Hi Guys,

I've been thinking about building a HPTC for a while and now I've decided to just do it!

I'm thinking I'd really like to try MythTV.

Our needs aren't too demanding - we would like to be able to record two standard definition shows at once, and maybe watch a standard definition DVD at the same time if we could (not a huge deal if we can't though). Our TV is just an old Toshiba 27" with an old fashioned picture tube. We'll interface through SVGA. Our cable system has 68 channels in clear analog and claim there are no immediate plans to discontinue the clear analog even after February of next year. I have a wired router and can easily run a cable to the living room to connect to the internet.

So far I've picked up:

*) A PVR-150 with ir sensor and remote.
*) An Asus M2NPV-VM motherboard.
*) A copy of a book titled "Practical MythTV: Building a PVR and Media Center" by Stewart Smith, Michael Still. (it hasn't arrived yet)
*) A BenQ 1620 DVD burner (I also have a spare 1640 if it would work better)

Hardware to add, please lemme know if I need to change anything!
*) CPU . . . what processor would be a good bet? (I was kinda looking at a 5000+ "Black Edition")
*) 2gb of memory (I'm thinking 1gb is probably enough, but it seems every time I cut corners I end up wishing I didn't so I thought another gb wouldn't hurt)
*) Another PVR-150, a white box one.
*) An Antec NSK-2480 case.
*) Probably a 500gb drive. Is IDE or SATA better for a trouble free install?
*) Undecided on keyboard and mouse, wireless would be nice but wired wouldn't be an issue.

Software:
*) Some flavor of Linux. I was thinking a MythTV specific package like Mythbuntu or KnoppMyth. If for some reason I can't get the system happy on Linux then I have a copy of Windows Vista Home Premium available.
*) MythTV. I've looked at it a lot and I've always wanted to try it! If it doesn't work out though I could try Sage or switch from Linux to Windows and try GBPVR, BeyondTV, etc.

I'd like to order a CPU this week so any recommendations would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

Steve

(1) Since the PVR-150's hardware-encode to mpeg2 and the integrated nvidia video card will hardware-decode mpeg2 (with the nvidia driver), then the cpu load for sdtv is minimal, so *any* dual-core AM2 CPU will more-than-suffice for your needs.

(2) Why not 2GB if you can afford it?

(3) IDE and SATA are equally supported. SATA is faster.

(4) I use the Gyration KB/Remote(mouse) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823172015), and I absolutely love it! Key mappings for the remote require some extra work, though. I still haven't gotten around to fully setting mine up.

(5) Mythbuntu. If you decide to dual-boot until you get things working right, then install windows first.

Thanks MythMaster!

(1) I'll take a closer look at dual core AM2 processor pricing now that I know that about any of them will work for me. I would just pick the cheapest one, but again every time I try to be "conservative" (read that as cheap!) it seems I always end up wishing I would've went a little further so I think I'll scope them out and maybe pick a middle of the road processor so I have a little head room in case I come up with some processor intensive application in the future.

(2) > Why not 2GB if you can afford it?
That's what I figured! In the past it always seems I underestimate my memory needs and eventually end up adding some!

(3) I'm glad to hear both ide and sata are well supported. I'll probably opt for a sata drive then . . . no real reason, I just haven't built a computer in a while and I've never played with a sata drive so I might as well take the plunge now.

(4) > I use the Gyration KB/Remote(mouse), and I absolutely love it!
Thank you! I'll check it out!
A while back I discovered the JP1 reprogrammable universal remotes -> WOW! They are SWEET!

(5) Thank you for the Mythbuntu recommendation. I was leaning that way since it seems to be the current hot flavor of Linux and I like the idea that there are regular updates every 6 months. To be honest though, I may try MythDora and KnoppMyth also, even if Mythbuntu installs without a hitch! No real reason, I may just want to see how they work too. I'm not planning on dual booting the machine, it'll be a dedicated htpc so I'm not planning on needing to make it dual boot. This is a new build and will be my play machine - I've spent the last few months on overtime at work and I've got a few more to go. I'm looking for a fun project that I can work on any time of the day or night and one that when I'm done will be something I will get good use out of and looking around at the htpc stuff I think I found my project!

