[ianeicher]

I am looking to build an inexpensive HTPC using MythTV, and I am thinking about using a mATX setup. I was looking to go with as much as possible on board (video, lan, audio), but I will at least want toslink onboard. I was considering a ABit NF7-M Nforce2, but I really want a mATX board. I am not planning on running HDTV as of now, but if I could pull it off without upgrading processor that would be great. Here is what I already have:


Athlon socket A (1800+ I think)

512mb pc2700 ram

PVR250

Time to put it all together, not in a huge hurry


Any suggestions?


PS - I have looked around and checked out a few of the howto's, but I was looking for specific help. I know, I'm a baby


PPS - I am also looking for a cheap case to go with it, any suggestions there as well?? Thanks!

 

[motulal]

Hi,


Any Nforce2 mATX motherboard should do fine, preferably with the Nvidia on-board video.


As for the case, what is your definition of *cheap* ? You can get cases from free (after rebate) to several hundred dollars. The 'cheap' cases tend to be mid towers and come with junk power supplies. There are a few 'cheaper' SFF cases but they tend to be thermally disadvantaged. I like the Antec Aria but it may bot be the best.


My suggestions are :-


a) Get a case with a 120mm case fan and nothing smaller.


b) Make sure the power supply is has Active PFC and a high power efficiency factor. Preferably, the fan should also use a 120 mm fan that is mounted such that the fan ends up on the inside on the case.


c) Get an mATX or ATX motherboard with an nVidia chipset and on-board nVidia video ( if you want to use on-board video ). Make sure this motherboard supports the Amd Athlon XP power saving feature.



Have fun.


/// Motulal.

 

[ianeicher]

Thanks for the advice.


I should have been more specific regarding the case. I am looking for a mATX case, preferably a desktop style case. I really don't need a "HTPC" case, just something that is black or I can paint black.

 

[WxDude10]

Hi,


You will have to look on EBAY for one of these, but it is one of the most fully featured mATX motherboards out there with the Nforce 2 chipset. I just got one myself and I am getting it

setup to be my desktop system. It has Dual VGA outputs, no S-Video, Built-in FireWire, USB 2, SoundStorm Audio (including the RealTime Dolby Digital Encoding). You would need to

get a bracket that connects to the SPDIF headers on the motherboard to get either optical or coaxial digital output. It may not correctly recognize a Mobile Athlon XP processor, but it will

work just fine with a regular deskp Athlon XP.


- Mike

 

[motulal]

The shuttle's are nice. I tend to miss DVI on them though.


/// Motulal

 

[najames]

Newegg.com mATX socket A boards set it up to find your specific cirteria. Sort by votes to see what others bought. They have boards with Sempron 2200s for under $100 too. Many choices.

http://www.newegg.com/app/manufact.a...alog=22&DEPA=1

 

[ianeicher]

Thanks for the info everyone!

 

[jthunder]

What is the minimum CPU/MB/MEM needed for 720p playback in this kind of setup?

 

[motulal]

Minimum CPU for HDTV playback is highly dependent on several factors. The other problem is that cpu power is more than just its GHZ or MHZ frequency.


Anyway, on windows, my P4 2.8 GHZ is barely enough.

On Linux, my AMD Barton XP 2500+ is just sufficient by itself but has some breathing room if XvMC is turned on.



It really irritates me that the hardware mpeg2 decoding cards like the MyHD-100/120/130 don't come with Linux drivers and the manufacturer's refuse to release specs so that we can write one ourselves.



Anyway, my next project is another MythTV box for HDTV using a Sempron 3100+ with is a sister chip to the AMD Athlon64 2800+



/// Motulal

 

[gbrnole]

WXDUDE - did you happen to find anywhere that will sell the spdif bracket? i have an mn31n but for the life of me can't find a USA vendor for the bracket. plenty in europe but i really don't want to have to go that route.

 

[WxDude10]

gbrnole,


I did find out somewhere that there are several different SPDIF brackets that will work.

I can't remember where I saw it. I think there was an Asus, MSI, and someone else's

brackets that worked. I will try to find the links and post them here.


- Mike

 

[gbrnole]

that would be awesome. thanks.

 

[WxDude10]

Ok,

Here is what I found for SPDIF connectors for the MN31N

Soyo AS-SPDIF


I don't know where you can find it, but that is a nice FULL featured board.


Censuspc.com has several SPDIF boards (One from iWill and 2 from MSI). Search for SPDIF

on their site.


There is also a user on ebay (pc-upgrade) that occasionally sell an MSI kit that includes

an SPDIF adapter.


You might have to change some pins around on the connector to get it to work with the MN31.

But I am not sure which one of these adapter would require it. Here is where I found the

info about the adapters.

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=766632


Good Luck


- mike