Mailing List Archive: MythTV: Users

Dell Small Form Factor computers?

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ben at peikes

Mar 9, 2008, 8:00 AM

Post #1 of 11 (1091 views)
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Dell Small Form Factor computers?

Has anyone used any of the Dell small factor computers?
Seems like you can get them on the cheap.

I'm looking for an off the shelf (minus the video card) solution. Mostly
because I don't have the time to shop for all of the pieces and I want to
make sure that I can just install MythTV without any problems.

What I want from MythTV is mostly the ability to play music, run MythGame
and play DVDs and play videos and images which I've taken. The recording
side is nice, but not necessary.

Was hoping to buy/build something for under $500.

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mark at onnow

Mar 9, 2008, 8:08 AM

Post #2 of 11 (1035 views)
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Re: Dell Small Form Factor computers? [In reply to]

On 9-Mar-08, at 9:00 AM, Benjamin Peikes wrote:

> Has anyone used any of the Dell small factor computers?
> Seems like you can get them on the cheap.
>
> I'm looking for an off the shelf (minus the video card) solution.
> Mostly
> because I don't have the time to shop for all of the pieces and I
> want to
> make sure that I can just install MythTV without any problems.
>
> What I want from MythTV is mostly the ability to play music, run
> MythGame
> and play DVDs and play videos and images which I've taken. The
> recording
> side is nice, but not necessary.
>
> Was hoping to buy/build something for under $500.
>
> _______________________________________________
> mythtv-users mailing list
> mythtv-users [at] mythtv
> http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
I would buy parts and build yourself. For 500, you can get standard
stuff, that is tried and true and not get involved in Dell ( or pay
for an MS license you wont use )
Get a:
Decent case: 50
500 Gig drive: 100
MB w/ built in vid(Nvidia?), Network, Firewire, sound ) $80
Core2Duo proc: 100
1Gig RAM: 50
Total: 380 ish
Now, take the 120 left over and modify as needed. Better Video, more
Hard Drive, etc....

People here will help with what has worked well for them.

Mark
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digitalaudiorock at gmail

Mar 9, 2008, 8:21 AM

Post #3 of 11 (1029 views)
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Re: Dell Small Form Factor computers? [In reply to]

On Sun, Mar 9, 2008 at 11:00 AM, Benjamin Peikes <ben [at] peikes> wrote:
> Has anyone used any of the Dell small factor computers?
> Seems like you can get them on the cheap.
>
> I'm looking for an off the shelf (minus the video card) solution. Mostly
> because I don't have the time to shop for all of the pieces and I want to
> make sure that I can just install MythTV without any problems.
>
> What I want from MythTV is mostly the ability to play music, run MythGame
> and play DVDs and play videos and images which I've taken. The recording
> side is nice, but not necessary.
>
> Was hoping to buy/build something for under $500.
>
> _______________________________________________
> mythtv-users mailing list
> mythtv-users [at] mythtv
> http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
>
My frontend is a used 4700C 3.0Mhz that I got on ebay for a little
over $300 if I remember correctly. I bought a fanless nVidia low
profile card and replaced the standard sized bracket with one of the
small form factor brackets made by XFS.

I've been really happy with it. It plays my OTA HD recordings just
great. I find it to be plenty quiet enough for my situation.

Also note, I never upgraded the 512MB or ram it came with and that's
been plenty using it as a dedicated frontend.

Tom
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beww at beww

Mar 9, 2008, 8:28 AM

Post #4 of 11 (1018 views)
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Re: Dell Small Form Factor computers? [In reply to]

On Mar 9, 2008, at 9:08 AM, Mark Hutchinson wrote:

>>
> I would buy parts and build yourself. For 500, you can get standard
> stuff, that is tried and true and not get involved in Dell ( or pay
> for an MS license you wont use )
> Get a:
> Decent case: 50
> 500 Gig drive: 100
> MB w/ built in vid(Nvidia?), Network, Firewire, sound ) $80
> Core2Duo proc: 100
> 1Gig RAM: 50
> Total: 380 ish
> Now, take the 120 left over and modify as needed. Better Video, more
> Hard Drive, etc....

It depends on how serious he is about "small form factor". The case
and mobo prices you mentioned go out the window if you want something
very small, and 500GB drives are available only in the 3.5" form factor.

The real question, as usual, is do you want the machine to be able to
do HD, a lot of very tiny solutions are available if the answer is no.

beww

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lynchmv at gmail

Mar 9, 2008, 8:30 AM

Post #5 of 11 (1035 views)
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Re: Dell Small Form Factor computers? [In reply to]

On Sun, Mar 9, 2008 at 10:08 AM, Mark Hutchinson <mark [at] onnow> wrote:
>
> I would buy parts and build yourself. For 500, you can get standard
> stuff, that is tried and true and not get involved in Dell ( or pay
> for an MS license you wont use )
> Get a:
> Decent case: 50
> 500 Gig drive: 100
> MB w/ built in vid(Nvidia?), Network, Firewire, sound ) $80
> Core2Duo proc: 100
> 1Gig RAM: 50
> Total: 380 ish
> Now, take the 120 left over and modify as needed. Better Video, more
> Hard Drive, etc....
>
> People here will help with what has worked well for them.
>
> Mark
>

I've bought used Dell's from hcditrading
(http://www.hcditrading.com/Shop/Control/fp/cat/76307/SFV/29664/set_num/2
- link to the Dells with NO OS) and had nothing but success with their
machines.
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mark at onnow

