[mythtv-users] HTPC Configuration for first MythTV box

[mythtv user]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org [mailto:mythtv-users-
> bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf Of Stephen Tait
> Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2004 9:17 PM
> To: Discussion about mythtv
> Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] HTPC Configuration for first MythTV box
> 
> At 22:28 08/09/2004 +0000, you wrote:
> >Here's a first try at configuring a Home Theater PC with the goals of:
> >
> >  - run MythTV on Fedora Core 2
> >  - provide redundancy for some components
> >  - eliminate VCRs, DVD players, 200-CD changer
> >  - do more when I realize what else the box can do
> >
> >
> >    Case . . . . . . . . . . Antec Overture
> >    Power Supply . . . . . . Included with Antec Overture
> >    Motherboard  . . . . . . Asus A7N8X Deluxe
> >    CPU  . . . . . . . . . . AMD Athlon XP 3200+
> >    Memory . . . . . . . . . Two Samsung 512MB PC3200 400MHz DDR
> >    Hard Drives  . . . . . . Two Western Digital 250GB WD2500JDRTL
> >    Optical  . . . . . . . . Two Sony DRU-710A DVD+RW
> >    Video Capture  . . . . . Hauppauge WinTV PVR-350
> >    Graphics Adapter . . . . Asus GeForce FX 5200
> >    Keyboard/Mouse . . . . . Logitech Cordless MX Duo
> >    Sound  . . . . . . . . . Use Motherboard Audio Features
> >    NIC  . . . . . . . . . . Use Motherboard NICs (two)
> 
> I'd say that, for a system under you TV, it's a bit overpowered, and this
> will make it noisier. Shoehorning all that into a case as small as the
> overture would also give rise to heat issues.
> 
> My advice would be...
> 
> Drop the CPU to at least a 2800 Barton. They throw out less heat and are
> still waaaaaaay more than adequate for everything. There's a useful
> comparison chart here http://www.cybercpu.net/howto/other/amdpr.asp

I agree I have a AMD 2500 and it works fine.

> 
> I'd advocate a case like the CoolerMaster 620 sine they look amazing and
> accept regular ATX PSU's, which are typically quieter and more powerful
> (not to mention cheaper and replaceable) than inbuilt proprietary PSU's,
> although it'll only take mATX boards.

Again I'll second that suggestion.  I have the Antec Overture case and think
it is too noisy.  From your list it seems $ is not a problem so I would by a
case w/o a PSU and buy a silent PSU.

> 
> Two DVDR's? One would do, surely?! Personally, I boycott Sony and would
> get
> one of the cheaper NEC's or Pioneers
I bought a NEC and it works fine.
> 
> If the system is going to be used for lots of things, save yourself the
> hassle of using the PVR's TV-Out (even though it's unmatched in quality)
> and get a PVR-250 instead. Whilst you're at it, you might want to consider
> buying two from the off, depending on how much simultaneous
> recording/watching you're gonna want to do.
> 
> You're spending all that money and using onboard sound? I'd recommend an
> Audigy or M-Audio card (both, IIRC, are supported under ALSA and OSS via
> open source drivers). Unless the onboard has SPDIF, and you can then do a
> passthrough to your AV setup.
> 
> A combined front/back end works fine with minimal swapping on just 512MB
> 
> 
> If you can, I'd throw all the moolah into a backend in the cupboard that
> you can keep as noisy and as powerful and as full of HD's as you like.
> Keeping all that stuff under your TV will mean constant whirring. The
> backend doesn't need to be anything special; just a cheap box full of hard
> drives and the TV cards.