On 6/16/06, <b class="gmail_sendername">Troy Beneke</b> <<a href="mailto:troy.beneke@gmail.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">troy.beneke@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<div><span class="gmail_quote">
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<div>In a month or so I'll be putting together a MythTV box to work in conjunction with my first foray into non-broadcast TV.<br><br>About the only thing I currently have is a couple spare 120 GB drives and an old 2.4 GHz B revision P4. I'm looking to build something more quiet than powerful. It'll be used primarlily for the DVR functionality as well as MAME use. I'll know I'll be needing:
<br>Case (something that I can put in my living room) - </div></blockquote><div><br>I bought CoolerMaster CAV-T04 for my FE on Newegg: <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119071" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119071
</a><br>It's $94, very nice case, fits with the rest of AV equipment. It's not the smallest case but has reasonably enough room for stuff. It has 2 x 5.25 slots and 2 x 3.5 front slots, one extra disk slot on the side and supports both microATX and regular ATX mobos. It's a steel case with aluminium bezel. The only caveat is slimmer non-standard size PS that comes with it.
<br></div><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div>Mobo -</div></blockquote><div><br>I'd go with socket 939 mobo that supports X2. That way you can get inexpensive Athlon 64 today and upgrade when X2 chips become more affordable.
<br></div><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div>RAM (not sure how much to get) -</div></blockquote><div><br>2x512Mb. Most new mobos support dual channel.
<br></div><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div>Video card (thinking one of those fanless GeForce FX5200) -<br>DVD burner -
<br>PS (thinking about a seasonic 330W) -
</div></blockquote><div><br>The above case comes with 350W PS which is plenty for FE but depending on how many disks and other stuff you put in may not be enough. But then again you won't find a case that fits nicely with AV equipment and has a room/power for ton of stuff. That and the noise makes a lot of people go for dedicated FE/BE setup.
<br></div><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div>Tuner card (don't have an HDTV) -</div></blockquote><div><br>PVR500 absolutely! Two tuners in one PCI slot with hardware encoding. You wouldn't be doing yourself a favor if you go with a single tuner card. It works great with Mythtv.
<br></div><br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div>Any suggestions? Am I missing anything?</div></blockquote><div><br>You forgot wireless keyboard and remote. I'd go with small RF keyboard since IR versions tend to have distance problems. I bought BTC 9019URF at Fry's for $40 and am very happy with it. Check out
<a href="http://outpost.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">outpost.com</a> (Fry's online store). I also have Streamzap IR remote that works great but it's somewhat simplistic (which may or may not be what you want). I plan on replacing it with an RF remote with more buttons in the near future.
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