<br>
"Chris, when you say 600MHz PIII, is that with a hardware MPEG encoder/decoder or without? For SD that is"<br>
<br>That is for hardware encode/software decode. <br>
<br>
Hardware encoding is really the only way to go, IMO. I had a
software encoding capture card for awhile ,and the picture just
sucked. I suppose with enough processor you could crank up the
quality, but it just isn't worth it for a dedicated myth box.<br>
<br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 1/18/06, <b class="gmail_sendername">Chris Hembrow</b> <<a href="mailto:chris.hembrow@pixelseventy2.net">chris.hembrow@pixelseventy2.net</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
the epia sp 8000 is 800mhz fanless, and has hardware mpeg-4<br>acceleration. That's my next front end :)<br><br>On 18/01/06, Gavin Haslett <<a href="mailto:gavin@nodecaf.net">gavin@nodecaf.net</a>> wrote:<br>>
The Epia P is a great board for a Myth-like box... my next frontend
will probably have that (for my bedroom) because a fanless
configuration would be nice.<br>><br>> However, it's not without
its flaws. The 600Mhz CPU is barely powerful enough to run a frontend
and backend together... forget trying to use it to transcode. The core
is based on the old Cyrix core, so a lot of the math takes a back seat
to integer performance. Not a big deal with video, but when dealing
with compression/decompression of MPEG-2 or 4 streams this can start to
saturate these 600Mhz CPUs pretty quickly. All Pentium-class CPU's are
not made equal... bear that in mind when shopping for a media-PC.<br>><br>> Oh, and on the 600Mhz, if you're running MythMusic then better not try to run full-screen visualizations either :)<br>><br>>
I would also point out that even with the XvMC support for these
boards, don't try HD content. You need a LOT more muscle than this to
pump HD to the screen, even the 1Ghz version of the board won't handle
it.<br>><br>> Be aware of the specs also; I'm not sure if the
Epia P does come in a 1.3Ghz form, I think it tops at 1Ghz as I recall.
Either way, as pointed out above since it's based on the Cyrix core
some of the floating point ops are a little slower than a similarly
clocked Intel or AMD. However, the heat and electricity used are a lot
nicer in these cores.<br>><br>> We're still in a phase where
embedded systems are a huge compromise... but the situation's improving
dramatically and continues to. Now, if we can only see some lower
prices on the hardware :)<br>><br>> -----Original Message-----<br>> From: <a href="mailto:mythtv-users-bounces@mythtv.org">mythtv-users-bounces@mythtv.org</a> on behalf of Chris Weisiger<br>> Sent: Tue 1/17/2006 10:53 PM
<br>> To: Discussion about mythtv<br>> Cc:<br>> Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] Looking for good specifications for mythTV<br>><br>><br>><br>> Here is the link<br>><br>>
<a href="http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/mainboards/mini_itx/epia_sp/index.jsp">http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/mainboards/mini_itx/epia_sp/index.jsp</a><br>><br>> Chris Weisiger wrote:<br>><br>>
>The thing is with the mini-itx stuff is that I have an old NES and
i was<br>> >reading about<br>>
>building mini-itx systems and thought while im building it...to
build it<br>> >in a way<br>> >to use it as a pvr system.....which i was looking at getting a mini-itx<br>> >board<br>> >that can handle a 1.3 or so processor<br>> >
<br>> >This is the motherboard that I was looking into getting....thats if i<br>> >cant locate<br>> >a mini-itx to handle a pentium processor<br>> ><br>> >
<br>> ><br>> >Gavin Haslett wrote:<br>> ><br>> ><br>> ><br>> >>So long as you're not trying any HD content, this is probably good<br>>
>>(though that one's obvious given the 350). I run mine on an AMD
800 with<br>>
>>768MB RAM and it runs like a champ. Single PVR-250 and an
NVIDIA card<br>> >>running XvMC for playback.<br>> >><br>> >>-----Original Message-----<br>> >>From: <a href="mailto:mythtv-users-bounces@mythtv.org">mythtv-users-bounces@mythtv.org
</a><br>> >>[mailto:<a href="mailto:mythtv-users-bounces@mythtv.org">mythtv-users-bounces@mythtv.org</a>] On Behalf Of Chris Weisiger<br>> >>Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 10:02 PM<br>> >>To: Discussion about mythtv
<br>> >>Subject: [mythtv-users] Looking for good specifications for mythTV<br>> >><br>>
>>What are some good specs for a mythTV box..I have seen specs
for high<br>>
>>end machines doing multiple recordings....I am not looking into
doing<br>> >>such things...<br>> >><br>> >>All i am looking for is to record a single channel while watching<br>> >>it....and the possibility to pause live tv...
<br>> >>just a basic recording box....<br>> >><br>>
>>I am looking into buiding a mini-itx box with laptop
components....slim<br>>
>>line cd/dvd, laptop hard drive, dimm or sodimm memory depending
on what<br>> >>type of mini-itx motherboard i get or is recommended....<br>> >><br>>
>>What is the lowest possible processor speed to accomplish
recording and<br>> >>pausing live tv....<br>> >><br>> >>i was looking into getting a mini-itx with a 1.3 processor? and a<br>> >>pvr-350 card?<br>> >>
<br>> >>i know memory helps the system..so i was planning on maxing out the<br>>
>>memory..i found a mini-itx board that can support 2 gig or
ram...and the<br>>
>>hard drive space of course is not an issue for me to deal
with...it is<br>> >>basically the processor speed..<br>> >>being this is the first<br>> >>attempt at creating a mythTV box...<br>> >><br>> >>_______________________________________________
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> >><br>> >><br>> >>.<br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> ><br>
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