[mythtv-users] Looking for your experience

Fri Sep 3 19:19:48 EDT 2004

Yeah, I apologize for the post... the problem is that when you're
looking for a "best" hardware setup, things tend to get dated. 
Perhaps someone should setup a "MythTV Stats"  program which will
automatically send hardware and software info to a central server, so
people can search for popularity and things (not a bad idea if I do
say so myself).

> Next question: Do you want it [fitting] together with your Hi-fi equipment or
> do you just plan to shove it in a corner where it's inconspicuous ?
Yeah, I want it to look nice, but I don't like the "VCR" look... I
kinda want a cube case so (as stated) it compliments my GameCube and
other things... Shuttle cases are expensive, yet I like the Antec one.
 I'll do some digging for a good cube-ish case.

> And well, about the sound and DVD issue... sorry, but you could have guessed
> that yourself. The "speed" of a DVD and / or CD are just that; they're
> relative speeds measured to the original equipment speed, i.e. the video /
> audio content they were meant for. 
Not to sound dumb here, but I honestly never knew that.  Yeah it's
obvious, but I just ever put thought into it.  Now it makes sense, so
thanks!

> Please heed my advice on disk size.  I have a 160 GB drive that has been 99%
> full since last june and it gets more and more painful to delete shows to
> make room for newer stuff...  Or maybe that's just me.  But consider yourself
> warned about that.  There is _always_ stuff you will want to keep, even if it
> is only some CNN news item or MTV clip (or, heaven forbid, Oprah...)
Yeah I was planning on starting off with a 200GB drive... and later on
if that becomes a problem I'll add another in tandem (whatever is a
good size at that point in time.... 500GB?)

Thanks for the input, everyone that helped me out

> > On Fri, 3 Sep 2004 23:00:33 +0200, Maarten <mythtv at ultratux.org> wrote:
> > > On Friday 03 September 2004 21:45, James Pifer wrote:
> > > > On Fri, 2004-09-03 at 14:31, Aaron Griffin wrote:
> > > > > Hey all,
> > > > > I must first admit, I am a newbie to MythTV, although that's not my
> > > > > reason for this.  I'm going to use you all for your experience in
> > > > > dealing with the hardware side of this...
> > > > > Anyway, I'm looking for some advice on the *BEST* hardware setup...
> > > > > the cost isn't that much of an issue....
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Current Plan->
> > > > > TV-in: PVR-250
> > > > > TV-out: No clue...I have an All-in-wonder so I need to buy a new one
> > > > > Processor: Most likely AMD 2000-3000 or something
> > > > > Case/Mobo/Form Factor: Anyone research this and find something really
> > > > > cool that's not a Shuttle (too expensive for what you get)?
> > >
> > > Jeez.
> > > The list gets drowned in these kind of (stupid) questions.  Why don't you
> > > all try to be a bit more specific or 'verbose' about this ?  If you need
> > > a (backend) machine for in the attic / basement, don't you think you'd
> > > buy an entirely other machine than if it had to reside in the
> > > livingroom...? (Hint: there is a HUGE difference between an old P-II 400
> > > MHz equipped with a PVR350 and a brand-spankin' new P4-3200 with a btttv
> > > card...  but the viewing pleasure is almost similar)
> > >
> > > In other words, what are it's "selling points" ?   Silence ? Price ? Size
> > > ? Versatility ? CPU conservation ?  Disk conservation ?  What ?
> > >
> > > > > Hard Drives: How much, how snappy? I'll probably be recording about
> > > > > 1-2hours a day and deleting it after I watch
> > >
> > > That is (probably) not realistic, even far from it.  But if you _really_
> > > only record 1-2hours a day and delete it afterwards, all you'd need is a
> > > 8 GB harddisk.  Mythtv uses between say 1 and 3 gigs per hour,
> > > depending...
> > >
> > > Needless to say you'll surely want to keep some recordings, and needless
> > > to say 8 GB harddisks are not for sale anymore either...
> > >
> > > But I'll give you a free advice from experience: buy the biggest harddisk
> > > you can afford. You will not regret it. You will regret it if you
> > > don't...
> > >
> > > I'm totally sure your girlfriend -which you mention below- will fill a
> > > 80GB harddisk within a week (with reruns of the bold and the beautiful,
> > > etc.)
> > >
> > > > > Sound Card: I'm assuming Audigy 2 Platinum, anything better?
> > > > > DVD-ROM: How fast to emulate a store bought DVD player?
> > >
> > > If what you get off the air is "only" normal stereo sound, why do people
> > > think that sound somehow magically "gets better" when you throw a hugely
> > > expensive soundcard at it ??  I myself use a dirt-cheap SB and I
> > > seriously doubt that a fiber-connected 24 bit ultrasound hyper audigy
> > > ultra deluxe 7.1 will sound any better than that, since your regular TV
> > > isn't broadcast with that quality to begin with. Worse; if you're REAL
> > > lucky it will not be far worse than CD audio.  If you're unlucky, it will
> > > be worse than badly received FM radio...
> > >
> > > Incidentally, in case you didn't know: "store-bought" (video-)DVD players
> > > are always single speed (al-ways!!) as are audio CD players: single speed
> > > only. You know, computers aren't race cars where you can impress your
> > > girlfriend by the number of cylinders or the size of your engine.  A DVD
> > > movie plays at speed==one and not a single snippet faster. You can
> > > however buy a 4 speed drive, which comes in real useful if you someday
> > > want to see the Godfather Part 1 in just under 55 minutes.  But apart
> > > from that...  nope  ;-)
> > >
> > > > > I am building this for me and my girlfriend, and the total cost isn't
> > > > > THAT big of a deal.... because I'm doing it for her (awwwwww, how
> > > > > cute!)
> > >
> > > Gosh....  love is a splendid thing isn't it...   as long as it lasts that
> > > is. ;-)
> > >
> > > Maarten
> > >
> > > --
> > > Linux: Because rebooting is for adding hardware.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > mythtv-users mailing list
> > > mythtv-users at mythtv.org
> > > http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
> 
> --
> Linux: Because rebooting is for adding hardware.
> 
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