On Friday 09 January 2009 10:00:08 [email protected] wrote: > >> I'm looking to setup a pc with an output to a tv (big flatscreen) to > >> play video files. Sort of like home theatre. > >> > >> or video files over a lan connection from a server. > >> > >> recording tv is not necessary but may be good. > >> > >> Is there a Linux distro that does this or do people go for a hardware > >> appliance? > > > > As others have enthused, mythtv on your choice of distro. > > I'd never go without myth either HOWEVER the actual graphics performance > > is aweful. Even on high end nvidea cards the display jitters, movies are > > 'OK' footy or Motor Racing etc is terrid. > > Even modest hardware is distinctly better and high end hardware eg sony > > bravia is much smoother. > > > > We've tried Core2, AMD-X2, Intel and Nvidia graphics: Mobo, 8500, 8600 > > without significant oooo-aaah's
> Sounds like you're doing something wrong in the setup... > My combined front/backend has an AMD 780G chipset mobo with onboard > HD3200 graphics and an AMD 4850e CPU (45W, low power dual core 2.5GHz) > and outputs to a 1080p display without issue [0] including audio over > HDMI. > MythTV is crisp, clear and smooth, including motorsports (E.g. F1 on > TenHD). > > It may be worth starting a thread and comparing configurations. I love my myth, I'd never go without, and how I wish all the respondents could say how-you've-erred there, but ... Case 1: Converted a mate with IBM HW. Core2 intel 950 (or such) graphics from WinXp DIVICO to myth. Ubuntu Hardy, apt-get install mythtv-bits After 1 day he re-installed Win, and demonstrated Win+DVICO is much smoother than myth. He spent $100s having his antenna installed for DTV. Case 2: Set up a mate with 3G P4, nvidia 8xxx and binary drivers. Did Ubuntu and SuSE. Installed remote plus all bells and whistles. SVIDEO to a 32" LCD (twinview). After 3 months he abandoned it all for a Topfield STB, interface is aweful but picture is much better Case 3: I've built 1/2 doz boxen to do myth. Backend is BE2350 + DVICO + TwinHam FrontEnds various AMD-X2, various nvidia, nv or nvidia drivers (basically identical) all interlace options tried. (even ran a standalone Front/Backend) No notable difference between any of the above. I worried about aliasing on 60Hz LCD and 50Hz TV, but the SVIDEO would have handled that. OK that is DTV! except every windows box I've seen, most of the STB and every integrated LCD-TV is better !! I've got Viewsonic 1920x1200 28". I watch myth in a 1280x720 window where it is tolerable, full screen is too jerky Sheeze I go to the local IGA who are showing the Red Bull air race on screens around the store and I can SEE it is better than my myth, and my soul is biased, and still I loose. OK wots appening: You folk all set up better than me? or you folk just more easily satisfied? Do your significant-other's share yout enthusiasm? Calibration Points: Most movies are ok (not GOOD, but OK) eg Intro GoldenGate Bridge on L&O SVU judders as they pan, crowd judders as you follow the ball, eg kerb judders as the car or bike sweeps round each corner and on and on. In every case right HW equals smooth view of same picture. Note we do not expect to compete with sony bravia at 100Hz with sophisticated interlace engine, that is not the goal :-) James -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
