[mythtv-users] Looking for good specifications for mythTV

Chris Hembrow chris.hembrow at pixelseventy2.net
Wed Jan 18 16:08:40 UTC 2006


the epia sp 8000 is 800mhz fanless, and has hardware mpeg-4
acceleration. That's my next front end :)

On 18/01/06, Gavin Haslett <gavin at nodecaf.net> wrote:
> The Epia P is a great board for a Myth-like box... my next frontend will probably have that (for my bedroom) because a fanless configuration would be nice.
>
> However, it's not without its flaws. The 600Mhz CPU is barely powerful enough to run a frontend and backend together... forget trying to use it to transcode. The core is based on the old Cyrix core, so a lot of the math takes a back seat to integer performance. Not a big deal with video, but when dealing with compression/decompression of MPEG-2 or 4 streams this can start to saturate these 600Mhz CPUs pretty quickly. All Pentium-class CPU's are not made equal... bear that in mind when shopping for a media-PC.
>
> Oh, and on the 600Mhz, if you're running MythMusic then better not try to run full-screen visualizations either :)
>
> I would also point out that even with the XvMC support for these boards, don't try HD content. You need a LOT more muscle than this to pump HD to the screen, even the 1Ghz version of the board won't handle it.
>
> Be aware of the specs also; I'm not sure if the Epia P does come in a 1.3Ghz form, I think it tops at 1Ghz as I recall. Either way, as pointed out above since it's based on the Cyrix core some of the floating point ops are a little slower than a similarly clocked Intel or AMD. However, the heat and electricity used are a lot nicer in these cores.
>
> We're still in a phase where embedded systems are a huge compromise... but the situation's improving dramatically and continues to. Now, if we can only see some lower prices on the hardware :)
>
>         -----Original Message-----
>         From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org on behalf of Chris Weisiger
>         Sent: Tue 1/17/2006 10:53 PM
>         To: Discussion about mythtv
>         Cc:
>         Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] Looking for good specifications for mythTV
>
>
>
>         Here is the link
>
>         http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/mainboards/mini_itx/epia_sp/index.jsp
>
>         Chris Weisiger wrote:
>
>         >The thing is with the mini-itx stuff is that I have an old NES and i was
>         >reading about
>         >building mini-itx systems and thought while im building it...to build it
>         >in a way
>         >to use it as a pvr system.....which i was looking at getting a mini-itx
>         >board
>         >that can handle a 1.3 or so processor
>         >
>         >This is the motherboard that I was looking into getting....thats if i
>         >cant locate
>         >a mini-itx to handle a pentium processor
>         >
>         >
>         >
>         >Gavin Haslett wrote:
>         >
>         >
>         >
>         >>So long as you're not trying any HD content, this is probably good
>         >>(though that one's obvious given the 350). I run mine on an AMD 800 with
>         >>768MB RAM and it runs like a champ. Single PVR-250 and an NVIDIA card
>         >>running XvMC for playback.
>         >>
>         >>-----Original Message-----
>         >>From: mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org
>         >>[mailto:mythtv-users-bounces at mythtv.org] On Behalf Of Chris Weisiger
>         >>Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 10:02 PM
>         >>To: Discussion about mythtv
>         >>Subject: [mythtv-users] Looking for good specifications for mythTV
>         >>
>         >>What are some good specs for a mythTV box..I have seen specs for high
>         >>end machines doing multiple recordings....I am not looking into doing
>         >>such things...
>         >>
>         >>All i am looking for is to record a single channel while watching
>         >>it....and the possibility to pause live tv...
>         >>just a basic recording box....
>         >>
>         >>I am looking into buiding a mini-itx box with laptop components....slim
>         >>line cd/dvd, laptop hard drive, dimm or sodimm memory depending on what
>         >>type of mini-itx motherboard i get or is recommended....
>         >>
>         >>What is the lowest possible processor speed to accomplish recording and
>         >>pausing live tv....
>         >>
>         >>i was looking into getting a mini-itx with a 1.3 processor? and a
>         >>pvr-350 card?
>         >>
>         >>i know memory helps the system..so i was planning on maxing out the
>         >>memory..i found a mini-itx board that can support 2 gig or ram...and the
>         >>hard drive space of course is not an issue for me to deal with...it is
>         >>basically the processor speed..
>         >>being this is the first
>         >>attempt at creating a mythTV box...
>         >>
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