[mythtv-users] Advice on Building a Quiet MythTV Box?

[Charles Iliya Krempeaux]

Hello,

First, thanks to everyone to responded to my first e-mail:
http://mythtv.org/pipermail/mythtv-users/2008-November/238792.html

So given people's comments in there, I'm exploring building a MythTV box myself.

The first thing I'd like a MythTV box (that I would build) to be, is
to be quiet.  Completely silent if possible.  Does anyone have any
advice or experience in doing this?


Is using SSDs (Solid-State Drives) instead of a Hard Drive an option?
(Anyone have experience using them?)

What about not having any fans?  (Like no CPU fan, no power supply
fan, no graphics hardware fan, etc?)

Does anyone have a list of hardware that is known to work (with Linux
and MythTV)?  (Such that I could pick parts from the list?)


Also, what considerations are there for video playback?  Is it
recommended to get a system that can playback certain video formats in
hardware (rather than in software)?  (Like a hardware MPEG player or
something?)  And if so, what hardware of this type is known to work
(with Linux and MythTV)?


Also, what output jacks should I be looking for (in people's
experience)?  Is RCA (3 plug) output enough?  Or should I go for a
system that supports SVideo?  Or do I want a system that support HDMI?
 Or is there some other output jack that I want a system to support?
(Note... I'm not an expert on output jacks.)


Obviously, I'd also like the system to support a remote control.  And
have wireless networking support.  But is there anything else I should
desire in a system?


Thanks.

--
Charles Iliya Krempeaux, B.Sc.
http://changelog.ca/