While perusing http://www.newegg.com I saw reviews that stated that the Chaintech 7NIF2 board can be finicky about RAM while using on-board video. http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-152-020&depa=0&manufactory=BROWSE Has anyone here run across this issue? What RAM are you using? Has the APIC issue been resolved or is it still a crap shoot? Is it only S-Video out or is it possible to find a S-Video to component adapter?

I understand the DMA issues with VIA KT266 chipsets, having attempted (and failed) to install and use a Asus KR7a board with myth. What I am wondering is if it is possible to use this board as a frontend without issues?

Please look over my proposed boxen and let me know if you have a suggestion.

Specs for front/backend machine-
Chaintech 7NIF2
AMD Athalon 2000+ 1.67 Ghz
512mb Ram
160Gb Seagate hdd
PVR 250 card

Specs for frontend only machine-
Asus KR7a VIA KT266a
AMD Athalon 1800+ 1.15 Ghz
128mb RAM
20 Gb Maxtor hdd
SB Live Value
Nvidia 440MX W/TV out

apic might still be an issue with these boards, but knoppmyth has had apic and lapic disabled since R4v3 for just that reason, so it won't be an issue with knoppmyth.

As for video out it has vga and svid. It may even come with a svid to composite converter, I can't remember one of my devices did. As far as component if you want that I would get a vga to component converter not svid to component.

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Have a question search the forum and have a look at the KnoppMythWiki.

Xsecrets

Sounds good to me..... Order placed! Be forewarned I will be setting up these boxes next week..... Look for me living here for a while. Thanks in advance to all of you for the help and Dave and Cesman explicitly for this wonderful project.

Due to the fact that I havent seen mention to VIA frontend issues I will be going ahead and trying it as my frontend.

Who is Dave?

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cesman

When the source is open, the possibilities are endless!

Dave is the name that I have given to Dale in my pre-caffinated state.

"Dave 's not home man..."

My only comment on the hardware selection (whch looks pretty sane) is that when it comes to hard drives for MythTV, size really does matter, and bigger is better.

Last time I checked the $/Gb sweet spot was at the 200Gb level and hard drives are one of those places where watching for sales can make a huge difference. Try watching pricegrabber or hotdealsclub (Holy swiss cheese Batman! $67 for 200Gb after rebate!) for a couple weeks and you should be able to get the price below $0.50/Gb.