MythTV build htpc

[Zolty]

I am leaning on the Antec Fusion (matx) htpc case although I have not bought it yet. I do want something that sits horizontally and will look nice under my tv.

Thus far I have:
2x 512 ram
Athlon64 3000+ (939)
2x Seagate 320GB SATA drives

I am open to suggestions on this but please have reasons for it. The MythTv forums seem to suggest a 2800+ Athlon XP for HD viewing, and I want to keep costs down but I don't want to sacrifice to much functionality. I am open to replacing this hardware as required.


Please post some motherboard recomendations.
If you can make a good case against onboard video I would like to hear it.
I am probably going with onboard video if it is acceptable. (from what I have read ati isn't the best for linux). Built in optical out for audio would be nice.
I would like 720p output, the tv has hdmi and I would prefer to use it.

Currently thinking about the Asus A8N-VM CSM

Probably going with a Hauppauge PVR-150 or 250. Maybe even a 500. At present we do not have an hd signal comming in although I am fairly sure it is digital.
What would you suggest?With a decent remote?

I want to be able to play the Roms from my old snes/nes/psx games (that I own). Please suggest an comfortable, compatible, preferably wireless controler. ( I have looked at a few logitech.) I used to have a sidewinder gamepad that was awesome, but I really want wireless rf.

Linux distro? I have some experiance with ubuntu, and there seems to be a decent guide for installing myth onto it, Knoppmyth offers it built in although their community isn't nearly as large. I am very much on the fence on this issue, I will probably try both and see how it goes. Anyone specifically compare the two?

 

[ric1287]

good luck finding a pvr-150. They have (afaik) been replaced by the 1600, which is not compatible with MythTV. So just make sure the card you get will work.

For roms, my only suggestion is to use a controller with a really nice d-pad (ps2 type) so it will be easier to play.

**edit** you can also save ~60$ buy getting the fusion w/o the lcd display and a 380 watt psu

 

[Zolty]

Originally posted by: ric1287
good luck finding a pvr-150. They have (afaik) been replaced by the 1600, which is not compatible with MythTV. So just make sure the card you get will work.

For roms, my only suggestion is to use a controller with a really nice d-pad (ps2 type) so it will be easier to play.

**edit** you can also save ~60$ buy getting the fusion w/o the lcd display and a 380 watt psu

I don't really care about cost, and I do like the LCD, and I need the Power supply as it is kinda proprietary.
http://www.pricegrabber.com/p__Antec_FU...ase,__22298735/search=antec%252Bfusion

 

[Alone]

Yep. NewEgg ships the 1600 now instead of the 150. Not very well supported (at all?) under Linux.

You can RMA it to Hauppauge and get the 150, though.

 

[Zolty]

Originally posted by: Alone
Yep. NewEgg ships the 1600 now instead of the 150. Not very well supported (at all?) under Linux.

You can RMA it to Hauppauge and get the 150, though.

The main problem is that all of the Hauppauge drivers for linux are reverse engineered based of the specifications of the chips. The 150 and the 1600 do a lot of the same things but they use a differant chip. It appears that Hauppauge is not giving out the spec sheet for the new chip.

 

[Zolty]

TTT

 

[Zolty]

so for the motherboard I am leaning on the Asus A8N-VM CSM. My only complaint is that it doesn't have optical audio out. Although it does give me both vga and dvi out.

 

[Reel]

To give you a point of comparison, I am running an XP 2500+ with 512MB RAM and an AGP 6200 card. With XvMC enabled, I can watch 720p/1080i HD on MythTV without a problem. I used an old SB Live Value card to get digital sound out because some motherboard's digital sound outputs do not work with ALSA yet as was my case. I followed Jarod's Fedora guide and it is usually 90% accurate. For my analog capture, I have a 150MCE. For digital, I use a pcHDTV 5500 card. Both work well.

 

[Thetech]

Buy a PS3 gamepad adapter from Playasia.com (I think that's the address) I use an adapter I got from (rest in peace, blame $ony) Lik-sang before they got shut down, I use it with 2 PS2 gamepads. I have very very few problems with it and console game pads are a HELL of a lot BETTER! then those crappy PC gamepads.