Ok, looks like I have the green ligth from my cfo (wife) to build a mythTv machine!!!

However, after reading many forums I still do not completly understand all the hardware peices that I need for my system.

I am going to leverage an existing machine to built my mythbox.

My machine's current specs
==============
It is a PIII 333
with 256 megs memory
10/100 nic card
120 gig hard drive (arrived today)
PVR-350 (arrived today)
No sound card
No video card

My exisitng machine does not have a sound card. Do I need one? or is the sound come from the pvr card? If I need one, what kind?

My exising machine does not have a video card. Do I need one? or is the video going to come from my prv card? If I need one, what kind?


Also, what OS/Distro do I need to load with what components installed inorder to run KnoppMyth install? I didn't see any documentation on this.

Thanks for any help!

Yes, you need a soundcard, I'd recommend a SB Live.
The 350 does have TV out, but it isn't a video adapter. I'd recommend a nVidia GeForce 4 440 w/ TV out. KnoppMyth installs all you need.

_________________
cesman

When the source is open, the possibilities are endless!

Thanks for the information. What type of sound blaster card? 5.1? I have a nice Pioneer sterio receiver that I want all my audio to run through. Will this sound blaster card give me surround sounds as well?

As far as the video adapter (nVidia GeForce 4 440 w/ TV out) is this physicall when the coax cable will come out of behind my pc and run to the back of my tv?

I just have standard cable coming from the wall (no box), does the wall supply (input) get plugged into the PVR-350 and then the output will come from the nVidia GeForce 4 440 w/ TV out card and go into my tv?

BTW My tv is a an older Magnovox that does not have any jacks or svideo outlets on it. It just has a place to plug in the cable source. Will this be ok?

Thank

SB Live. The 440 has SVideo out, you should be able to find an adapater at Radio Shack.

_________________
cesman

When the source is open, the possibilities are endless!

The computer will only output tv as svideo or composit, the adapter cesman is talking about from radioshak is to convert either svid or composite to coax input.

If the RadioShack salesman looks confused, tell him/her that your dvd player and your TV don't have the right connectors to plug into each other. He or she should know what you are looking for.

_________________
Master:
- AMD 1800XP on a MSI KT4V motherboard, via KT400 bios
- 120 G Segate Baracuda /, /cache, /myth, swap
- 200 G Segate Baracuda /myth/tv
- 3 Haupauge! WinTV PVR250s
- 19" Daewoo Monitor (1280x1024 ni)

You could also consider patching it through your VCR. Most VCR's have some type of line in (usually rca style)