[mythtv-users] $500 Myth Box

[Mark]

On Monday 01 December 2003 04:51 pm, Daragh Fitzpatrick wrote:
I did it for pretty close to $500.  
Hardware list below:
AMD XP2500+ Barton core
EPOX 8KVA (i think)
512mb Kingston value ram
120gb WD special 
Black DVD drive
Soundblaster Live! 5.1
Geforce 4 MX 440SE w/TVout svideo
SLK-800U heatsink with low speed 80mm fan.
Directron case (black, cheap)
Mandrake 9.1
Directron IR keyboard
WinTV 401 (already had)

Performance is very very good.  I can record MPEG4 544x480 4000 bitrate
on one channel and play back another stream at the same time, while only 
using 50% of the CPU and even running KDE.  I haven't even optimized anything.
I expect I could play back a second stream or record a second stream without
any jumpiness if I put another card in, or built a second frontend.  Price was 
about $550 six months ago.  I'm sure you could beat that now.

> Hi,
>
> I'm trying to get a 'cheap' PVR setup before Christmas
> (so I can record the TBS day's worth of 'A Christmas
> Story'!).
>
> I was hoping I could get a decent box set up for under
> $500 - so I guess it's a challenge.
>
> Does anyone know of a list of standard configurations,
> such as
> 'cheap' (under $500),
> 'good' (does the job well) and
> 'dream' (money no object)?
>
> I've seen the PVR Hardware database, but there's no
> indication of price. I have a home theater system, so
> I don't need to play DVDs on this box.
>
> So, can I do it for $500? I guess my config would have
> to have the following:
>
> Small, quiet case
> Motherboard (???)
> Graphics (integrated?)
> Sound (integrated?)
> Network (integrated?)
> CPU (P4-1Ghz?)
> TV tuner card (encoder/decoder)
> Hard disk (120Gb?)
> Memory (512Mb?)
> Wireless Mouse, Keyboard, Remote
>
> Optional:
> Digital media slots
> CD/DVD-burner
> Firewire/iLink/IEEE 1394
> FM Transmitter
>
> As well as the spec, the hardest part for me is
> picking a manufacturer - Asus Pundit is worth a look,
> I guess, or I could wait for the $500 DigiMatrix. Any
> pointers on where I can buy this stuff would be
> appreciated, too...
>
> I know this is a lot, so thanks in advance for any
> advice you can give.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Daragh
>
>
> =====
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Daragh Fitzpatrick        daragh at i2i-Tech.com    http://www.i2i-Tech.com
>
>         i2i-Technology Consulting: 'From idea 2 implementation'
>
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