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Hardware recommendation wanted

 

 

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nabble at oldpaloalto

Mar 26, 2008, 1:59 AM

Post #1 of 4 (402 views)
Permalink
Hardware recommendation wanted

For ATSC-HDTV system to output either standard S-Video or 720p (HDMI/HDCP
Projector), need SPDIF (coax) output and some kind of Ir-Rx. I would like
to reduct power draw when the unit is not recording or playing.

Either Intel or AMD. Probably HDHR tuner.

For Intel I so far I am thinking of: E6750 CPU, DDR2 ???RAM - what speed???,
ASUS P5N-e??? P5GC-MX??? other???, nVidea 6200, Case/Power supply???
something simple.

For AMD, I have no idea...

I was thinking of a split frontend backend but I decided to start with a
single box solution for the sake of simplicity while learning MythTV.

I have built many computers but there are so many options and so little
information around on what goes with what that I am having a very difficult
time of it. The last bunch of computers I built were P4 2.4 on
P4P800E-Deluxe boards. Way more options now. Can't figure out how to pick
MB or RAM speed. Don't understand why the selection guides don't ask what
speed bus I am running, for example. I would really apreaciate some
guidance here.

Allen

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nabble at oldpaloalto

Mar 26, 2008, 1:59 AM

Post #2 of 4 (377 views)
Permalink
Hardware recommendation wanted [In reply to]

For ATSC-HDTV system to output either standard S-Video or 720p (HDMI/HDCP
Projector), need SPDIF (coax) output and some kind of Ir-Rx. I would like
to reduct power draw when the unit is not recording or playing.

Either Intel or AMD. Probably HDHR tuner.

For Intel I so far I am thinking of: E6750 CPU, DDR2 ???RAM - what speed???,
ASUS P5N-e??? P5GC-MX??? other???, nVidea 6200, Case/Power supply???
something simple.

For AMD, I have no idea...

I was thinking of a split frontend backend but I decided to start with a
single box solution for the sake of simplicity while learning MythTV.

I have built many computers but there are so many options and so little
information around on what goes with what that I am having a very difficult
time of it. The last bunch of computers I built were P4 2.4 on
P4P800E-Deluxe boards. Way more options now. Can't figure out how to pick
MB or RAM speed. Don't understand why the selection guides don't ask what
speed bus I am running, for example. I would really appreaciate some
guidance here.

Allen

--
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Darryl.Hirschler at practiceworks

Mar 26, 2008, 6:46 AM

Post #3 of 4 (366 views)
Permalink
Re: System hardware recommendation wanted [In reply to]

For the RAM speed, check your mobo's manual for recommendations. Almost
always you can get a pdf of the manual before you even buy the mobo from
the manufacturer's support website.

For case, make sure it fits the footprint of your mobo (ATX, Micro-ATX).
I tend to go with mid-towers, but have been considering a number of
different "Media PC" cases. Here is my list of cases I was considering:

X-Gene Silver Steel 01009 $64.99
Thermaltake VB8000BNS (Bach) $109.99
Ark HTPC 400BA $96.99
Spec-Research SECC01024 $94.99
Silverstone SST-LC17-B $114.99
Silverstone LC20-B $129.99
Silverstone LC10-B $89.99
Ark HTPC 400SA Silver $92.99

I've held off on buying one of these for a couple of reasons. I am
considering adding a VFD/LCD display to the case and some cases only
have one drive bay. So I may go up in price and see if I can find one
with a build-in display. Secondly, I just don't like the "stealth door"
for the DVD drive. I don't mind a hinged flap, but I don't like the
idea of using double-sided tape to attach a matching piece to the drive
door. I don't like the thin cases because they require the use of low
profile cards. I am sure my cards will fit if I take the back plate off
of them, but I almost never get cards that come with a shorter plate to
use. Too much trouble locating one of those.

For power supply, I would guess anything near 400watts would be fine.
Maybe less. Look in your mobo's documentation for recommendations. I'd
also recommend one with a bottom fan. And in the area of cooling, I
like cases that can take a larger fan like a 120mm. They have a lower
pitch and seem to be quieter.

