[mythtv-users] Decision matrix: Pundit vs 7NIF2 & Coolermaster ATC 620

[myth-lane at dowobeha.net]

In case anyone's interested, I thought I'd post this. I've been agonizing over
the choice between an Asus Pundit and a Chaintech 7NIF2 / Coolermaster ATC 620.

I'd appreciate any comments on good power / heat / cost balance for a processor
that can still handle displaying HDTV recordings when I get the pcHDTV 3000. HD
output would be either via built-in DVI on the Pundit, built-in S-Video on the
7NIF2, or DVI on a GeForce 5200 if I bought one to go with the 7NIF2.

Here's the decision matrix I've been mulling over, in CSV format, in case anyone
else is pondering the same choice. The base costs for the hardware are in CSV
at the bottom.

FYI, I already have a 120 GB hard drive, a PVR 250, a Soundblaster Audigy, which
is why I don't have anything budgeted for them.


:::::::::
:"Pundit":"7NIF2":"7NIF2 w. Audigy":"7NIF2 w. GeForce 5200":"7NIF2 w. Audigy &
GeForce 5200"::::
:::0:54:::::
"Fits in TV stand?":"Y - at a slight angle or sideways":"N":"N, but
expandable":"N":"N"::::
"Firewire":"Y":"N, but expandable":"Y":"N, but expandable":"Y"::::
"CF, etc":"Y":"N, but expandable":"N, but expandable":"N, but expandable":"N,
but expandable"::::
"DVI out":"Y":"N, but expandable":"N, but expandable":"Y":"Y"::::
"Free PCI slots":2:3:2:3:2::::
"Free AGP slots":0:1:1:0:0::::
"Hardware MPEG decoding":"N":"N":"N":"Y":"Y"::::
:::::::::
"7NIF2 w cheaper heatsink"::285.74:::::::
"Extra RAM cost":30:30:::::::
"Cost without processor":174:316.76:::::::
"Cost w RAM w/out processor":204:346.76:346.76:346.76:346.76::::
:::::::::
:::::::::
"Cost at 1.3 Ghz Celeron (or equiv)"::388.76::::"AMD 1.33 Ghz":42::
"Cost at 1.8 Ghz Celeron (or equiv)":262.99:::::::"Celeron 1.8":58.99
"Cost at 2.6 Ghz Celeron (or equiv)":294.99:::::::"Celeron 2.4":90.99
"Cost at 2.4 Ghz (or equiv)":333.99:421.75:421.75:475.75:475.75:"AMD
2400+":74.99:"P4 2.4":129.99
"Cost at 2.5 Ghz (or equiv)"::426.75:426.75:480.75:480.75:"AMD 2500+":79.99::
"Cost at 2.6 Ghz (or equiv)":377.99:435.75:435.75:489.75:489.75:"AMD
2600+":88.99:"P4 2.6":173.99
"Cost at 2.7 Ghz (or equiv)"::446.75:446.75:500.75:500.75:"AMD 2700+":99.99::
"Cost at 2.8 Ghz (or equiv)":371.99:545.74:545.74:545.74:545.74:"AMD
2800+":123.99:"P4 2.8":167.99
"Cost at 3.0 Ghz (or equiv)":429.99:567.74:567.74:567.74:567.74:"AMD
3000+":145.99:"P4 3.06 HT":225.99
"Cost at 3.2 Ghz (or equiv)"::607.74:607.74:607.74:607.74:"AMD 3200+":185.99::





:"Cost":"Shipping"::::::::::
"Coolermaster ATC 620":74.99:13.62:"zipzoomfly.com":::::::::
"Enermax EG265S-VE FM power supply":31.99:6.99:"newegg.com":::::::::
"Chaintech 7NIF2":77:5:"newegg.com"::::::"Thermalright ""SP-97""
heatsink":47:9:"heatsinkfactory"
"ZALMAN CNPS3100 heat sink":19.99:4.99:"newegg.com":"alternate:":::::"Panaflo
Medium 80 mm fan":11.18::"3dcool.com"
"Panaflo Medium 80 mm fan":11.18:0:"3dcool.com":::::::58.18:9:
"Athlon XP 2600+":88:0.99:"newegg.com":"Barton core":"Athlon
3200+":184:0.99:::::
"256 MB 333 Mhz PC2700 RAM":39:0.99::::::::::
:342.15:32.58:374.73:::438.15:439.14::349.75:407.93:416.93:
::::::::::::
::::::::::::
::::::::::::
::::::::::::
::::::::::::
::::::::::::
::::::::::::
::::::::::::
"Asus Pundit":135:8:"newegg.com":::::::::
"Pentium IV 3.06 Ghz":225:0.99:"newegg.com":::::::::
"256 MB 333 Mhz PC2700 RAM":39:0.99::::::::::
:399:9.98:408.98:::::::::
::::::::::::
::::::::::::
"Asus Pundit":135:8:"newegg.com":::::::::
"Pentium IV 2.66 Ghz":173:0.99:"newegg.com":::::::::
"256 MB 333 Mhz PC2700 RAM":39:0.99::::::::::
:347:9.98:356.98:::::::::
::::::::::::
::::::::::::
"Asus Pundit":135:8:"newegg.com":::::::::
"Pentium IV 2.4 Ghz":129:0.99:"newegg.com":::::::::
"256 MB 333 Mhz PC2700 RAM":39:0.99::::::::::
:303:9.98:312.98:::::::::
::::::::::::
::::::::::::
::::::::::::
"Asus Pundit":135:8:"newegg.com":::::::::
"Pentium IV 2.26 Ghz":114:0.99:"newegg.com":::::::::
"256 MB 333 Mhz PC2700 RAM":39:0.99::::::::::
:288:9.98:297.98:::::::::
::::::::::::
::::::::::::
::::::::::::
::::::::::::
"Coolermaster ATC 620":74.99:13.62:"zipzoomfly.com"::"Casetronic Black ITX-2699R
Mini-ITX Case w/ PCI Riser Card, External
PSU":69.99::"http://store.yahoo.com/directron/2699r.html"::::
"VIA EPIA 10000 1GHZ
Nehemiah":159::"http://store.yahoo.com/ituner/viaepcl10ned.html":::::::::
"256 MB PC2100 DDR SDRAM":37:::::::::::
:270.99:::::::::::