I am getting ready to build my first MythTV box. This box will be used to record standard definition television. I will also like to store some music on it. After researching I decided that I will start with a single PVR-150. Later I might add another tuner. The box will have 512MB of ram. I have a few questions about some of the other hardware.

1. I want to use a socket 754 motherboard, preferably with a nForce chipset. I found a Gigabyte GA-K8NS for a really good price and was wondering it ya'll have an opinion of that board. If not, I am open to other suggestions.

2. I am thinking about using a Sempron 3000 or so, any comments?

3. If the motherboard does not have onboard video I will use a 5200FX. Any card manufacturers to look for or look out for?

I do not have a very big budget, so I would like to remain fairly cheap. However, I do want a useable system. Thanks.

Hi,
There are a lot of posts about what you could use. A Hauppauge pvr350 gives both encoding / decoding using hardware, has tv out, remote and if you use 800 mhz cpu or more it should do ntsc very nicely. I have a Dell 400mhz and it does it all Except the eye candy for the music. Total cost, one pvr350.

I have never noticed if the video card changed the video out quality for the menus as it always looked good to me.

What you pay for a pvr150 and nvidia card would more than offset the $$ difference of a pvr350.

Just my 2 cents worth.
Mike

Thanks for responding.

I was debating between the PVR-150 and the PVR-350. I decided on the PVR-150 after seeing that there was some minor issues getting the 350 to work. However, after looking at prices I think I will get the PVR-350. I can always come back here for answers.

I know I can use a lower end computer, but I was really wanting to try out a 64bit. Thats why I decided to get a socket 754 motherboard. After playing with that a while I might switch to a different computer. (I have a 450mhz that I would love to put back together.)

With that much CPU horsepower the only reason I can think of to chose between a 150/350 is recording and playback quality. The recordings from the 250 (and by extension the 350) still look a bit better than the ones from the 150 (and thus by extension the 500). Also the 350 is supposed to provide best of breed output quality for the recordings. YMMV.

Hi,

As for quality difference, I have not done a A / B - 150 / 350 however I do know the 350 only has a gradual fall by about 10% at the high frequency end using multiburst test signal for reference into composite. That equates to shaper details. I would love to do a recording with a 150 and do playout on 350 to see the response. Then it is apples - apples and not subjective to the eye.

Also, be it a 3ghz or a 450mhz, it will not change that output.
Mike