[mythtv-users] Rearranging my myth system architecture - thoughts on directions?

[Andrew Close]

On 7/11/07, Mike LaPlante <mike at dividia.net> wrote:
> Bruce H McIntosh wrote:
> > I've just upgraded the TV to that mondo pretty 55" Sony KDS-55A2020.
> > Now it's time to consider what to do with the myth setup.  Currently I
> > have:
> >
> > backend:
> > * ATX rackmount 4u server case
> > * dual P3-866
> > * 1GB RAM
> > * 2x PVR250
> > * 200 GB ATA drive (and a 500GB SATA drive and adapter to install)
> > * DVD burner yet to be installed
> > * Knoppmyth R5E0
> > frontend
> > * First generation Shuttle toasterbox
> > * Ath2400
> > * 1GB  RAM
> > * 80GB ATA local drive (just used for the OS)
> > * FX5500 PCI card w/DVI out
> > * Knoppmyth R5E0
> >
> > I obviously want to beef the frontend up to be HD-capable, as I think
> > the PCI bus old Athlon machine is just not going to be up to snuff.  I
> > also intend to add two PCHDTV 5500 tuners to the backend.  Question is,
> > where should I toss in more CPU and RAM?  I figured on a couple
> > different approaches:
> >
> > 1. Replace the frontend with a mondo beefy Ath FX dualcore and a 6xxx
> > series PCIe vid card and put the HD card(s) in the existing backend
> > along with more disk space.
> >
> > 2. Replace both the frontend and backend with a combined
> > frontend/backend with the FX dual core and the faster vid card *and* the
> > HD tuner(s) in one box.
> >
> > 3. Replace the frontend as option1, and add a second backend with the HD
> > card(s).
> >
> > What'd the group recommend here?
> >
> I would say go with the new beefy frontend, and make the old frontend
> the new backend. Except that the Shuttle case makes for a really small
> backend, and probably not enough PCI slots. Maybe if you used the HD
> homerun setup for HD instead of PCHDTV 5500's.... Just a thought.

get a core2duo mac mini w/ 1GB RAM for the frontend and add an HD
Homerun to the backend for HD.