[mythtv-users] First time MythTV project questions?

[craigpj at comcast.net]

I am going to start my first MythTV project and have a few general questions
before i get started.  I have been following the MythTV project for about a
month now and have read all the docs and browsed through the archives and
mailing list.  I plan on installing MythTV on my current Linux system to test
out the install and make sure I know how everything works.  My current "test"
system will be an Athlon 850mhz, 416mb PC100 RAM, GeForce2 MX 400 w/ TV-Out. 
Here are my questions:
 
(1)  It seems to me that the PVR-250 is the capture card to go with, and to take
advantage of the ivtv drivers to use the hardware encoding and save CPU usage. 
Is this correct?
 
(2)  I have viewed through all docs/archives and I am a little confused, as I
seem to find "conflicting reports" on this item:  can I just simply watch live
TV with MythTV without actually recording the program?  Like if I dont have
anything scheduled to record, can I just sit down, turn on my TV and watch a
program without recording it?? or do I have to record everything I watch, and
then delete it afterwards if I dont want it?
 
(3)  If I want to watch one program while I am recording another one on a
different station will I need to have 2 capture cards?  One to watch liveTV and
the other to record?  or can I do it all with one card?  I assume I need 2
cards.  and if I do need 2 cards how does that work?  do I just buy a coax cable
splitter for my cable input so I can input into both cards??
 
(4)  What would the best route performance-wise be for me to go as far as
hardware? For motherboards should I go with the EPIA-M10k Nehemiah with all its
built-in functionality or should I go with another, less expensive board where I
can add my own processor, etc...?  And as far as the capture card goes, is the
PVR-250 my best bet??  a GeForce4 card for graphics??  also what speed processor
and how much RAM will I need at a minimum for good performance?  as in no
dropped frames, smooth playback of files and DVD's.
 
I think that is basically all.  Thanks for the help in advance.  I am really
looking forward to beginning this project and contributing to the future of MythTV.

-- 
craigpj at comcast dot net
craig.thejolicoeurs.com