I want to attempt to build a mythTV box with hardware I have laying around allready. I have a Pentium 667 with 256mb of ram that I can use to start out with.

My question is what do I need for a tuner and video card. Is there a single card that would do both reliably with this machines specs for a reasonable price. I can increase the ram easily. I'm just trying to get this done on the cheap for right now so live playback isn't a requirement, but the ability to record and play later is.

I was looking at the Leadtek 2000xp deluxe, but I'm guessing since it's software based (?) that my computer would be too slow? Or would it just be too slow for live playback?

ps I hope this is in the right section, if not, I apologize.

_________________
"The amount of time needed to solve a problem is inversely proportionate to the complexity of the solution" -- Me

KM: R5.5
CPU: Athlon 3800+
Vid: nvidia 7300GT
Snd: Chaintech av-710
Tuner: PVR150
HD: 1000gb sata + 750gb sata + 500gb usb

with that processor you the ideal would be pvr350. it's a bit of work to get setup properly, but you can just use whatever cheap video card you have laying around or onboard video to setup and once it's all running the pvr350 will do the capture and playback.(of course that is assuming (yeah I know what it means) that you want to display on tv)

Otherwise you can use a pvr250 and nvidia card gf4mx or newer.

Or you could try with the software card, but no promises. you probably won't be able to record at full resolution with that processor.

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

Xsecrets

Well, I do want to display it on my TV.

So basically all I need is a standard PC, and the only real "special" hardware component is the pvr350?

So this is all I should need
Pentium III - 667 w/256MB Ram
Hauppaug PVR350
Large HD
NIC
Soundcard

That won't get me live playback though, if I want that I'll need a faster CPU right?

_________________
"The amount of time needed to solve a problem is inversely proportionate to the complexity of the solution" -- Me

KM: R5.5
CPU: Athlon 3800+
Vid: nvidia 7300GT
Snd: Chaintech av-710
Tuner: PVR150
HD: 1000gb sata + 750gb sata + 500gb usb

The reason he recommended the 350 is because it handles the encoding and decoding, so you would get live playback.

_________________
cesman

When the source is open, the possibilities are endless!

Oh thanks

_________________
"The amount of time needed to solve a problem is inversely proportionate to the complexity of the solution" -- Me

KM: R5.5
CPU: Athlon 3800+
Vid: nvidia 7300GT
Snd: Chaintech av-710
Tuner: PVR150
HD: 1000gb sata + 750gb sata + 500gb usb

and I didn't notice it in your setup, but you will still need some sort of video card to do the setup with and for the pc to boot. It shouldn't matter what kind. the PVR350 is not a video card per say, but it will output everything if you are outputting to a monitor, but the system still need a video card or it will yell at you.

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

Xsecrets

Oh, ok. Oh, and I put down a sound card, but doesn't the pvr350 have sound output? So why would that be needed, or is it? I'd probably use MythMusic and stuff as well so...would that go through a seperate sound card or through the pvr350?

_________________
"The amount of time needed to solve a problem is inversely proportionate to the complexity of the solution" -- Me

KM: R5.5
CPU: Athlon 3800+
Vid: nvidia 7300GT
Snd: Chaintech av-710
Tuner: PVR150
HD: 1000gb sata + 750gb sata + 500gb usb

it has sound output, but only for the stuff recorded by it live/recordedtv everything else comes out the soundcard, so yes you need a soundcard, and best way to set it up is to run the sound out from the pvr350 back through the sound card, so you only have to setup one set of speakers.

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

Xsecrets

Ah, I see I see...way off topic, but does the KnoppMyth iso (since I haven't burned it yet, or installed) have the various modules like MythMusic, etc by default, or will I need to add those after?

_________________
"The amount of time needed to solve a problem is inversely proportionate to the complexity of the solution" -- Me

KM: R5.5
CPU: Athlon 3800+
Vid: nvidia 7300GT
Snd: Chaintech av-710
Tuner: PVR150
HD: 1000gb sata + 750gb sata + 500gb usb

It has most of them with the notible exeption of mythbrowser, which is left out of the current version due to depandancy issues. It will be in the next release.

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

Xsecrets

*excellent*

Thanks, you've been a big help.

_________________
"The amount of time needed to solve a problem is inversely proportionate to the complexity of the solution" -- Me

KM: R5.5
CPU: Athlon 3800+
Vid: nvidia 7300GT
Snd: Chaintech av-710
Tuner: PVR150
HD: 1000gb sata + 750gb sata + 500gb usb