Thanks again for the input! I'll post back as the build goes along (and when I invariably get stumped and need help! I hope you all don't mind hand holding a newbie as I've never even seen a Linux machine before! :eek: )

Take Care,

Steve

You're welcome!

(1) You've got the right idea.

(2) Agreed.

(3) Go SATA.

(4) There are many options to choose from...Harmony, etc. Just do your homework before you commit.

(5) Knock yourself out. You'll find something you're comfortable with.

Definitely let us know how your build is going. There are plenty of folks here who would love to help. We've all needed help at some time, and it's an awesome thing to be able to help someone else.

Thanks for all the tips! I'll do a little surfing over at Newegg in just a few minutes!

Remotes . . . I think I'll just use the one that came with my PVR-150 for now and will experiment more later when I get things up and running.

In the past remotes had been a real sore spot for me as I invariably had one piece of equipment that wouldn't have a code for in my universal remote, or if it did it may not have all the functions of the original and usually the functions it did have weren't the ones I wanted -> I always ended up wanting to re-assign the buttons on the remote. A while back I discovered the JP1 remotes. These remotes have a six pin interface in the battery compartment and you can build a simple interface cable to hook that JP1 up to your computer. Then there is some software you can use to allow your computer to up/download configurations to it. The software is pretty slick - you can pick your remote and a picture of it will show up and you can click on the key you want to reassign and then make the modifications. If a device isn't supported there are guys out there who can read the codes from unsupported remotes and they make update files you can use to add that device to your remote. It's pretty slick!

It looks like that's less of an issue with LIRC as from what I gather you can assign specific functions to specific key presses in a LIRC configuation file. However you could still run into problems with things not controlled by the htpc/lirc, things like TVs and stereo amps, so there may still be a use for my JP1 remotes yet.

Wikipedia has a nice write up on JP1 if anyone out there is intereted in it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JP1_remote

THANKS for all the help! I'm really looking forward to this project!!! :)

Steve

Note that the Gyration (and some others such as the Harmony) are *learning* remotes, so they will work with any equipment that you have a remote control for, regardless of codes. I went with the Gyration because it's also a mouse :cool:.

Learning remotes are nice but the JP1s can be had off fleabay for $10! I must have a dozen around the house -> I just hate looking for a remote that's walked off! :D

I was just over at Newegg . . . I'm thinking an Athlon 64 X2 4600+ looks like a good cost/performance buy. They show two though, one is a "Windsor" and is a 90nm core, the other doesn't say what it is (i.e. Brisbane, Windsor, whatever) but it's a 65nm core. Both are 65watt. Both are the exact same money . . . any advice on which one would be better?

THANKS!

Steve

OK, clue me in on memory too (it's been a lllooonnnggg time since I built a computer!).

Would something like this be OK, or do I need the fancier "Ballastix" type with heatsinks and stuff? (maybe not a bad idea in an htpc?)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148163&Tpk=CT2KIT12864AA800

Thanks!

Steve

The 65nm one will run cooler. Also, this thing (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118223) is worth its weight in gold.

The memory looks fine. You won't be OC'ing for HTPC build.

Thanks, I'll look at the cooler more closely a little later when I have more time. I've heard good things about the Skythe Mini Ninja cooler also. It fits in the NSK2480 case and one user running a gigabyte board said he didn't even need the fan running, the heat sink was enough.

If I'm going to replace the stock heatsink and fan though then I may seriously look at the 5000+ Black Edition again (it's called "retail" but it doesn't include a heatsink or fan)

Thanks again - I really appreciate all the help! :)

Steve

You can spend a fortune on coolers if you want, but unless you are going to seriously overclock, it's a waste of money. A $6 cooler with an 80mm fan will work fine. This one works fine on my X2 and is a snap to install.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103166

I've used both the Windsor and Brisbane cores. Both are fine.

