[mythtv-users] Cost of MythTV Machines

[Rudy Zijlstra]

Nick wrote:

>On 02/02/06, Rudy Zijlstra <mythtv at edsons.demon.nl> wrote:
>  
>
>>Nick wrote:
>>
>>    
>>
>>>On 27/01/06, Ow Mun Heng <Ow.Mun.Heng at wdc.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>>>On Mon, 2006-01-23 at 09:02 -0500, Tom Hines wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>>>I assume the systems to which you are referring are HD capable and
>>>>>"just work".  My motive for building my own box was that I wanted to
>>>>>tinker with VIA min-itx mobos and it was just time for another DIY
>>>>>project.  I forget what the price breakdown was, but I'm in it for
>>>>>over $600 now.
>>>>>
>>>>>VIA EPIA M10000 (provides networking, video out, sound)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>>>A Via is nice, but seriously underpowered. PLaying DVD uses up to 80-90%
>>>>of CPU and let's not even talk about playing RealVideo. That's even
>>>>worst. It won't even play smoothly!!
>>>>
>>>>Nice Form Factor though. What's nice would be the new Omega-sd boxes
>>>>using a Pentium M chip.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>My next MythTV machine (hopefully not required until HDTV hits the UK
>>>shores) will likely be based on a Pentium M CPU (I currently run
>>>Celeron 2.4/1.3 CPUs). My laptop (wireless FE) uses the 1.8GHz P-M and
>>>the fan is hardly ever on, but the power is there. Now if only
>>>Silverstone would drop their prices a bit - £185 (KustomsPcs) for a
>>>LC16M case in the UK - any better prices out there?
>>>
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>If HD will be H.264 (likely), i do not think your P-M will have enough
>>power.
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>>
>
>Bugger! Looks like you're correct on the HD -
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H264. Bearing in mind a 2GHz Pentium-M
>has roughly the same power as a P4 3.2GHz or a A64 3000+, what kind of
>CPU power do you think is necessary for HD H264 content?
>
>  
>
Seems to need the most powerfull dual A64 at the moment....