[mythtvnz] Suitable Frontend

[David Lowe]

I too use a Revo as really quiet frontend, and as noted above its just
powerful enough to do everything. Highly recommended.

At risk of incurring the wrath of purists - I'd add another option. I
bought a new TV some months ago that had network connectivity and a built
in DLNA client. It's a perfectly serviceable MythTV player and I actually
use it more than the 'proper' frontend. Yes, it lacks a few key features
(like the ability to schedule recordings, but I do that using mythweb) but
for simplicity, it's hard to beat.

Don, as you will find, the best thing about MythTV is the endless options
and opportunities to experiment :-)

- David



On Tue, Dec 4, 2012 at 4:38 PM, Michael West <michael at iposs.co.nz> wrote:

> >Hi all,
> >
> >I have go a Pentium 4 3ghz running as a backend with Mythbuntu - as
> discussed on this list :-)
> >
> >This machine is okay - cannot quite cope with recording HD TV, or
> Commercial Flagging *and* serving media to my laptop. But it can record two
> (sometimes three) channels, and will do for now. It is too loud for the
> living room though.
> >
> >I would like to get a machine for a front end, and any suggestions anyone
> has. Quiet is good :-)
> >
> >Given my backend is a P4 - would this be good enough for a front end?
> >
> >A number of machines have DVI out - can can I use this to output full hd
> using a DVI to HDMI cable?
> >
> >Could I use a vga to rca type cable to get full hd?
> >
> >Anyway - thanks for the help :-)
> >
> >DOn
>
> If you want a front end that can play back HD you normally need enough
> power to do de-interlacing or movement will look very bad.
> You can do this with a decent performance modern CPU in software but it
> will require a more expensive CPU and a higher power bill.
> Your next best option is to get a NVIDIA graphics card like a GT-620 for
> example that can use VDPAU to GPU accelerate
> Video decode and de-interlacing meaning ANY cpu will be good enough.
>
> If you really want low power and noise then you can get small motherboards
> (mini-itx) or machines that have atom processors
> and ION or ION2 graphics which is NVIDA based and just fast enough to do
> HD.
> These ION based machines may not do some of the high end de-interlacing
> modes well but they are ok mostly.
> Some of these come as very small mini pre built machines or barebones kits
> but check reviews online for fan noise issues etc.
>
> If you don't want to go for an Atom/ION solution the next best power
> saving/low noise option is a modern sandy bridge motherboard and CPU.
> Even the cheapest sandy bridge Pentium Dual Core G6xx's are quite
> efficient.
>
> If your trying to save the most money then any second hand machine with a
> pci-express graphics slot can be used with just a NVIDIA GFX card added.
>
> http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/VDPAU  <-- lots of good info there about
> different machine/GFX options.
> Note this is a bit out of date now and you may find it hard to source the
> older generation GFX cards mentioned.
> The GT 520 has been replaced with the GT-610 and GT 430 by the GT-620 but
> they all should work mostly.
> Higher end cards than these will work just as well but more money and
> power required so unless you want to use it for more than myth don't bother.
>
> Also watch out for HDMI on the GFX card as some of the earlier NVIDA cards
> do not have full support for sound output over HDMI.
>
> Also if it's just a front end only you will just need a basic hard drive
> to boot off but you may want to get a cheap 30GB or larger SSD instead as
> they are quite cheap.
>
> Michael
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> mythtvnz mailing list
> mythtvnz at lists.linuxnut.co.nz
> http://lists.ourshack.com/mailman/listinfo/mythtvnz
> Archives http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/mythtvnz/
>



-- 
*___________________*
*David Lowe CA*
209 Marshmans Road
RD7 Rangiora 7477
+64 21 395 204
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.ourshack.com/pipermail/mythtvnz/attachments/20121204/4b355c32/attachment-0001.html>