[mythtv-users] Build a robust FE - irritated with IONs

[Dave Richardson]

 I forget if it's been Robert's axe to grind about the IONs being 
 underpowered, but... I've just about had it with my IONs.  (ZOTAC C-U, 
 B-somethings)

 I have one specific FE that I really want to have perform well and this 
 ION mITX stuff amounts to half-a-solution and lot of wasted time tuning. 
 Yeah, Myth's a hobby, but if the point of the hobby is to actually 
 WATCH something instead of tinkering and tuning, then I want to think 
 about some gear that isn't so marginal.

 Main complaint: truly high quality vdpau playback isn't consistently 
 possible and seems to require quite a bit of tuning and fiddling to 
 sustain.  For me, this makes a credible case against Comcast HD DVR 
 difficult to support.

 What specs would put forth a quiet-as-possible FE that had some real 
 balls, was ideally fanless/quiet, and didn't need a lot of tuning to 
 kick ass?

 Basically, spec something that doesn't breathe hard when I watch the 
 damned nightly news (yes, you may laugh that I watch the news - it's 
 kind of a metaphor anyways)

 Anyone else feel this pain?  Is it just as simple as getting into the 
 GT 2xx chips/cards?

 < /late night rant>