[mythtv-users] Converting a HD Tivo to myth box

[Yeechang Lee]

Heath Roberts <htroberts at gmail.com> says:
> The other side of this particular coin is that not much energy goes
> into making Myth code efficient, which puts users on a constant
> upgrade treadmill

Not in my experience. I paid $1190 three years ago this November for a
dedicated high definition-capable MythTV frontend/backend
(<URL:http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/176328#176328>),
back in the 0.18 days. It's still going strong.

I may upgrade the frontend once support for the Hauppauge HD PVR gets
added into an official MythTV release
(<URL:http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/315909#315909>).
Then again, I may not--at least not right away--depending on how
satisfied I am with 720p at 6mbps recordings and playback
(<URL:http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/348381#348381>).

> That doesn't match up with my own personal wishes--I'd like to be
> able to run the frontend, at least, on inexpensive, low-power,
> resource-limited hardware

It's unclear what, exactly, you want the MythTV frontend to do, and
what your definition of "inexpensive, low-power, resourced-limited
hardware" is.

I bought that Pentium 4 3.0GHz--hardly state-of-the-art, even three
years ago (it was from a Fry's Electronics Thanksgiving-day sale,
after all)--because I wanted HD right away. Had I not wanted HD I
could have spent one half to two thirds less. Today, many mythtv-users
list readers' closets and basements have unused boxes that are faster
than my frontend, let alone a non HD-capable box. It's more or less
*impossible* to buy new a compact box for $300-400 that isn't
significantly faster and significantly more power-efficient than the
notoriously hot-running Pentium 4. If $300 + a $80 for a capture card
is too much for you, I don't know what to say other than to advise you
to read the second part of my first-linked message above.

-- 
Frontend:		P4 3.0GHz, 1.5TB software RAID 5 array
Backend:		Quad-core Xeon 1.6GHz, 6.6TB sw RAID 6
Video inputs:		Four high-definition over FireWire/OTA
Accessories:		47" 1080p LCD, 5.1 digital, and MX-600