[mythtv-users] Asus Pundit vs CoolerMaster ATC 620 (WinTV 250 now, pcHDTV later)

[myth-lane at dowobeha.net]

I'm looking for advice and feedback regarding the Asus Pundit and the
CoolerMaster ATC 620 (possibly using a Chaintech 7NIF2 nForce2).

Well, I've been lurking on the list for a year and a half or so. I had Myth
running on my desktop, but I'm hoping to get started building a dedicated
frontend/backend machine for the living room in the next few months.


Here are my priorities:

Quiet  -  this will be in the living room
HDTV   -  I'll be using a WinTV 250 initially, but will add a pcHDTV 3000 later
Size   -  something smallish - the Pundit and the ATC 620 are both OK here

I already have a WinTV 250. I plan to get a pcHDTV card sometime before Big
Brother comes around next July. Here are my questions:


1) Can anyone compare the Pundit and the ATC 620 in noise output?

2) How powerful of a processor will I need to handle HDTV using the on-board
TV-out on each of these machines?
The WinTV 250 will remain in the machine as well.

3) Are there any other video cards / cable converters that people can recommend
that a) give better quality for HDTV than the on-board video or b) would let me
watch HDTV while allowing me to go with a less powerful processor ?


Basically, I'm trying to figure out what is the quietest machine that I can
build that can handle a WinTV 250 and a pcHDTV, acting as a frontend/backend.

I've also looked at the Epia-based solutions. I think I'd be fine using an Epia
board if all I had was the WinTV 250, but I'm skeptical of being able to use it
for an HDTV front-end. Can anyone address this?

Thanks for the help!

Cheers,
Lane