<p>Check out what I have listed on <a href="http://mythtvcast.com/store">http://mythtvcast.com/store</a>. Use it as a guide to grab components that are right for you. I built the proposed master backend and it is virtually silent. Adjust according to your needs. Let me know if questions on any of the items I have listed there. </p>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Jun 23, 2012 3:32 AM, "Simon Hobson" <<a href="mailto:linux@thehobsons.co.uk">linux@thehobsons.co.uk</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
Damian wrote:<br>
<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
- Needs to be quiet .. almost silent! (My wife is incredibly sound sensitive)<br>
- The machine will also be the house network server, so needs at least a 1TB HD and will be left turned on all of the time.<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
I use an HP Microserver for a backend - which seem to be on permanent cashback offer from HP :<br>
<a href="http://www.ebuyer.com/281915-hp-proliant-turion-ii-n40l-microserver-100-cashback-658553-421" target="_blank">http://www.ebuyer.com/281915-<u></u>hp-proliant-turion-ii-n40l-<u></u>microserver-100-cashback-<u></u>658553-421</a><br>
(mine's the earlier N36 with slightly lower specs)<br>
<br>
Can't say what it would be like running a fronend with it, but as a backend it can sit there and only pulls 40-50W depending on what you stuff in it.<br>
<br>
It's incredibly quiet - it's cooled by a very big fan that fills a good area of the back panel - so it can run slowly and quietly.<br>
<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
- The machine will also be the house network server, so needs at least a 1TB HD and will be left turned on all of the time.<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
It's got four slots for drives, plus a 5 1/4 space in the top for an optical drive or an HD if you use an adapter cradle.<br>
<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
- I only need to access the 'Freeview' channels through a standard ariel. We don't pay for any extra channels.<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
I'm using a couple of Hauppage HVR cards (1200 or 1300 IIRC). Only Freeview SD channels, no HD support. Might try a TBS6280 or nanoStick T2 290e at some point.<br>
If running a combined FE/BE then a USB tuner would be a benefit since there are only two half-height/half-length PCIe slots (a 1x and a 16x) in the Microserver.<br>
<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
- The 'screen' of the machine is currently a 480p projector. I'll upgrade to a HD one at some point, but probably not until this one dies.<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
The Microserver has a VGA output, but I run the machine headless and text-only so I've no idea how capable it is. lspci says it's got "VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc M880G [Mobility Radeon HD 4200]".<br>
You always have the option of putting a card in if there's a suitable card that will fit in half-height/half-length slot.<br>
<br>
<br>
Oh, and it has an incredibly bright "HP" logo on the front with a blue LED behind it. With the right driver it should be capable of turning yellow for errors, but uou'll most likely want to stick black tape over it.<br>
-- <br>
Simon Hobson<br>
<br>
Visit <a href="http://www.magpiesnestpublishing.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.<u></u>magpiesnestpublishing.co.uk/</a> for books by acclaimed<br>
author Gladys Hobson. Novels - poetry - short stories - ideal as<br>
Christmas stocking fillers. Some available as e-books.<br>
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</blockquote></div>