MythTV/MCE Set up

Chardee MacDennis

How much would I be looking at to build a pc capable of running myth or mce? could you do it under 500 euro? if you don't mind me asking how much did your set up cost you all?

thanks

subway

you can do it for 150 euro if you want-
http://cgi.ebay.ie/Dell-Optiplex-GX260-Intel-P4-2-4GHz-512MB-40GB-XP-Pro_W0QQitemZ270189642778QQihZ017QQcategoryZ179QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

search ebay for optiplex and youll find hundred of bargains,
small systems, low puwer useage, and very quiet.
ive had a few of them.
budget in 30 euro for a gfx card with tv out and your away.

that will gt you the basics (mp3 / divx / dvd)

there room inside for 2 hard drives and 2 full height pci cards (mounted sideways)
so you can add tv cards or audio cards as needed.
theres also 6 usb 2 ports for external devices (2 front mounted)

hth

unklerosco

Mine cost me €90... I'm using a compaq D330... 2.8p4 - 2gb ram - 300gb HD - 6600LE

I got it cheap through work, theres one for sale on Adverts at the mo. It all depends on what you want, you can spend as little or as much as you want. Depends on what you want it to do. Mine is just for watching movies, mp3's and couch surfing... I use sky+ for recording TV etc.

SouperComputer

Call_me_al wrote: »

How much would I be looking at to build a pc capable of running myth or mce? could you do it under 500 euro? if you don't mind me asking how much did your set up cost you all?

thanks

For either platform, P4 1.7Ghz or above and 512MB RAM is fine. 768MB is better. 720p/1080i HD content will need 2.8Ghz with MythTV, perhaps more with windows. After that, just decide how much storage you need.

Older dell optiplex are good starter systems, common, cheap and compatatively quiet.

/edit, haha took too long to type that one.


If you plan running MythTV, run with an FX5200 graphics card, MS USB remote and ideally a Hauppage PVR 150 or 550 tuner. Actually, thats a good way to go for either setup. Dont forget the other windows offerings such as GB-PVR (Very lightweight and efficient) and Mediaportal.

mathias

Im not sure if were talking about the same optiplex's ( or is that optiplexi ? ) but the one I tried , while quiet to start with , revved up the fan incredibly loud anytime you gave it something hard to do , like play a 1080p trailer. Incredibly annoying noise wise.

For a budget of 500 or thereabouts , heres a good starter kit ,

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=321080

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=340088

The second link is for an Antec fusion case , comes in silver and black , I put the black link in cos theres no picture on the silver link , Its an expensive case but if your going to have in in your sitting room it looks the business and is very quiet.

That amd bundle includes and onboard graphics card with HDMI out , a nice starter package , all you need to add to the kit to get recording TV is one of these ,

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=323374

This is pushing the budget a little , but is the base for a very nice , quiet system.

SouperComputer

Not all the Optiplexes are the same tho, and typically a bit of arctic silver keep em quiet enough. Failing that, a better case fan or go nuts and stick a new copper cooler on there, layout permitting

I did mean to say that this was a suggestion for non-HD content.

adrian.s

uhm, guess this is where I chip in and say i've spent a small fortune on my little set-up. I'm sure it's around 2K now, there's a backend (in a really fancy case), a front end, and now a test system coz downtime due to upgrades causes me a whole lot of headaches from the other half! If you're going to be putting something into full time use (and rely on it to record the programs you want) it's best to push the budget a little and make sure you are using quiet and reliable hardware.

Adrian.

SouperComputer

adrian.s is running MythTV BTW, IIRCa

Chardee MacDennis

nice one guys, seems I've bit to mull over here!!