[mythtv-users] Performance from a different perspective

[Gary Manning]

>From: Brian Wood <beww at beww.org>
>Reply-To: Discussion about mythtv <mythtv-users at mythtv.org>
>To: Discussion about mythtv <mythtv-users at mythtv.org>
>Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] Performance from a different perspective
>Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2006 17:42:50 -0700
>
>
>On Jan 22, 2006, at 5:11 PM, Gary Manning wrote:
>
> > I currently have an XP2600 and 6200 video card that seems to have
> > enough
> > processing power for HD in Windows, but requires xvmc in Linux.
> > Due to the
> > stability and usability issues with xvmc, I would like to get my
> > system to
> > the point where I will not need to use it.
> >
> > Most of what has been written about performance requirements
> > centers around
> > raw cpu speed, with a P4 2.4 being the common minumum.  But I
> > wonder how
> > much other factors such as cache size, memory bus speed, memory
> > size, etc.
> > might impact overall performance?
> >
> > With that in mind, I would be interested in hearing other's
> > thoughts on how
> > those factors (and any others that should be included) relate to video
> > display?
> >
> > When comparing one cpu to another, what is the list of important
> > items, and
> > in what priority?  For example, P4 vs. Celeron.  Celerons are
> > cheaper, even
> > at faster clock speeds.  If cpu speed was the only factor, then the
> > choice
> > seems clear.  But somehow I don't think that is the case, because
> > there are
> > differences between them that generally make a P4 faster.  But do
> > those
> > differences matter for a HTPC system?  Things get even muddier when
> > you toss
> > AMD chips into the mix.
> >
>Then there's my theory, in 3 easy steps:
>
>Examine Checkbook Balance (CB)
>
>Place finger on CPU List in Catalog
>
>Move finger over prices, get as close to (CB) above as you can
>without going over
>
>But seriously, there are *so* factors involved, including what it is
>you want to do with your machine, that it's virtually impossible to
>reduce this sort of thing down to a formula.
>
>"What you want to do" is perhaps the hardest thing to figure out, but
>I can guarantee one thing: It will be quite different from what you
>thought in the first place.
>
>Nobody ever complained about having too much CPU, or RAM, I'd go for
>the best I could afford.
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But "the best" is pretty generic.  A fast Celeron with less cache, or a 
slower P4 with more cache?  AMD are very slow is base cpu speed, but seem to 
make up for it in some other way, at least partially.

For my use, I forsee tuning and recording SD and HD signals from either OTA 
or Cable with up to 2 hardware SD tuners and 2 software HD tuners.

Gary