I want to build a knoppmyth box out of hardware I currently have. Here's what I have to work with. Can I get some help as to what would work best?

CPU/Mobo/RAM:
Athlon 1600/Skt 462/512MB DDR3200
P4 1.8/skt 478/1GB PC133
P4 1.4/ skt 423/384MB RD800

TV Tuner:
ATI All-In-Wonder 9700 Pro AGP 8x 128MB
WinTV card (other specs unknown)

Graphics:
ATI All-In-Wonder 9700 Pro AGP 8x 128MB
nVidia Geforce 3 32MB AGP 4x
ATI Radeon 7000 64MB PCI

Storage:
(2) 80GB IDE
(2) 40GB IDE
(1) 60GB IDE
(1) 30GB IDE

Optical:
Slot Loading DVD-ROM
Tray loading DVD-ROM/CD-RW

Mainly concerned with the base system, as far as cpu/mobo/ram.

Thanks

What kind of signal do you want to record?

SD - you should be fine. However, SD broadcasts are going away. In a couple of years maybe basic cable will be the only analog signal left. Also, check the wiki to make sure your tuner cards are listed.

S-video input - I didn't check your tuner card, some will take s-video input, but your other hardware should be fine

HD - No way. The CPU's are too weak (but a P4 2.8 in socket 478 should fix that), ATI video cards aren't supported, your tuners are analog, and 80gb could fill up in a couple of days.

If you go HD, your parts could make a working remote frontend hooked up to an SD television. My remote FE in the bedroom is a p4-2.4. So hold on to all that.

i,

As was pointed out, what do you want to do with it? Granted, SD is going away 2009 however you can do a lot of learning and enjoyment with what you have now. Cable will be around for quite sometime after the ota has gone digital only.

Since an ATSC card or HomeRun was not in the list, don't worry it for now, you can't receive digital anyway. Just for a general idea, I can view digital second stream stuff on a lot less than the toys you have to play with. That is usually weather stuff or qubo for a couple ideas. A very low power box will record HD, play back is the issue.

Just to learn, all should work fine except the ati stuff. That should narrow the choices a little You can try the ati video as some of those are supported at least a little.

The wintv card probably would require a bttv setup if it is an 878 chip?

If you were to record tv at basic default, it would use ~2 gig per hour. Therefore a 30 gig -5gig for install of KM, ~384 - 512 swap should leave about 23~24 gig for "content" or ~10hours of tv, or lots of music, or lots of photos in the gallery or a combination of material.

You don't like it, reinstall and do it again, take notes and it gets easier every time

Mike

I'm planning on SD TV through a cable settop box. Mainly as far as the CPU/Mobo/RAM, what am I best going with?

Thanks
Joe

Hi,

Try all three, see which is your preference. All should work.

Make three boxes, keep one, give two away. The system does not require a tuner to work the other features. tuner is only needed for tv.

Lowest I have gone is 400 mhz 256mem 6gig drive.

Most video cards will work with at last a vesa (generic) as the driver.

Enjoy
Mike