Building a Linux PVR, Part 2: Microsoft's MCE 2004
by Purav Sanghani on September 16, 2004 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- Linux
Hardware
We made a few changes to our Linux MythTV system since Part I:| AnandTech Linux Device | Price | |
| CPU | Sempron 3100+ | $125 |
| MOBO | DFI K8M800-MLVF | $81 |
| Audio | Integrated (VIA) | - |
| Ethernet | Integrated (Realtek 10/100) | - |
| VGA | Integrated | - |
| Tuner | 2 Hauppauge WinTV GO | $100 |
| HDD | Western Digital 80GB WD800JB | $60 |
| RAM | 512MB Corsair DDR400 | $75 |
| Optical | BenQ 16X OPAL-OC1 | $24 |
| Remote | Included with WinTV GO | - |
| Case | SuperFlower SF-101BK | $38 |
| OS | SuSE Linux 9.1 | - |
| Total | $503 | |
We figured that we could chop the total price down by at least $100 using a WinTV GO card at $50 instead of the PVR-250 and also getting a hold of a much cheaper case from SuperFlower, the SF-101BK at $38. We used the same DFI board as in our original configuration from Part I. We went with the DFI K8M800-MLVF as an excellent low-cost solution for our MythTV platform; we get integrated graphics and sound, but we can still utilize the power of an onboard memory controller with socket 754. Since our MythTV setup is not 64-bit, going with a Sempron 3100+ over an Athlon 64 2800+ saves us a few bucks. With the money saved on this revision of the MythTV machine, we are actually able to use two WinTV GO cards - two tuners - allowing us to watch and record different signals at once. Both of these are software recording cards, but with the power of our Sempron 3100+, Myth is able to play video from one card, capture from the other, and transcode in the background without hiccupping! That's getting a bang for your buck.
Note: All of our benchmarks and comparisons performed on the MythTV system have been done with our original hardware setup, which includes the PVR-250, to balance the playing field.
Since MCE does not have the best compatibility when it comes to hardware, we had to accept some minor changes to hardware making it slightly difficult to cut down the price.
| Whitebox Windows MCE Device Price | Price | |
| CPU | Sempron 3100+ | - |
| MOBO | Undisclosed | - |
| Audio | Integrated (VIA) | - |
| Ethernet | Integrated (Realtek 10/100) | - |
| VGA | GeForce 4 MX440 128MB | - |
| Tuner | Hauppauge WinTV PVR-250MCE | - |
| HDD | Western Digital 80GB WD800JB | - |
| RAM | 512MB Micron DDR400 | - |
| Optical | Sony DDU-1613 | - |
| Remote | Undisclosed | - |
| Case | Undisclosed | - |
| OS | Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 | - |
| Total | $699 | |
Our Media Center Edition PC came equipped with the same GeForce4 MX440, but with 64MB more RAM. MCE also has better support for the MCE version of Hauppauge's PVR-250, appropriately named PVR-250MCE. Other variations in hardware were the 512MB Micron DDR400 (from our MythTV PVR's Corsair DR400) as well as the Sony DDU-1613 CD/DVD combo reader (from the BenQ OPAL-OC1).
From the price, it is clear that our stripped down MythTV box comes up as the winner here, but it does at the cost of performance. Since we used the software-based WinTV GO card, MythTV relied heavily on the Sempron 3100+ for encoding/decoding functions. The Sempron was still powerful enough to handle simple recording and playback of audio/video content.
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- Saturday, October 24, 2009 - link
sell:nike shoes$32,ed hardy(items),jean$30,handbag$35,polo shirt$13,shox$34unnefer - Thursday, May 12, 2005 - link
Actually, there is a mythTV frontend for Windows, called (of all names) winMyth. I haven't used it so I can't comment on it's use. It can be found here: http://winmyth.sourceforge.net/As for the article, it was pretty even IMO - just one issue.
Why use knoppmyth to compare to MCE? They don't even come close to being similar.
Knopmyth is basically a gloryfied "LiveCD" and only supports what the developers think should be supported.
Why not install Fedora (or another distro) and then install mythTV and anything else required to get it fully-functional to the same extent as the MCE install.
Remember, MCE is on 2 cds and takes just as much effort to install and setup correctly.
Brazen - Tuesday, October 5, 2004 - link
I'd like to see an article on setting up a linux pvr server and then be able to access the server adn watch tv from a client running on Windows.gimper48 - Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - link
Ok so I will ask again where are you finding that Case for that price?!!! I want to build one but I am having a tough time finding a couple parts for those prices.TrogdorJW - Saturday, September 18, 2004 - link
I'm not sure I get the point of the detractors of this article. For one, the conclusion is that KnoppMyth/MythTV is the overall winner due to flexibility (at least if you're competent enough to configure some additional options). Second, the software vs. hardware encoding was clearly stated, and there were good reasons for going with the cheaper software encoding cards (price, more flexibility on encoding choice, and you get two cards as well). Are there features that do not get addressed? Yes. Would you all spend the time to read four more pages of commentary on features that 95% of people probably don't care about? Hmmmm.....Now, all I need to do is resist the urge to spend money on building my own PVR. Or maybe not? I wonder how well an old P3 1.4 GHz would do with PVR duties if I get a TV card?
JKolstad - Friday, September 17, 2004 - link
#17: Fair enough, but my point is that if legal restrictions prevent DVD playback from working, it either (a) simply shouldn't be an option for the user to select in the first place or (b) a dialog should be displayed mentioning as much (You can word things pretty generically... just say, "DVD playback is unavailable due to the lack of a DeCss plug-in. According to the DMCA, such software cannot be legally distributed with this application, nor can information be provided on where such software could be obtained. Please search the Internet for further information.")But letting a use choose an option that then just leads to a blank screen frustrates both novice AND expert users.
#20: Granny isn't going to come within 10 feet of a PVR? Hmm... maybe, but I'd bet you plenty of TiVos are sold to the 60+ crowd, and PVRs aren't far behind.
---Joel
Daita - Friday, September 17, 2004 - link
What about comparing something like Snapstream or SageTV to MythTV for the windows platform as they're more comparable to what MythTV offers. Snapstream with the new 3.5 version thats in beta right now offers multi-tuner support, web scheduling, client server operation, transcoding, and with the new plugin system will allow users to implement many more features. While this is a 3rd part addon for windows I still think something along these lines is much more comparable than Windowa MCE.frizzlebiscuit - Friday, September 17, 2004 - link
Xsecrets, you read my mind. I noticed the same errors in the article regarding KnoppMyth and MythTV, and had the same reactions. Thanks for saving me some typing.On MCE: I have not spent any time with MCE, but it looks similar to UltimateTV, which is in some respects a good thing.
On grandmas: No elderly person on earth is coming within 10 feet of a PVR. Therefore it's a fallacy to base evaluations of these systems on such a standard of usability. That being said, Supernerd shouldn't be the standard either, but I don't think that is the case here.
On user interfaces: Interfaces should be optimized for a TV and a remote control. MCE looks like it's designed for a monitor and mouse. Supernerd may watch TV at his computer, but I don't. Myth gets it right.
rjbAnandtech - Thursday, September 16, 2004 - link
So will ether of these directly connect to a Cable TV or Satellite TV feed? How about a version that does HDTV? What card can be used to support HDTV from Satellite?Thanks!
cesman - Thursday, September 16, 2004 - link
"KnoppMyth installs cleanly and easily, but does not offer as much support as getting your hands dirty with a "from scratch" install." As one of the developers behind KnoppMyth, that is the point. KnoppMyth was/is designed to get a set-top box running in the quickest and easiest manner. What sort of "support" are you looking for?