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Sorry if I'm using this thread for another issue. But I think it
should be related.<br>
<br>
I'm new to HTPC and been reading up alot about this. I've planned to
build my own MythTV. However, I've been looking for the Chaintech
7NiF2 in Singapore
for weeks calling up shops. But all said that they've ran out of stock
for this mobo. When I checked with the local distributor for
Chaintech, I'm told
that they are not bringing this mobo into Singapore. I've considered
getting
it on-line. But the thought of after sales support or the extra
shipping cost involved turned me off.<br>
<br>
I'm thinking of replacing it with either the Chaintech 7NJS Ultra
Zenith or the MSI K7N2G-ILSR.<br>
<br>
The new Chaintech 7NJS does not have any onboard VGA but it has loads
of other features including onboard Dolby Digital encoder, memory card
reader in the form of a CBOX3, etc. The MSI K7N2G-ILSR has an included
GeForce4 MX GPU, as well as other neat stuffs like Dolby Digital
encoder, etc but without the memory card reader.<br>
<br>
In comparision, the 7NJS does not have onboard video but cost US$18
more. I'll have to fork out additional for a GeForce4 MX440 video card<br>
<br>
I'll like to know if the Chaintech 7NJS would be suitable for a MythTV
box or has anyone tried the MSI K7N2G-ILSR.<br>
<br>
Thanks<br>
KianTeck<br>
<br>
<br>
Jarod C. Wilson wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid200402190920.39733.jcw@wilsonet.com">
<pre wrap="">-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1
On Thursday 19 February 2004 07:43, john lawler wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Thanks for the feedback. I checked out that mobo, and it looks pretty
nice. I would like to not have to buy a separate video adapter,
especially if this s-video'll work out okay with the nvidia drivers.
Have you used this motherboard yourself?
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
I have. I've got both the Chaintech 7NIF2 and MSI KM4M-L. The Chaintech is a
much better board, at least as far as its onboard video goes (and possibly
the motherboard chipset, with respect to the ivtv driver...).
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">I'm a bit concerned about the
"shared system memory".
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
Don't be. Works like a charm.
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">I assume that means the card has no dedicated RAM
and has to borrow from the main RAM.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
That is correct. Such being the case, you'll probably want 512MB on the board.
I've got a single 512MB stick of DDR333 on mine, with 64MB allocated for the
onboard video (probably overkill, but leaves plenty of RAM to spare for both
video and the system).
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Have you ever used a card like this
before? Does it hog much RAM?
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
You can adjust how much you want to allocate.
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">I've read the archives on this model and it sounds like some are using it.
Did I read somewhere that using the onboard video requires you to cut
back the FSB to 133 or 166? Would that not be problematic for moving lots
of data?
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
When using the onboard video, you can't run dual-channel DDR400 RAM in
dual-channel DDR400 mode. DDR333 works just fine though (that's what I'm
using), plenty of bandwidth, etc., and the memory speed is independent of the
processor's FSB. I'm running an Athlon XP 3200 now, with full 400MHz FSB.
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">J. Donavan Stanley wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">john lawler wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Hi guys, I'm a newbie looking at purchasing all new hardware for a
modest mythtv box (with some room to grow). I checked out the specs
of some of the machines that the developers use (since I figured
that'd be a good place to start), and basicaly went with one of those,
or maybe it was one of Jarod's machines. Not sure. Anyway, here're
the specs:
MSI KM400 Chipset, Model KM4M-L (microATX)
(w/ onboard AC '97 audio, ethernet, and "Integrated S3 Graphics
UniChrome^(TM) 2D/3D Graphics with motion compensation" which I guess is
a video adapter)
Athlon XP 2400
256 MB PC2700 333Mhz (maybe 512, not sure yet)
Sony 16x DVD-ROM
Hauppauge PVR-250
Chaintech NVIDIA GeForce4 MX440 64MB w/ S-video out
microATX case w/ 230W PS
[and I have a spare 60GB WD 7200rpm sitting around that I'll start with]
as of yesterday on pricewatch, this'd all cost me ~$400.00, which'll
be pretty cheap as far as the hardware goes.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">I'd recomend grabbing a Chaintech 7NIF2 MB instead. You'll get an
onboard Geforce 4 with TV-Out instead of the S3. It'll save you a slot
and it has the advantage of having the svideo connector right along side
the other ports not on an external card.
You'll want the 512 (well more than 256 at least). And with the
Chaintech MB you can get two sticks of 256 running in dual channel DDR
mode.
</pre>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
- --
Jarod C. Wilson, RHCE
Got a question? Read this first...
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html">http://catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html</a>
MythTV, Fedora Core & ATrpms documentation:
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wilsonet.com/mythtv/">http://wilsonet.com/mythtv/</a>
MythTV Searchable Mailing List Archive
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gossamer-threads.com/archive/MythTV_C2/">http://www.gossamer-threads.com/archive/MythTV_C2/</a>
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</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
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