[mythtv-users] $500 Myth Box

[Daragh Fitzpatrick]

Wow - thanks! Are you in Chicago? 

--- Roy Lee <rlee1 at pobox.com> wrote:
> I went the Mini-ITX route for $500.  I paid more for
> the small size, 
> considering I could have gotten more CPU power, etc.
> for less money.
> 
> For case, I used the Morex Cubid 2699R.  It's about
> the size of a 12" pizza 
> box (much smaller than the VCR that it replaced!),
> and uses a 50W external 
> power supply, which *significantly* cuts down on
> noise.  My hard drive is the 
> biggest contibutor to noise with this setup.  I got
> my case for about $80 US.
> 
> I keep it in my TV cabinet without an attached
> mouse, keyboard, or monitor. 
> Just connected to TV and my LAN, and controlled via
> remote control.
> 
> You can see pics and a review of its older cousin
> at:
> http://www.mini-itx.com/reviews/2688R/
> 
> As for the rest, I got:
> 
> Motherboard: 
> 	VIA EPIA M10000 ($150-$160 US) - Has onboard
> ethernet, 5.1 audio, video,
> 		and one PCI slot.  Processor is already on it. 
> Processesor has
> 		exceptionally low power requirements  (compared to
> high-end AMD/Intel).
> Memory:
> 	Crucial 512mb DDR (if you do decide on the 2699R
> case, make sure the RAM
> 		height is below 34mm or it won't fit - the Crucial
> fit just fine)
> Tuner:
> 	Hauppauge PVR-350 (less than $200 via
> pricewatch.com)
> 	Its included remote works really well under LIRC
> 
> DVD:
> 	Some generic slimline DVD player for $55.
> 	If you get the 2699R case, you need a slimline
> which means more $$
> 	Note that as of current date, MythDVD and MythVideo
> don't work
> 		with the PVR-350, so you won't be able to watch
> DVD's (yet).
> 	Thus, not much use for a CD/DVD with a PVR-350
> except for initial
> 		OS install.
> 
> Hard drive:
> 	I used a IBM GXP 60gb that I had laying around. 
> They don't make these
> 	anymore but if you happen to get your hands on one,
> I'd 
> 	recommend NOT using it due to its "famous" failure
> rate.
> 	I know I'm playing with fire here but soon I'll
> plan on swapping it out
> 	with a Seagate 160gb later on.
> 
> For prices, I used http://www.pricewatch.com and
> picked out where I wanted to 
> buy my components, paying attention to additional
> tax and shipping charges 
> with different vendors.
> 
> Now the pros and cons of my setup:
> 
> Pros:
> 	Very small, very quiet
> 	PVR-350 with the Epia M10000 uses only 3% (!!!) CPU
> utilization during
> 		playback and record
> 	Front of case has firewire/usb connections if I
> need later on
> 	Even without MythDVD or MythVideo support, it's
> already better than a
> 		commercial Tivo because (1) I can record at higher
> bitrate and resolution,
> 		and (2) I have direct access to the recorded
> videos, so that (3) I can
> 		archive to DivX or DVD...
> 	Friends say "holy crap you can do all that with
> that little thing?"
> 
> Cons:
> 	No DVD or file playback yet (hopefully soon
> though!)
> 	I couldn't use the already built 0.11 .deb packages
> since I was using the
> 		PVR-350.  I ended up compiling both IVTV and
> MythTV CVS instead.
> 	Since there's no attached keyboard/mouse/monitor, I
> need to ssh from
> 		a different computer on the network, but I
> actually prefer it this way
> 	I'm not too sure about future DivX hardware
> decoding with this setup,
> 		unless I switch to the Epia's onboard video for
> video output instead
> 		of the PVR-350's.
> 
> Hope that helps.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > > 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
> > >
> 
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> mythtv-users at mythtv.org
>
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=====
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Daragh Fitzpatrick        daragh at i2i-Tech.com    http://www.i2i-Tech.com

        i2i-Technology Consulting: 'From idea 2 implementation'

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