<html>
<body>
<font size=3>For a client only, if you are not doing HDTV, I would
seriously consider using an Xbox. Versions after the initial
1.0/1.1 have only one fan, are relatively quiet. They have mpeg
decode hardware, can be netbooted, are in an attractive case, have a DVD
player, and used on eBay or Craigslist are around $100 or so. Avoid
the Xbox 360. <br><br>
You would have to put some additional effort at implementing a "soft
mod" (or $ and do a "chip mod") to allow it to boot Linux,
but the web is full of discussions on this. There is a MythTV
package specifically for Xbox. <br><br>
-- Mache Creeger<br><br>
See
<a href="http://bit.blkbk.com/" eudora="autourl">http://bit.blkbk.com/<br>
<br>
</a>At 08:45 AM 6/16/2006, Intense Red wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""> > Case (something that
I can put in my living room) -<br><br>
This is always a tradeoff. Small and quiet is nice,
but small generally <br>
equals heat issues. I can't offer any advice on this point but it
does amaze <br>
me at how expensive HTPC cases are...<br><br>
> Mobo -<br><br>
Avoid VIA chipsets. There's a page in the MythTV wiki
or docs that lists <br>
out some mobo cautions.<br><br>
> RAM (not sure how much to get) -<br><br>
I'd recommend 1 GB as a nice, round number. But 512
would do if you're <br>
careful; this all depends on your GNU/Linux distro and specific <br>
configuration.<br><br>
> Video card (thinking one of those fanless GeForce FX5200)
-<br><br>
That'd be a good choice as it's got both free and non-free
drivers. One <br>
question is TV-out? Do you need it? If so, do you use it on
the video card <br>
or built onto the tuner card?<br><br>
> DVD burner -<br><br>
Generic; most seem to work fine with Linux.<br><br>
> PS (thinking about a seasonic 330W) -<br><br>
Another trade-off issue between power and noise. Be
aware that some PSs <br>
lie about actually giving their full amount of power they claim on the
<br>
sticker.<br><br>
> Tuner card (don't have an HDTV) -<br><br>
Myself, I like the Happauge line (check the list archives,
there are good <br>
discussions on the various Happauge models). I have a PVR-350 and
500 and <br>
don't regret that purchase. The 350's TV-out is nice. If I
didn't need the <br>
TV-out a 500 would be a nice solution to give 2 tuners on one card.
(Be <br>
advised that these are not "mini" cards; this could be an issue
if you go <br>
with a tiny case.)<br><br>
And FWIW, since these PVR cards do encoding and/or decoding
on the card <br>
itself, your 2.4 GHz CPU will be overkill. I'm in the same boat,
but the way <br>
I look at it that just gives me more CPU cycles to use for BOINC
seti@home <br>
processing. :-)<br><br>
-- <br>
"You know, when I was growing up, or other Baby Boomers here were
growing up, <br>
we felt safe because we had these vast oceans that could protect us from
<br>
harm's way." -- George Bush, Jan. 11, 2006. Was Bush lying again or
simply <br>
displaying that in his youth he had never heard of nuclear missiles or
<br>
airplanes that drop bombs? <br>
<<a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/01/20060111-7.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/01/20060111-7.html</a>
><br>
_______________________________________________<br>
mythtv-users mailing list<br>
mythtv-users@mythtv.org<br>
<a href="http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users" eudora="autourl">
http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users</a></font>
</blockquote></body>
</html>