Mar 9, 2008, 8:35 AM

Post #6 of 11 (1030 views)
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Re: Dell Small Form Factor computers? [In reply to]

On 9-Mar-08, at 9:28 AM, Brian Wood wrote:

>
> On Mar 9, 2008, at 9:08 AM, Mark Hutchinson wrote:
>
>>>
>> I would buy parts and build yourself. For 500, you can get standard
>> stuff, that is tried and true and not get involved in Dell ( or pay
>> for an MS license you wont use )
>> Get a:
>> Decent case: 50
>> 500 Gig drive: 100
>> MB w/ built in vid(Nvidia?), Network, Firewire, sound ) $80
>> Core2Duo proc: 100
>> 1Gig RAM: 50
>> Total: 380 ish
>> Now, take the 120 left over and modify as needed. Better Video, more
>> Hard Drive, etc....
>
> It depends on how serious he is about "small form factor". The case
> and mobo prices you mentioned go out the window if you want something
> very small, and 500GB drives are available only in the 3.5" form
> factor.
>
> The real question, as usual, is do you want the machine to be able to
> do HD, a lot of very tiny solutions are available if the answer is no.
>
> beww
>
> _______________________________________________
> mythtv-users mailing list
> mythtv-users [at] mythtv
> http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
Micro ATX board is what I built in. They are pretty small. Put it
behind the TV and you dont see it.
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gull at gull

Mar 9, 2008, 1:25 PM

Post #7 of 11 (1026 views)
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Re: Dell Small Form Factor computers? [In reply to]

Benjamin Peikes wrote:
> Has anyone used any of the Dell small factor computers?
> Seems like you can get them on the cheap.

I have, though not specifically for Myth. They're decent systems, but
keep in mind most of them will require low-profile PCI cards.
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griz_quattro at tx

Mar 9, 2008, 1:33 PM

Post #8 of 11 (1012 views)
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Re: Dell Small Form Factor computers? [In reply to]

Michael Lynch wrote:
> On Sun, Mar 9, 2008 at 10:08 AM, Mark Hutchinson <mark [at] onnow> wrote:
>> I would buy parts and build yourself. For 500, you can get standard
>> stuff, that is tried and true and not get involved in Dell ( or pay
>> for an MS license you wont use )
>> Get a:
>> Decent case: 50
>> 500 Gig drive: 100
>> MB w/ built in vid(Nvidia?), Network, Firewire, sound ) $80
>> Core2Duo proc: 100
>> 1Gig RAM: 50
>> Total: 380 ish
>> Now, take the 120 left over and modify as needed. Better Video, more
>> Hard Drive, etc....
>>
>> People here will help with what has worked well for them.
>>
>> Mark
>>
>
> I've bought used Dell's from hcditrading
> (http://www.hcditrading.com/Shop/Control/fp/cat/76307/SFV/29664/set_num/2
> - link to the Dells with NO OS) and had nothing but success with their
> machines.
> _______________________________________________
> mythtv-users mailing list
> mythtv-users [at] mythtv
> http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
>

Be very careful when buying Dell GX260 & GX270 systems. These models
were part of the bulging/overfilled capacitor era, not limited to
only Dell. BTDT.
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sfreilly at roadrunner

Mar 9, 2008, 4:03 PM

Post #9 of 11 (1022 views)
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Re: Dell Small Form Factor computers? [In reply to]

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griz_quattro wrote:

|
| Be very careful when buying Dell GX260 & GX270 systems. These models
| were part of the bulging/overfilled capacitor era, not limited to
| only Dell. BTDT.

just like the pile of netvistas I have laying around for parts. thats
all their good for.... junk.

- --
Steve Reilly

http://reillyblog.com

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jwarren1234 at chartermi

Mar 9, 2008, 4:10 PM

Post #10 of 11 (1019 views)
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Re: Dell Small Form Factor computers? [In reply to]

On Mar 9, 2008, at 7:03 PM, steve wrote:

> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> Hash: SHA1
>
> griz_quattro wrote:
>
> |
> | Be very careful when buying Dell GX260 & GX270 systems. These
> models
> | were part of the bulging/overfilled capacitor era, not limited to
> | only Dell. BTDT.
>
> just like the pile of netvistas I have laying around for parts. thats
> all their good for.... junk.
>

But if you do happen to get one with bad caps its worth the call to
Dell, the warranty on the bad ones has un-officially been extended and
they will probably ship a replacement system board.

This is coming from someone that has replaced probably 100 of these
boards over the last 3 years :)

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freak4uxxx at gmail

Mar 17, 2008, 5:02 AM

Post #11 of 11 (947 views)
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Re: Dell Small Form Factor computers? [In reply to]

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Jeremy Warren wrote:
> On Mar 9, 2008, at 7:03 PM, steve wrote:
>
>> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>> Hash: SHA1
>>
>> griz_quattro wrote:
>>
>> |
>> | Be very careful when buying Dell GX260 & GX270 systems. These
>> models
>> | were part of the bulging/overfilled capacitor era, not limited to
>> | only Dell. BTDT.
>>
>>
>
> But if you do happen to get one with bad caps its worth the call to
> Dell, the warranty on the bad ones has un-officially been extended and
> they will probably ship a replacement system board.
>
> This is coming from someone that has replaced probably 100 of these
> boards over the last 3 years :)
>

I have too, and that program is over. It ended at the end of January.
Also include SX270's and SX280s on that list. Dell Lengthened the
warranty perdiod to 5 years or Jan xx 2008, which ever came first.
Gotta love cutting corners.

Eric

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