Gavin Haslett wrote: >The Epia P is a great board for a Myth-like box... my next frontend will >probably have that (for my bedroom) because a fanless configuration would be >nice. > >However, it's not without its flaws. The 600Mhz CPU is barely powerful enough >to run a frontend and backend together... forget trying to use it to >transcode. The core is based on the old Cyrix core, so a lot of the math takes >a back seat to integer performance. Not a big deal with video, but when >dealing with compression/decompression of MPEG-2 or 4 streams this can start >to saturate these 600Mhz CPUs pretty quickly. All Pentium-class CPU's are not >made equal... bear that in mind when shopping for a media-PC. > >Oh, and on the 600Mhz, if you're running MythMusic then better not try to run >full-screen visualizations either :) > >I would also point out that even with the XvMC support for these boards, don't >try HD content. You need a LOT more muscle than this to pump HD to the screen, >even the 1Ghz version of the board won't handle it. > >Be aware of the specs also; I'm not sure if the Epia P does come in a 1.3Ghz >form, I think it tops at 1Ghz as I recall. Either way, as pointed out above >since it's based on the Cyrix core some of the floating point ops are a little >slower than a similarly clocked Intel or AMD. However, the heat and >electricity used are a lot nicer in these cores. > >We're still in a phase where embedded systems are a huge compromise... but the >situation's improving dramatically and continues to. Now, if we can only see >some lower prices on the hardware :) > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Chris Weisiger > Sent: Tue 1/17/2006 10:53 PM > To: Discussion about mythtv > Cc: > Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] Looking for good specifications for mythTV > > > > Here is the link > > http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/mainboards/mini_itx/epia_sp/index.jsp > > Chris Weisiger wrote: > > >The thing is with the mini-itx stuff is that I have an old NES and i > was > >reading about > >building mini-itx systems and thought while im building it...to build > it > >in a way > >to use it as a pvr system.....which i was looking at getting a mini-itx > >board > >that can handle a 1.3 or so processor > > > >This is the motherboard that I was looking into getting....thats if i > >cant locate > >a mini-itx to handle a pentium processor > > > > > > > >Gavin Haslett wrote: > > > > > > > >>So long as you're not trying any HD content, this is probably good > >>(though that one's obvious given the 350). I run mine on an AMD 800 > with > >>768MB RAM and it runs like a champ. Single PVR-250 and an NVIDIA card > >>running XvMC for playback. > >> > >>-----Original Message----- > >>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >>[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chris Weisiger > >>Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 10:02 PM > >>To: Discussion about mythtv > >>Subject: [mythtv-users] Looking for good specifications for mythTV > >> > >>What are some good specs for a mythTV box..I have seen specs for high > >>end machines doing multiple recordings....I am not looking into doing > >>such things... > >> > >>All i am looking for is to record a single channel while watching > >>it....and the possibility to pause live tv... > >>just a basic recording box.... > >> > >>I am looking into buiding a mini-itx box with laptop > components....slim > >>line cd/dvd, laptop hard drive, dimm or sodimm memory depending on > what > >>type of mini-itx motherboard i get or is recommended.... > >> > >>What is the lowest possible processor speed to accomplish recording > and > >>pausing live tv.... > >> > >>i was looking into getting a mini-itx with a 1.3 processor? and a > >>pvr-350 card? > >> > >>i know memory helps the system..so i was planning on maxing out the > >>memory..i found a mini-itx board that can support 2 gig or ram...and > the > >>hard drive space of course is not an issue for me to deal with...it is > >>basically the processor speed.. > >>being this is the first > >>attempt at creating a mythTV box... > > I'm running a Via SP13000 mini-itx board (well, when I'm not breaking things by trying to 'upgrade"!).
This board has hardware capabilities builtin so that it can handle the video. But it will not do HD. I have an HD3000 card doing SD level digital reception. BUT, the first nano-itx boards have been seen 'in the wild', and they have a supposedly HD capable builtin VT1625 chip. But you do pay for the size/quiet capabilities. If you want a powerful ATX size board you will have to really work to get 'quiet'. Water cooling for silent operation. There are lots of tradeoffs. But the SP13000 will handle 'TIVO replacement'. Geoff _______________________________________________ mythtv-users mailing list [email protected] http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
