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<TITLE>Re: [mythtv-users] New MythBox H/W Check - 7NIF2/A7N8X-VM/7NIL1 + 512MB/80GB/PVR-250/A106SB Case/200W PSU</TITLE>
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<BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Verdana"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'>Pvrman,<BR>
<BR>
You are 100% right in everything you said. The only thing that bares pointing out is that your video-out card would likely be AGP, in other words a slot that won’t be used for any other type of card. Any bracket can be placed here instead of taking up a PCI slot. The other side to the issue is that on-board video will not save space for more PCI expansion.<BR>
<BR>
Like I said, Firewire was high priority for me, and I , like you, did not want all the expansion slots filled. The way I got around this issue was to physically mod the back of my case. I was able to mount the SPDIF connector and a Firewire port here that utilized the mobo headers while still leaving an expansion slot free. <BR>
<BR>
The Chaintech is likely the best, most available option to you. But here are a few others I was looking at:<BR>
<BR>
Aopen makes a board that supports TV-Out and firewire:<BR>
<a href="http://usa.aopen.com/products/mb/MK79G-1394.htm">http://usa.aopen.com/products/mb/MK79G-1394.htm</a><BR>
<BR>
Leadtek makes a board that supplies the SPDIF and TV-Out on a bracket:<BR>
<a href="http://www.leadtek.com/motherboard/winfast_k7ncr18gm_1.html">http://www.leadtek.com/motherboard/winfast_k7ncr18gm_1.html</a><BR>
<BR>
The best back panel audio I have seen in the microATX size is from ABIT, but they don’t have a nForce2 solution. The KM400 chipset will support your processor so check out the VA-10 or VA-11:<BR>
<a href="http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/">http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/</a><BR>
<BR>
Finding a board with both SPDIF and TV-Out on the back panel (without brackets) is hard if not impossible at the moment. Please let me know if you do find one, just to satisfy my curiousity.<BR>
<BR>
Again, good luck, I agonized over the purchase for just about as long as getting my system built (total Linux and Myth nOOb)<BR>
<BR>
-Sean<BR>
<BR>
P.S. Here are my system specs if they can help you out:<BR>
<BR>
Enermax 10073 Black microATX case<BR>
Shuttle MN31/N nForce2 MOBO<BR>
2 x 256MB Value Select Corsair RAM (what’s overclocking again? ;) )<BR>
60 GB IBM “Death”Star HD (actually had good luck with these guys)<BR>
200 GB Western Digital WD2000JB HD (I had this in another box, could possibly go to a 5400 RPM drive)<BR>
Sony DDU1621 Black DVD-ROM<BR>
Chaintech 5200 FX AGP Video Card (VGA/DVI/SVIDEO)<BR>
2 x Hauppauge PVR-250 OEM Capture cards (so very glad I spent the bucks on these, they rock!)<BR>
<BR>
If I had to do over again, I would likely do the same thing, but possibly go fullATX with an appropriate case. I still have my eye on a Coolermaster ATC-620 case, esp if I decide to add more storage.<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
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 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 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 ... specifically I want to know if the A7N8X-VM is as well supported for MythTV usage as the 7NIF2. <BR>
<BR>
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 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 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 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 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>
<BR>
Sean wrote:<BR>
</SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Verdana"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'> <BR>
Pvrman,<BR>
<BR>
Welcome!<BR>
<BR>
I was in your exact shoes a few months back and you have come to the right<BR>
place for all types of advice and news concerning the phenomenon that is<BR>
MythTV.<BR>
<BR>
I too was looking at a micro-Atx based system as I wanted a device the size<BR>
of a VCR or other home theater component. I looked at all the boards out<BR>
there and was kind of going towards a VIA KM400 varient (the ABIT VA-12 was<BR>
my prime choice) or an Intel 865G series board. However, I like you it<BR>
sounds, have had very good results from the nForce2 chipset in an Asus A7N8X<BR>
Deluxe. Finally (and I believe it was Jarod), someone suggested that I take<BR>
a look at the Shuttle MN31/N. It has all the usual nForce goodies including:<BR>
<BR>
6 USB 2.0 connectors (2 on the back-plane/4 on the mobo)<BR>
2 Firewire 400 connections (2 on the mobo/included PCI bracket)<BR>
6-ch audio with SPDIF on-board (NO connection on the backplane, Shuttle<BR>
makes an adapter)<BR>
10/100 Ethernet<BR>
Dual-Channel 333MHz RAM (3slots, up to 1.5GB)<BR>
Dual VGA Video connect on backplane from Geforce4 IGP<BR>
<BR>
Now, the most important thing to me was the firewire because I have several<BR>
external firewire enclosures already. I did not care about IGP support,<BR>
because I felt (and still do) that sharing the system RAM with the video<BR>
card could cause its own issues (I got a Chaintech 5200 FX 64MB with VGA,<BR>
DVI and Svideo and have been very happy with it). Of course, this board also<BR>
does not give an NTSC video out option though its IGP either.<BR>
<BR>
About the only thing that would be a downside to this board would be it<BR>
