Hi all, quick summary, I played around with Knoppmyth earlier this year, and have since made the full jump from Window$ to Linux (Ubuntu Dapper Drake on my main PC), no dual boot anymore!

Anyway, I have a second (and maybe a third) PC that I'd like to make at least a basic DVD player out of, and potentially a DVR/Web/Game/Email system (like KnoppMyth provides).

Before getting into all of that, the first requirement would be to replace my current DVD player, it started "clicking" and locked up on King Kong backup yesterday (and unfortunaltley its also my Playstation 2 ! ) I run output to Infocus 4805 projector.

So "wife test" question:
Can Knoppmyth be setup so that when a DVD is inserted, it automagically fires up a DVD player and begins playing? Or would a menu need to be accessed first? (This is the ultimate wife test, at first she questioned the need for the projector, now she loves it, but would want any DVR/HTPC to act like a "normal DVD player")

Second question (and this maybe the wrong forum) : I am assuming I need an audio card with optical out for 5.1 ? I see $8 cards on newegg that claim 5.1 but I don't see an optical out on the close up shots.

I can run DVI input to my projector (to keep TV and DVD signal it all digital) , do they even make video cards with DVI out ? Or should I just use my regular 15 pin monitor out with some adapter ? (Again I apologize if this shouldn't be asked here)

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1ghz Duron w/ ABIT KR7A-RAID
GeForce 440MX 64mb
512MB PC2700
80GB WD 7200
bttv 878
19" CRT Monitor (for now)

You really should re-post this as separate questions, and then re-title the main one to something reasonable such as "MythTV as DVD Player?".
IIRC, there's an option to launch the DVD when inserted, but for me, it was acting up so I turned it off.

My wife is pretty clever when it comes to Knoppmyth, but she prefers to rip the DVD to the hard drive then watch it later. The only thing that stinks about this is that post-ripping we have to visit the Video Manager and update the description and box art via IMDB, then go back into 'watch videos'.

Then again you can just select 'optical discs' from the main menu then 'play dvd'. It's pretty simple.

My wife is a technophobe especially with me being a tech head. She can use the arrow keys and the enter key to get to playing DVDs and Videos and now she is up to watching records of Desparate Housewives. So in answer to teh question about using it as a regular DVD player, don't forget you still have to press play on the DVD player

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Girkers

I'll answer questions 2 and 3

2) What you want is optical spdif out (coax would work too) the $5 cards won't have it, but it's quite common and can be had fairly cheaply.

3) yes many video cards have dvi outputs. The most reccommended for price/performance/noise are the fanless gforce 5200 cards any brand should do.

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

Xsecrets

Just to reinforce Xsecrets, any cheapo Nvidia card will have the DVI connector and work fine. I have DVI > HDMI setup on my 5900 and plugged into my HDTV, looks great (except for overscan but oh well). Fanless is the way to go, keeps the heat and noise down. Plus these cards barely get warm in 2d mode, it isn't until you kick them into 3d that they get hot.

There are tricks and snafus involved with Optical audio, I'll leave it at that. It is possible but I believe it'll require perseverence on your part.