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

[James Courtier-Dutton]

On 23 December 2010 05:18, Dave Richardson <mythtv at derdev.com> wrote:
> 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?
>

vdpau works fine here with my zotac zbox id-11
Central CPU sits a 10% while playing ITV1 HD.  (in the UK)