[mythtv-users] Recommendation for replacement motherboard/processor?

[Matthew McClement]

John Drescher wrote:
>> What I am looking for is a great package deal on board/processor/memory
>> that is going to easily handle the above. I would also consider a bare
>> bones system with case and supply. In the second case I would simply
>> retire the old system to be used as my desktop system.  What great deals
>> are out there right now?
>>
> For CPUs the $69  AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Brisbane 1.9GHz 2 x 512KB L2
> Cache Socket AM2 Processor is a great deal.

I'd be inclined to pay the little extra for the 4200+, as it gives you a 
bit more wiggle room when playing the higher bitrate MPEG2 streams, 
especially if you have transcodes happening in the background, and the 
TDP is the same as the 3600+.

Combine that with Gigabyte GA-M61P-S3(a near perfect ATX HTPC 
motherboard that's only let down by the fact that it's missing SPDIF on 
the rear panel I/O) and some value RAM(667 or better is fine, 2x512MB 
sticks) and you have a nice, fairly cheap, base system. Unless your 
current power supply is very underpowered(under 200W) it should work.

Matt