Got 4 myth boxes (well ones's not in a case). Fastest CPU I've got is an X2 4200+. Slowest, which works just fine, is a 35W X2 BE2300 (1.9Ghz). All I do is ATSC. If you're only going to be doing SD, even the slowest Sempron single core would work. In fact I used an old Duron 1600 for some time with HD.

I have the same mobo with an AMD 4800 X2 and it works great - go with the Brisbane 65nm CPU's, there's no reason not to and it will use less power. I also have basically the same case (NSK2400), stock cooling works great. Agree with wnewell that any decent CPU fan will work, but larger fan is better as they are quieter (I used the Thermaltake TR2-R1 90mm).

1GB is plenty, as is the Samsung Spinpoint 500GB SATA drive that I got. Onboard nVidia 6150 video plays HD everything fine over component out to my 42" plasma. Install the latest version of KnoppMyth - you're not going to run desktop apps, right??

You can spend a fortune on coolers if you want, but unless you are going to seriously overclock, it's a waste of money.

My box doesn't have any case fans and the stock HSF that came with my opty was 10x louder than the Zalman I have now (see previous post). So not only does it keep my CPU crazy cool, it also pushes heat out of the back of my case, and I can hear the refrigerator in the kitchen over it.

$50 isn't a fortune at all when you consider these benefits.

And I can't hear the $6 fan running about 1300rpm either, so what's the benefit? Maybe a couple of C cooler. No big deal.

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the inputs!

I ordered the Athlon 64 X2 4600+ with the 65nm core and 2gb of some Kingston RAM that was on the qualified vendors list in the motherboard manual.

The 4600 I'm sure is more than I need, but it seems everytime I try to get "just" what I need I end up wishing I would've got a little more. It was a good price, $66 with free shipping from NewEgg. I think the lowest priced processor was just $10 cheaper, I don't recall if it had free shipping or not, but for $10 I thought it would be worth an upgrade.

I didn't go with an aftermarket cooler. I decided to see how loud the OEM one is first. I actually think it will be fine . . . we have a Polaroid DRM-2001G DVR right now (it's what got me hooked on DVRs . . . and wanting more!). It has a small 40mm fan in it that's fairly loud, but my wife has a big fish aquarium in the living room and we don't hear the DVR fan over the noise the aquarium pumps make so I think we'll be fine with an HTPC too. If not, I'll just purchase an after market cooler - they aren't that expensive so it isn't a big mistake if I'm wrong.

SlowBiscuit - Thanks for the knoppmyth recommendation! It's nice to know exactly which packages have worked with this exact board! I'll probably start there so I have a good chance for success! As I said before though, this is my play machine so I may load other distros just to see how they work too (I'm viewing this as a play PVR, not a play computer). You never know though, I may get so enthralled with MythTV that I may not want to mess with it once it's up and running! And yes, I'm planning on this as being a dedicated MythTV box so I think a plain jane "appliance" version of Linux will be just fine.

I haven't decided on the hard drive yet . . . I was thinking a 500gb would be OK, but I saw on NewEgg that the 1tb units are priced pretty good these days too, so I may splurge. Any comments or recommendations on hard drives?

Thanks for everything guys! This has been a fun project and so far all I've basically done is research! I can't wait to start putting things together and trying out all the various options!

Take Care,

Steve

Hi Guys,

Does KnoppMyth or the Asus M2-NPV-VM have any problems with large hard drives? If so, what size would be the maximum supported. I'm thinking a Western Digital 640gb may be a good buy right now.

Thanks!

Steve

Hi Guys,

Thanks ...
The 4600 I'm sure is more than I need, but it seems everytime I try to get "just" what I need I end up wishing I would've got a little more....

Take Care,

Steve


If you're doing any trancoding you'll want all the cpu you can afford. Otherwise that will be more than enough.