inability for really serious overclocking. Again, this wasn't an issue to me<BR>
as the thing has MORE than enough power for Myth (usually less than 6% CPU<BR>
with both PVR-250s running, while watching recordings or DVDs). It has been<BR>
very stable (despite MY screw-ups with Linux) and reliable for me thus far.<BR>
<BR>
In any case, good luck and enjoy...in less than a few days you will wonder<BR>
how you ever lived without it.<BR>
<BR>
-Sean<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
</SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Verdana"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'> <BR>
Hi All,<BR>
<BR>
I am new to MythTV and fairly inexperienced in Linux in general. I am in the<BR>
process of building (actually still researching, but close to start building)<BR>
a new MythTV box (primarily for TV recording). I may use the other modules of<BR>
MythTV in the future, but for the time being I mostly want to watch and record<BR>
TV and may be use the Weather module from time to time. I have recently found<BR>
this list and wanted to check with you guys if my hardware selection looks<BR>
okay.<BR>
<BR>
As mentioned above, I don't have much experience with Linux, but I have a fair<BR>
amount of experience in building PCs. For my new MythTV box, I want to get up<BR>
and running with as little effort as possible, and hence I have been reading<BR>
this list quite a bit to figure out which hardware configuration and Linux<BR>
distro is likely to give me the least headache. Here is what I have come up<BR>
with so far. Please give me feedback if you know about /any/ known issues with<BR>
/any/ of the items below alongwith other possible alternatives, if you know of<BR>
any.<BR>
<BR>
* Motherboard - ASUS A7N8X-VM -or- Chaintech 7NIF2 -or- Chaintech 7NIL1<BR>
(please see below)<BR>
(A7N8X-VM Specs -- <a 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 Specs -- <BR>
<a 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 Specs -- <BR>
<a 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) with Alpha PAL8045 heatsink<BR>
* Video/Audio/Network - Prefer to use on-board support, but can use an AGP<BR>
nVidia Video card if necessary<BR>
* Memory - 512MB PC2100 RAM (as a single stick ... can add another 512MB stick<BR>
if dual channel RAM is /that/ much better)<BR>
* Hard Disk - 80GB Maxtor 7200RPM (DiamondMax Plus 9 series). Will add a<BR>
second 200GB disk later.<BR>
* Vid Capture Card - Hauppauge WinTV PVR 250 (retail box with remote control)<BR>
* Case - Athenatech A106SB case (note: this only supports micro-atx mobo)<BR>
(Case Spec -- <a 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 a DVD ROM drive<BR>
later<BR>
* Floppy - prefer not to use one, but can use if it is deemed absolutely<BR>
essential<BR>
* IR Device - I prefer to use the PVR-250 remote if that works well with Myth.<BR>
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,<BR>
since that seems to be the most failproof way to get up and running quickly<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
The area where I need the most amount of feedback is in motherboard selection.<BR>
I prefer to go with the ASUS A7N8X-VM board simply because I have had very<BR>
good luck with ASUS A7N8X Deluxe boards before (in Windows though) ... but if<BR>
the Chaintech board is considered more hassle free for MythTV use, then I will<BR>
go with that. I see that Jarod also wanted to go ahead with the ASUS board at<BR>
first, but later decided to go ahead with the Chiantech board.<BR>
<BR>
I understand that the ASUS board doesn't include the S-Video and SPDIF<BR>
brackets and these need to be purchased separately. However, this additional<BR>
cost is NOT my primary concern. What I really want is maximum support under<BR>
Linux for onboard accessories (e.g. audio, ethernet, video, USB/IEEE1394, I/O<BR>
etc.) ... so whichever board is considered better in that respect, will earn<BR>
my business.<BR>
<BR>
Based on better Myth/Linux support, if anyone wants to suggest a different<BR>
motherboard, I am very willing to listen and possibly change my selection. The<BR>
only three constraints I have are --<BR>
<BR>
- It MUST be an AMD board that supports AXP2000+ and above (266MHz FSB)<BR>
- it MUST be a Micro-ATX form factor<BR>
- should PREFERABLY be based on the nForce2 chipset<BR>
<BR>
Other than these, if the board has on board video that is good, but this is<BR>
not necessary at all. I have two spare nVidia video cards that I can use in<BR>
this system (one is GeForce2 Ti200 w/64MB another GeForce4 Ti4200 w/128MB).<BR>
<BR>
I see that the Chaintech 7NIL1 board is almost identical to the 7NIF2 board,<BR>
only lacking onboard video and has 4 channel sound as opposed to 6 channels<BR>
... but about $20 cheaper as well. What do you guys think about this board ?<BR>
Since this doesn't have onboard video, I will have to use either the GeForce3<BR>
Ti200 or GeForce4 Ti4200 card ... which is okay with me as long as these are<BR>
well supported by RH 9.0<BR>
<BR>
Thanks very much for ANY feedback about my configuration ! Like I said, I am<BR>
VERY open to suggestions about ANY of the above components, and will highly<BR>
appreciate any feedback about known issues or other possible choices.<BR>
<BR>
Thanks once again and wish you all happy holidays !<BR>
<BR>
pvrman at xemaps dot com<BR>
<BR>
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