[mythtv-users] Need your comments on planned Mini-ITX HTPC setup

[Iohan Reyes]

Sorry to bring an old thread back to life, but I am now seriously 
investigating the building of a new HTPC system, and I need it to be as 
small as possible (and horizontal in form) so it will fit in my small 
"entertainment center".  I looked at the specs of this board mentioned 
below and they keep referring to it as a "Mini-FlexATX".  Is this the same 
as Mini-ITX?  Will this board fit with the case I have chosen below?  My 
first choice is to put Linux and try MythTV on this box but if I have 
driver problems and such, I will probably fall back to ShowShifter or 
SnapStream on Windows XP.

Here is the planned configuration and a link to the important parts:

Case: http://www.amselectronics.com/Products/PC_Servers/CF-668.html
Motherboard+CPU: http://www.commell.com.tw/Product/SBC/LV-670.HTM (if this 
fits in the above case) + Celeron 1.7Ghz
Alternative Motherboard+CPU: 
http://www.viavpsd.com/product/epia_m_spec.jsp?motherboardId=81 (EPIA-M 
with 1Ghz C3)
Memory: PC2100 DDR
Hard Drive: 120GB WD 1200JB 8MB cache
DVD-ROM: Lite-On 16X
TV Tuner: http://www.asus.com.tw/vga/tvtuner/specification.htm (Needed 
low-profile PCI card for the above case)
I am plugging directly into my cable tv line (no external box) so I am good 
to go with a regular tuner card.

Do you think the above config (primary or alternative) makes sense?
Will the low-profile tuner card fit in the case I have chosen?  It seems 
like the backplate is still tall, but I wouldn't know since I haven't seen 
the case in person.
Will the Intel-based mobo fit in the case once the CPU fan is put on?
If not, is the EPIA board good enough for Time-Shifting?
Any other comments, thoughts, or suggestions would be highly 
appreciated...I want to order this stuff sometime this week.

Thanks!


--On Tuesday, April 08, 2003 9:52 AM -0700 Micah Morton 
<micah at oregontech.net> wrote:

> I found this board a couple months ago and finally got my account set up
> at the place that distributes them in the US.  I can now sell these things
> cheap-o!! Here's the link
>
> http://www.commell.com.tw/Product/SBC/LV-670.HTM
>
> Contact me via email and let me know if you are interested in getting a
> couple of these.
>
> I can sell them for 230bucks a pop.  Thats just enough to cover the
> product and shipping on my end.  I make no money on this sale. As a mythtv
> enthusiast, I would love to see some people use these things and make a
> really awesome mythbox.  One cool difference is that they have coaxial
> tv-out with simultaneous SPDIF, unlike the VIA, where its a shared port
> that you switch with a jumper. Intel has linux drivers online for their
> video (which I am unsure of as far as tv-out support goes).
>
> Anyways, email me directly and let me know if you would like to get one of
> these boards.
>
> I cannot make any guarantees whether or not they will work, but they look
> fairly solid.. I'm going to get one for myself for sure.
>
> --Micah Morton
> --micah at oregontech.net
>
>
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