[mythtv-users] PVR-250 or 350?

[Joseph A. Caputo]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org
> [mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org]On Behalf Of Milos Prudek
> Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 3:50 PM
> To: mythtv-users at mythtv.org
> Subject: [mythtv-users] PVR-250 or 350?
>
>
> Hi,
>
> Can a Linux fileserver and application server also run MythTV, and not
> lock-up and still have CPU cycles to spare?
>
> Hardware:
> - Athlon 2400+XP, 256kB L2 cache,
> - mobo Asus A7V600 (KT600 chipset)
> - 1 GB RAM
>
> Tasks:
> - firewall
> - fileserver for 2-3 people
> - application server for 2-3 users, moderate to heavy usage
>
> In order to save money, I want to use this file/application server as a
> family media center as well.
>
> To relieve CPU from the encoding and decoding burden I want to install
> Hauppauge PVR-250 or PVR-350.


Well, I don't know how much of a load an application server with
moderate/heavy usage is, but I'd bet that with a PVR-x50 and gobs of disk
space, you shouldn't have any real problems.  You might want to put your
Myth media storage on a different disk/controller than the fileserver disk.

>
> - Will PVR-350 consume considerably less CPU during playback than PVR-250?

No difference; the 350 has an additional decoder that is not supported by
Linux or Myth at this time.

> - Can I be sure that MythTV will not lock up the whole machine (even
> indirectly, for instance by memory leaks?

Yes; with the caveat that if you use the PVR-x50, the ivtv driver is still
in the alpha stage, so be warned; but if you pick a reputedly stable version
and don't go upgrading it willy-nilly, you should be OK.

-JAC