channel 333MHz RAM (3slots, up to 1.5GB)
Dual VGA Video connect on backplane from Geforce4 IGP
Now, the most important thing to me was the firewire because I have several
external firewire enclosures already. I did not care about IGP support,
because I felt (and still do) that sharing the system RAM with the video
card could cause its own issues (I got a Chaintech 5200 FX 64MB with VGA,
DVI and Svideo and have been very happy with it). Of course, this board also
does not give an NTSC video out option though its IGP either.
About the only thing that would be a downside to this board would be it
inability for really serious overclocking. Again, this wasn't an issue to me
as the thing has MORE than enough power for Myth (usually less than 6% CPU
with both PVR-250s running, while watching recordings or DVDs). It has been
very stable (despite MY screw-ups with Linux) and reliable for me thus far.
In any case, good luck and enjoy...in less than a few days you will wonder
how you ever lived without it.
-Sean
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Hi All,
I am new to MythTV and fairly inexperienced in Linux in general. I am in the
process of building (actually still researching, but close to start building)
a new MythTV box (primarily for TV recording). I may use the other modules of
MythTV in the future, but for the time being I mostly want to watch and record
TV and may be use the Weather module from time to time. I have recently found
this list and wanted to check with you guys if my hardware selection looks
okay.
As mentioned above, I don't have much experience with Linux, but I have a fair
amount of experience in building PCs. For my new MythTV box, I want to get up
and running with as little effort as possible, and hence I have been reading
this list quite a bit to figure out which hardware configuration and Linux
distro is likely to give me the least headache. Here is what I have come up
with so far. Please give me feedback if you know about /any/ known issues with
/any/ of the items below alongwith other possible alternatives, if you know of
any.
* Motherboard - ASUS A7N8X-VM -or- Chaintech 7NIF2 -or- Chaintech 7NIL1
(please see below)
(A7N8X-VM Specs -- <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.asus.com/prog/spec.asp?m=A7N8X-VM&langs=01#">http://www.asus.com/prog/spec.asp?m=A7N8X-VM&langs=01#</a>)
(7NIF2 Specs --
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.chaintechusa.com/tw/eng/product_spec.asp?MPSNo=13&PISNo=15">http://www.chaintechusa.com/tw/eng/product_spec.asp?MPSNo=13&PISNo=15</a>)
(7NIL1 Specs --
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.chaintechusa.com/tw/eng/product_spec.asp?MPSNo=13&PISNo=14">http://www.chaintechusa.com/tw/eng/product_spec.asp?MPSNo=13&PISNo=14</a>)
* Processor - AMD Athlon XP 2000+ (Palomino core) with Alpha PAL8045 heatsink
* Video/Audio/Network - Prefer to use on-board support, but can use an AGP
nVidia Video card if necessary
* Memory - 512MB PC2100 RAM (as a single stick ... can add another 512MB stick
if dual channel RAM is /that/ much better)
* Hard Disk - 80GB Maxtor 7200RPM (DiamondMax Plus 9 series). Will add a
second 200GB disk later.
* Vid Capture Card - Hauppauge WinTV PVR 250 (retail box with remote control)
* Case - Athenatech A106SB case (note: this only supports micro-atx mobo)
(Case Spec -- <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.athenatech.us/Brouchures/A106.pdf">http://www.athenatech.us/Brouchures/A106.pdf</a>)
* Power Supply - 200W PSU that comes with the case
* Optical Drive - LiteOn 52x CD-RW drive ... may upgrade to a DVD ROM drive
later
* Floppy - prefer not to use one, but can use if it is deemed absolutely
essential
* IR Device - I prefer to use the PVR-250 remote if that works well with Myth.
But I have a spare IRMan that I can use if necessary.
* Linux Distro - I will be using RH 9.0 and will follow Jarod's instructions,
since that seems to be the most failproof way to get up and running quickly
The area where I need the most amount of feedback is in motherboard selection.
I prefer to go with the ASUS A7N8X-VM board simply because I have had very
good luck with ASUS A7N8X Deluxe boards before (in Windows though) ... but if
the Chaintech board is considered more hassle free for MythTV use, then I will
go with that. I see that Jarod also wanted to go ahead with the ASUS board at
first, but later decided to go ahead with the Chiantech board.
I understand that the ASUS board doesn't include the S-Video and SPDIF
brackets and these need to be purchased separately. However, this additional
cost is NOT my primary concern. What I really want is maximum support under
Linux for onboard accessories (e.g. audio, ethernet, video, USB/IEEE1394, I/O
etc.) ... so whichever board is considered better in that respect, will earn
my business.
Based on better Myth/Linux support, if anyone wants to suggest a different
motherboard, I am very willing to listen and possibly change my selection. The
only three constraints I have are --
- It MUST be an AMD board that supports AXP2000+ and above (266MHz FSB)
- it MUST be a Micro-ATX form factor
- should PREFERABLY be based on the nForce2 chipset
Other than these, if the board has on board video that is good, but this is
not necessary at all. I have two spare nVidia video cards that I can use in
this system (one is GeForce2 Ti200 w/64MB another GeForce4 Ti4200 w/128MB).
I see that the Chaintech 7NIL1 board is almost identical to the 7NIF2 board,
only lacking onboard video and has 4 channel sound as opposed to 6 channels
... but about $20 cheaper as well. What do you guys think about this board ?
Since this doesn't have onboard video, I will have to use either the GeForce3
Ti200 or GeForce4 Ti4200 card ... which is okay with me as long as these are
well supported by RH 9.0
Thanks very much for ANY feedback about my configuration ! Like I said, I am
VERY open to suggestions about ANY of the above components, and will highly
appreciate any feedback about known issues or other possible choices.
Thanks once again and wish you all happy holidays !
pvrman at xemaps dot com
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</pre>
</blockquote>
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