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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>After reading over the many welcome comments in my
first attempt at designing my<BR>first MythTV box (<A
href="http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/289526">http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/289526</A>),<BR>I've
put together my revised shopping list.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I'm tired of VHS tapes and multiple VCRs so I've
decided to build a MythTV box.<BR>While I've used various flavors of UNIX for
the last 20+ years as both a user<BR>and a developer, this will be my first
Linux machine and my first build. I'm<BR>planning on following the instructions
in "Practical MythTV" and using Ubuntu to<BR>set up a combined FE/BE. I want
some room for expansion - more disk and capture<BR>cards. If this works
out like I hope, I'll probably split the FE and BE in a<BR>couple of years. I'd
also like it quiet. It'll be in the entertainment cabinet<BR>with the
TV.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I'm looking for recommendations to the following.
Over built? Under built?<BR>Too noisy? Too hot? Too ugly? Too geeky? Not geeky
enough?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The TV is not digital and wont be for a few years
yet.<BR>I have 3 different inputs:<BR>* analog cable<BR>* cable converter box
for scrambled channels - Motorola DCT2224/1662/ACDEG<BR> - It has a 9 pin
Female D connector labeled data<BR> - It has what looks like a phono plug
labeled IR<BR>* and the afore mentioned VCRs - I'd like to convert some of those
tapes...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV><BR>Here's my current <A
href="http://www.newegg.com">http://www.newegg.com</A> shopping list...</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I'm not sure which case I like better. The 288 supports a VFD display. But
it<BR>doesn't look like it is Linux compatible. Is there a consensus as to which
of<BR>these is better? How about other cases - preferably <
$100?<BR> nMEDIAPC HTPC 288BA Black Steel &
Aluminum Panel MicroATX Media Center / HTPC Desktop Computer
Case<BR> <A
href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811204022">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811204022</A><BR>
Model #: HTPC 288BA<BR> Item #:
N82E16811204022<BR> $99.99</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> nMEDIAPC HTPC 200BA Black
Aluminum/Plastic/Steel MicroATX Media Center / HTPC Desktop Computer
Case<BR> <A
href="http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811204004">http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811204004</A><BR>
Model #: HTPC 200BA<BR> Item #:
N82E16811204004<BR> $89.99</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> FSP Group (Fortron Source) FSP400-60THN
ATX2.0 400W Power Supply - OEM<BR> <A
href="http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817104032">http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817104032</A><BR>
Model #: FSP400-60THN OEM<BR> Item #:
N82E16817104032<BR> $41.99<BR>Not sure if this is
quite enough. Just going by what the reviews say about it.<BR>Is 400W enough for
this base system plus a couple of more disks and another<BR>capture card?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I'm also considering the Antec Fusion cases. They come with a PSU, so
I<BR>wouldn't need the above. Do both of these VFDs work with Linux? Or just
the<BR>Veris model? Not sure I'm happy with only 2 HD slots.<BR>I've gone cross
eyed looking at cases. Does anyone have a better
suggestion?<BR> Antec FUSION Silver Aluminum/steel
MicroATX Media Center Computer Case 430W Power Supply -
Retail<BR> <A
href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129131">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129131</A><BR>
Model #: FUSION<BR> Item #:
N82E16811129131<BR> $179.99 - $20.00 instant
rebate</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> Antec Veris Fusion Black 0.8mm cold rolled
steel/ Aluminum plate front bezel MicroATX Media Center Computer Case430W Power
Supply - Retail<BR> <A
href="http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811129030">http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811129030</A><BR>
Model #: Fusion Black<BR> Item #:
N82E16811129030<BR> $219.99 - $20.00 instant
rebate</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> ASUS M2NBP-VM CSM AM2 NVIDIA Quadro NVS 210S
Micro ATX AMD Motherboard<BR> <A
href="http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131072">http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131072</A><BR>
Model #: M2NBP-VM CSM<BR> Item #:
N82E16813131072<BR> $76.99</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> Hauppauge WinTV-PVR 500 MCE White box PCI
Interface Personal Video Recorder<BR> <A
href="http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16815116628">http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16815116628</A><BR>
Model #: 1081<BR> Item #:
N82E16815116628<BR> $139.99<BR>I picked up a
Hauppauge WinTV GO-Plus cheap from my local CompUSA when it was<BR>going out of
business. Don't know if the card will work with Linux or not yet,<BR>but I
figured I could make use of the IR Blaster and remote that came with it.<BR>I'd
like to add another PVR 500 in the not too distant future.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The HD Homerun looks interesting when I go digital (probably in a couple
of<BR>years).</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Windsor 2.2GHz Socket
AM2 Processor Model ADA4200CUBOX<BR> <A
href="http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103747">http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103747</A><BR>
Model #: ADA4200CUBOX<BR> Item #:
N82E16819103747<BR> $74.00<BR>Do I need a fan or
heat sink for this? It and the MOBO do support Cool'n'Quite.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> Kingston ValueRAM 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2
SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model
KVR800D2N5K2/2G<BR> <A
href="http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820134117">http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820134117</A><BR>
Model #: KVR800D2N5K2/2G<BR> Item #:
N82E16820134117<BR> $98.99<BR>This is Non ECC
memory. Is ECC memory better?<BR>Do other brands have better reputations?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> Seagate Barracuda ES ST3500630NS 500GB 7200
RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM<BR> <A
href="http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822148151">http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822148151</A><BR>
Model #: ST3500630NS<BR> Item #:
N82E16822148151<BR> $149.99<BR>I'll add more disk
as I need it. Is the ES version worth the extra $40?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA
Model SH-S203B - OEM<BR> <A
href="http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827151153">http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827151153</A><BR>
Model #: SH-S203B<BR> Item #:
N82E16827151153<BR> $30.99<BR>Is it better to use
a PATA burner? Keep the SATA connectors open for HDs?<BR>Although, the reviews
for the PATA version of this burner weren't very good.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>What about keyboards? Do the MCE ones, with all of the their special video
<BR>function keys, work with Linux? I'd like to go wireless. Probably not IR
though;<BR>I suspect line-of-sight could be a problem.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I'm also thinking about wireless LAN. My wired switch is half way across
the<BR>house. It's a Netgear WGT624v2. Any card/USB dongle
recommendations?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Am I forgetting anything?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Thanks for you shared expertise...<BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>-Chuck Rudolph<BR>Email: <A
href="mailto:rudolph4404@comcast.net">rudolph4404@comcast.net</A></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>