[mythtv-users] Minimum hardware recomendation

[Marc Tousignant]

> On Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 11:20 AM, Jim Stichnoth<stichnot at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > On Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 10:12 AM, Allen
> > Edwards<allen.p.edwards at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Here is one potential starting point.  It's probably possible to do
> >>> better.
> >>>
> >>> $160 Zotac IONITX "C" version from Amazon (includes power brick)
> >>> $30 2GB DRAM
> >>> $30 Streamzap IR receiver + remote
> >>> $90 500GB laptop hard drive
> >>> $145 HDHR
> >>> $30 network switch
> >>> $5 decorative 7"x7" cardboard box from Michael's for a case
> >>> $10 power button, power LED, HDD LED, jumper wires from Fry's
> >>
> >> This is a v
> >> It looks to me that you can get the Zotac boards either with or
> without the
> >> power module with a difference of about $20.  Add to that the $5 for
> the
> >> cardboard and the $10 for the buttons and you are at $35.  It also
> looks
> >> like you can get a real case for about $40 with a 200 watt power
> supply.
> >>  However, buying a low end power supply and having more capacity
> than needed
> >> is not always a good idea.  Having a place to securely mount the HD
> and the
> >> BM does seem like a good idea.  Being able to add a DVD drive so she
> can
> >> watch movies also seems like a good thing.
> >> Where do people come down on the power brick vs a case with power
> supply?
> >>  If the case, which one?
> >
> > An internal power supply will have a fan.  A cheap power supply will
> > have a cheap (likely noisy) fan.  So I greatly prefer the brick.
>  BTW,
> > my system draws 19-20 watts at idle, according to the Kill-A-Watt,
> and
> > the highest I was able to drive it was 26 watts.  The Zotac power
> > brick is 90 watts so there's plenty of reserve.
> >
> > As for securely mounting the HD and MB.  Once you start getting
> > creative with a cardboard box and a sharp utility knife, securing the
> > HD will probably come naturally (on the side? under the lid?).  I
> > didn't even bother to secure the MB -- the I/O shield and the various
> > connectors do an OK job.
> >
> > As for the DVD drive.  At least in 0.21, I find the Internal player
> > spotty at best with playing DVDs.  Xine works, but then you lose the
> > consistent Myth interface.  So I just leave out the DVD drive
> > altogether.  Your customer probably already has a comfortable way of
> > viewing DVDs.
> >
> > You may consider asking your customer whether she prefers an
> > 8"x8"x2.5" aluminum techno-case (like the M350, which is about the
> > smallest I've seen), or a 7"x7"x2" labor of love that doesn't look
> > computery at all.  This is something my wife was actually willing to
> > weigh in on, and you can guess which way she leaned.
> >
> > Jim
> > _
> 
> Thanks, Jim.
> 
> You make good points.  Apparently the 230 is fanless and the 330
> requires a fan so going with the flow here says use the 230 version.
> Correct me if I am wrong.
> 
> Allen
> _______________________________________________

I wish I had waited for mine. 2-3 weeks later and newegg is offering a $25
rebate on the C-U and B-E

Marc