[mythtv-users] frontend for HDTV

[Michael Drons]

I am looking to do HDTV with my backend.  I am pulling the HD content from the firewire port currently.  My current backend/frontend is a AMD, here is the cpuinfo:
user at mythtv:~# more /proc/cpuinfo
processor       : 0
vendor_id       : AuthenticAMD
cpu family      : 6
model           : 8
model name      : AMD Athlon(tm) XP 1500+
stepping        : 1
cpu MHz         : 1331.318
cache size      : 256 KB
fdiv_bug        : no
hlt_bug         : no
f00f_bug        : no
coma_bug        : no
fpu             : yes
fpu_exception   : yes
cpuid level     : 1
wp              : yes
flags           : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov
pat pse36 mmx fxsr sse syscall mp mmxext 3dnowext 3dnow ts
bogomips        : 2665.03
clflush size    : 32

Backend has no issue recording the content, cpu load is around .20 - .30 (from top).  The server can not play it back.  I have it connected to a TV via VGA cable (TV has VGA input).  The CPU goes to 100%, due to X windows.  I have tried to configure XvMC but I cant get it to work.  I believe my nvidia card does not support it.  It is a 
04:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV11 [GeForce2 MX/MX 400] (rev b2) (prog-if 00 [VGA])
        Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 248, IRQ 7
        Memory at d8000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
        Memory at c0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=128M]
        [virtual] Expansion ROM at d9000000 [disabled] [size=64K]
        Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 2
        Capabilities: [44] AGP version 2.0

So at minimum I need a new video card, which is about $80.  I am limited in what I can purchase since I only have PCI and AGP slots available in current backend/frontend.  Is a new video card going to solve my problems or should I be looking to purchase a new frontend?  I have on order a homerun to add additional HD recording.  The backend also has a PVR 250 and PVR 500.  

Any recommendations on video card?

Thank you for any input, Mike