<br><br>On Tuesday, December 11, 2012, Nick Rout wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Dec 12, 2012 at 7:20 AM, Jason <span dir="ltr"><<a href="javascript:_e({}, 'cvml', 'jason@wkrp.com');" target="_blank">jason@wkrp.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
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<div>I wanted to get some input on using a Zotac ZBOX as a Mythtv front end. Either the ID11 or ID41 I think is the way to go since they have the NVIDIA ION in them.</div>
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<div>I am currently rebuilding my backend and it will support HD video now so I need to upgrade my front end, which is an OLD 8+ year old system. The HD video will be recorded from a HD-PVR. I may keep a PVR-500 around for a while until I add a second HD-PVR.</div>
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<div>I do plan on converting the video for long term storage using mythical librarian. I also play videos off the backend system using Plex on Roku and a Samsung TV Plex app. </div>
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<div>Also do the ION systems work well with Live TV?</div>
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<div>I would like any advice on if this is the way to go or if I should look into something else for a front end. I have the back end worked out I think. I just need some help on the front end since I've always just went with an old PC that didn't support HD video output... Or am I better off going with an older LGA775 motherboard, a decent video card, small hard drive (or netboot), and a duo core processor with a couple gig of memory? I could see using that but then Ilike the idea of a small all-in-one system for the bedroom that's quiet.</div>
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<div></div></div></blockquote><div><br>My (revo) ion1 and ion2 systems work well. Many will tell you that they have little cpu power for the video files that do not have hardware support, but frankly if you get ion2 you won't find much video it doesn't handle. <br>
<br>specs often don't tell you if it is ion1 or ion2, but ion2 is usually coupled with the d525 processor. <br></div></div></blockquote><div><br></div><div>I bought a ZBOX ID41 for my kitchen about a month ago. I upgraded the ZBOX memory to 4Gig at the same time. I run Linux Mint (Maya) 64 bit on it. I installed all the MythTV dependencies using apt, used git to get the MythTV 0.26 fixes branch and compiled Myth and MythPlugins from scratch. Everything works perfect for me - Live TV, Recordings, and an occasional Air Play. I use NVidia VDAPU Normal and I see only about 15% CPU use when playing back. For a remote I use LIRC with the StreamZap remote that is so nicely supported by mythbuntu LIRC installer. BTW I do not actually use a Mythbuntu Installation, I just used their quick and easy LIRC installer. Very happy with the ZBOX.<span></span></div>