And sort of in the back of my mind when I am shopping for a case, I like
to see if there might be some way I can mount or build the IR receiver
into the case somehow.

Hope that helps. Good luck on your journey. I think I am only a couple
of steps ahead of you. It's been fun so far.


Darryl


-----Original Message-----
From: mythtv-users-bounces [at] mythtv
[mailto:mythtv-users-bounces [at] mythtv] On Behalf Of allene222
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 5:00 AM
To: mythtv-users [at] mythtv
Subject: [mythtv-users] System hardware recommendation wanted


For ATSC-HDTV system to output either standard S-Video or 720p
(HDMI/HDCP
Projector), need SPDIF (coax) output and some kind of Ir-Rx. I would
like
to reduct power draw when the unit is not recording or playing.

Either Intel or AMD. Probably HDHR tuner.

For Intel I so far I am thinking of: E6750 CPU, DDR2 ???RAM - what
speed???,
ASUS P5N-e??? P5GC-MX??? other???, nVidea 6200, Case/Power supply???
something simple.

For AMD, I have no idea...

I was thinking of a split frontend backend but I decided to start with a
single box solution for the sake of simplicity while learning MythTV.

I have built many computers but there are so many options and so little
information around on what goes with what that I am having a very
difficult
time of it. The last bunch of computers I built were P4 2.4 on
P4P800E-Deluxe boards. Way more options now. Can't figure out how to
pick
MB or RAM speed. Don't understand why the selection guides don't ask
what
speed bus I am running, for example. I would really appreaciate some
guidance here.

Allen

--
View this message in context:
http://www.nabble.com/System-hardware-recommendation-wanted-tp16297902s1
5552p16297902.html
Sent from the mythtv-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com.

_______________________________________________
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_______________________________________________
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adeffs.mythtv at gmail

Mar 26, 2008, 7:27 AM

Post #4 of 4 (367 views)
Permalink
Re: Hardware recommendation wanted [In reply to]

On Wed, Mar 26, 2008 at 4:59 AM, allene222 <nabble [at] oldpaloalto> wrote:
> For ATSC-HDTV system to output either standard S-Video or 720p (HDMI/HDCP
> Projector), need SPDIF (coax) output and some kind of Ir-Rx. I would like
> to reduct power draw when the unit is not recording or playing.
>
> Either Intel or AMD. Probably HDHR tuner.
>
> For Intel I so far I am thinking of: E6750 CPU, DDR2 ???RAM - what speed???,
> ASUS P5N-e??? P5GC-MX??? other???, nVidea 6200, Case/Power supply???
> something simple.
>
> For AMD, I have no idea...
>
> I was thinking of a split frontend backend but I decided to start with a
> single box solution for the sake of simplicity while learning MythTV.
>
> I have built many computers but there are so many options and so little
> information around on what goes with what that I am having a very difficult
> time of it. The last bunch of computers I built were P4 2.4 on
> P4P800E-Deluxe boards. Way more options now. Can't figure out how to pick
> MB or RAM speed. Don't understand why the selection guides don't ask what
> speed bus I am running, for example. I would really apreaciate some
> guidance here.


Lots of useful info on the Wiki.... but:
RAM speed can vary with new setups, DDR/DDR2 doesn't require a
specific speed, but it can run better if the speed matches the
processor bus speed properly. Plenty of info on this in PC Tech forums
with a simple google search.

I would definitely go with a Core 2 Duo processor (or Quad if you can
afford it). If you do decide to build a separate backend (or use one
of your existing PC's) this will end up being your frontend, so find a
nice mATX motherboard and case (Silverstone Tek, amongst others make
some nice ones with LCD's and built in IR remote sensors). For video,
with the new OpenGL output system go with something nice and fast like
an Nvidia 8800 if you can afford it, otherwise a mATX with a built-in
Nvidia 7xxx series will be fine.


--
Steve
Before you ask, read the FAQ!
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