Joined
·
10 Posts
So I have a problem. I have a mythbox that works well (after, shall we say, a bit of work). However I bought everything online and my case - an Antec Fusion NSK 2400 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129014 - came out a touch bigger than I had anticipated, but more to the point big enough that my wife despises it. The problems are twofold: (1) it is just bigger than she would like and (2) at 17.5 inches deep it won't fit in the correct manner in our home entertainment center, I've had to turn it sideways. I had got the case because it runs cool and is quiet, but at this point those are secondary compared to her problems with it.
I'm looking for advice on ways to reduce the under TV size of the equipment. Needs to be able handle HDTV. The cable box underneath has a depth of 11 inches and is no problem at all. I'm guessing I could go to 14 inches deep without problems, but am wary of pushing it beyond that.
In terms of options, I see two.
1. A new case - If I could find a case that's small enough that would fit under easily and looks slick enough to convince my wife that would work. I could just rebuild into that and sell the case on ebay. But to do this, I need to be pretty confident that the new case will be small enough to fit and pretty enough that my wife will feel good about it.
2. A SFF solution under the TV - The size of the current case would be less of an issue other places in our apartment, so I could just move the current system and get a new one underneath.
a. Simplest would be a mac mini, but cost is an issue here. I would rather not drop $600 on in, though a very realistic possibility at this point. If I do that, does the mythfrontend play nice with the apple stuff?
b. The other option would be to build something new for under here that would be only a front end. Issue is I need to be able to handle HDTV, which rules out some of the commercial solutions as far as I can tell. I have an AMD core 2 sitting around that will handle HD no problem, especially with an NVIDIA card, but not really any other parts. Though I could pull a memory stick from the current computer (1gb) also to help keep costs down.
Other relevant details:
TV is a Panasonic professional plasma, so have component, VGA, HDMI connections. Cable box is on one (of 2) of the HDMI inputs. Mythbox is on VGA.
Right now just running stereo to an old set of computer speakers I have. Will probably switch to a receiver and new speakers at some point.
I have an AMD core 2 sitting around that will handle HD no problem, especially with an NVIDIA card, but not really any other parts. I could pull a memory stick from the current computer (1gb) also.
Needs to be quiet, but not too quiet (live in NYC). Heat is an issue, as in the NY summer the last thing I want to do is emit more of it.
In hindsight, the ideal solution would have been a mac mini and a NAS for anyone still planning in my situation.
Thanks for reading all of this and for any advice you can give.
I'm looking for advice on ways to reduce the under TV size of the equipment. Needs to be able handle HDTV. The cable box underneath has a depth of 11 inches and is no problem at all. I'm guessing I could go to 14 inches deep without problems, but am wary of pushing it beyond that.
In terms of options, I see two.
1. A new case - If I could find a case that's small enough that would fit under easily and looks slick enough to convince my wife that would work. I could just rebuild into that and sell the case on ebay. But to do this, I need to be pretty confident that the new case will be small enough to fit and pretty enough that my wife will feel good about it.
2. A SFF solution under the TV - The size of the current case would be less of an issue other places in our apartment, so I could just move the current system and get a new one underneath.
a. Simplest would be a mac mini, but cost is an issue here. I would rather not drop $600 on in, though a very realistic possibility at this point. If I do that, does the mythfrontend play nice with the apple stuff?
b. The other option would be to build something new for under here that would be only a front end. Issue is I need to be able to handle HDTV, which rules out some of the commercial solutions as far as I can tell. I have an AMD core 2 sitting around that will handle HD no problem, especially with an NVIDIA card, but not really any other parts. Though I could pull a memory stick from the current computer (1gb) also to help keep costs down.
Other relevant details:
TV is a Panasonic professional plasma, so have component, VGA, HDMI connections. Cable box is on one (of 2) of the HDMI inputs. Mythbox is on VGA.
Right now just running stereo to an old set of computer speakers I have. Will probably switch to a receiver and new speakers at some point.
I have an AMD core 2 sitting around that will handle HD no problem, especially with an NVIDIA card, but not really any other parts. I could pull a memory stick from the current computer (1gb) also.
Needs to be quiet, but not too quiet (live in NYC). Heat is an issue, as in the NY summer the last thing I want to do is emit more of it.
In hindsight, the ideal solution would have been a mac mini and a NAS for anyone still planning in my situation.
Thanks for reading all of this and for any advice you can give.