[mythtv-users] specs for new ITX form factor myth box

[Carl Shimer]

Hi all,

I am currently attempting to spec out a "media center" linux box that
will run mythTV.  My requirements:

1) small form factor, can live in my stack of audio-visual gear
(probably replace my decrepit CD player)
2) Quiet.
3) IR remote control
4) support for DVD playback


After a couple hours of research on a rainy Sunday afternoon here is
what I came up with:

1) EPIA M 10000 motherboard, ITX form factor
2) ITX form factor case & power supply.  I am currently looking at this
case:
http://www.idot.com/TheStore/Desktop/559Spec.asp?Product.id=559&Cate.id=
14&Product.status=green
3) WinTV PVR-250 for hardware MPEG encoding
4) 3.5"" HDD, 120 gigs or so
5) 256M memory (is this enough?)
6) slimline 5.25 DVD drive


Current issues:

1) poor support for EPIA M 10000 mpeg decoder; sounds like this issue
will be resolved in the next couple of months
2) The combination of an M 10000, PVR 250, and 3.5 HDD is too power
hungry for 55W power supplies.  Is one of the newer 70W models powerful
enough for this combination of hardware?
3) The PVR-250 looks like a big card and may not fit into many cases.
Does anyone have the dimensions for the PVR-250?
4) given support for hardware encoding and decoding, is this system
powerful enough to support live TV?