Comments on: Wanted to Buy: New MythTV Frontend http://gregbaker.ca/blog/2008/10/26/wanted-to-buy-new-mythtv-frontend/ Tales from Greg and Kat, in NC and elsewhere. Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:17:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Greg http://gregbaker.ca/blog/2008/10/26/wanted-to-buy-new-mythtv-frontend/comment-page-1/#comment-8705 Greg Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:31:27 +0000 http://gregbaker.ca/blog/?p=445#comment-8705 Brian also suggested this, which looks promising: http://www.zareason.com/shop/product.php?productid=16203&cat=0&page=1 Brian also suggested this, which looks promising:
http://www.zareason.com/shop/product.php?productid=16203&cat=0&page=1

]]> By: Brian http://gregbaker.ca/blog/2008/10/26/wanted-to-buy-new-mythtv-frontend/comment-page-1/#comment-7464 Brian Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:05:51 +0000 http://gregbaker.ca/blog/?p=445#comment-7464 One more thought. When I built my myth front end about two years ago, I seriously coveted this case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129030 But, I had to go with a more narrow nMediaPC case to fit in my media cabinet. At that time the majority of DIY options consisted of putting a fully powered computer in a case that looks like a stereo component. It works, but if I were to do the project again now, I would be really tempted by the Shuttle x27. Here's another disappointing, tiny commercial option that lacks a DVD drive and optical audio: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883220004 One more thought. When I built my myth front end about two years ago, I seriously coveted this case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129030
But, I had to go with a more narrow nMediaPC case to fit in my media cabinet. At that time the majority of DIY options consisted of putting a fully powered computer in a case that looks like a stereo component. It works, but if I were to do the project again now, I would be really tempted by the Shuttle x27.

Here’s another disappointing, tiny commercial option that lacks a DVD drive and optical audio:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883220004

]]> By: Brian http://gregbaker.ca/blog/2008/10/26/wanted-to-buy-new-mythtv-frontend/comment-page-1/#comment-7462 Brian Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:02:03 +0000 http://gregbaker.ca/blog/?p=445#comment-7462 This project is just too much fun. Yang is right on about there not being much commercial support for this type of thing. It seems like the computer you describe should exist, but it's oddly hard to find. On the one hand you see a lot of crippled consumer devices, like the Tivo or AppleTV that just don't offer the flexibility you want (without modding). On the other hand you find small, flexible computers that fall just short on connections, noise, or some other issue. The Shuttle x27 is so close, but misses out on digital audio and a chipset fan. (I would personally go with this one, but I don't have a digital audio receiver.) There is a horribly done review with OK pictures here: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/shuttle-x27-atom,2038.html I like how Shuttle uses an external power brick to keep the heat out of the case and the noise down. Newegg has this MSI box that only offers a D-Sub VGA connection (which seems to be common on a lot of atom-based motherboards): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856167032) System76 offers a nice looking mac-mini-like computer that falls short on your fanless and diskless requirements, but you might be able to swap out the disk for a solid state one: http://system76.com/product_info.php?cPath=27&products_id=83 Moving into the configure-it-yourself realm, it seems even harder to find a motherboard that supports what you want. And then you need to find a case that would support the passive cooling requirement. It's so frustrating because what you want makes total sense, but it seems like the manufacturers are not quite catering to this DIY project. For a remote, I use one of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16880100851 Lirc does a good job with it, and I think your crazy awesome remote would probably also talk to the receiver, but you should check that. I just installed the Ubuntu 8.10 release candidate and noticed a "Make USB Startup Disk" option on the admin menu. It looks like this makes it easy to install Ubuntu to a USB disk. Then you can probably just set your bios to boot from USB. Good luck. Let us know what you come up with. This project is just too much fun. Yang is right on about there not being much commercial support for this type of thing. It seems like the computer you describe should exist, but it’s oddly hard to find.

On the one hand you see a lot of crippled consumer devices, like the Tivo or AppleTV that just don’t offer the flexibility you want (without modding). On the other hand you find small, flexible computers that fall just short on connections, noise, or some other issue.

The Shuttle x27 is so close, but misses out on digital audio and a chipset fan. (I would personally go with this one, but I don’t have a digital audio receiver.) There is a horribly done review with OK pictures here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/shuttle-x27-atom,2038.html
I like how Shuttle uses an external power brick to keep the heat out of the case and the noise down.

Newegg has this MSI box that only offers a D-Sub VGA connection (which seems to be common on a lot of atom-based motherboards):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856167032)

System76 offers a nice looking mac-mini-like computer that falls short on your fanless and diskless requirements, but you might be able to swap out the disk for a solid state one:
http://system76.com/product_info.php?cPath=27&products_id=83

Moving into the configure-it-yourself realm, it seems even harder to find a motherboard that supports what you want. And then you need to find a case that would support the passive cooling requirement. It’s so frustrating because what you want makes total sense, but it seems like the manufacturers are not quite catering to this DIY project.

For a remote, I use one of these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16880100851
Lirc does a good job with it, and I think your crazy awesome remote would probably also talk to the receiver, but you should check that.

I just installed the Ubuntu 8.10 release candidate and noticed a “Make USB Startup Disk” option on the admin menu. It looks like this makes it easy to install Ubuntu to a USB disk. Then you can probably just set your bios to boot from USB.

Good luck. Let us know what you come up with.

]]> By: Nico http://gregbaker.ca/blog/2008/10/26/wanted-to-buy-new-mythtv-frontend/comment-page-1/#comment-7460 Nico Wed, 29 Oct 2008 06:47:20 +0000 http://gregbaker.ca/blog/?p=445#comment-7460 That being said, there's also the Dell Studio Hybrid that looks kinda cool, but is probably too much for what you want. That being said, there’s also the Dell Studio Hybrid that looks kinda cool, but is probably too much for what you want.

]]> By: Nico http://gregbaker.ca/blog/2008/10/26/wanted-to-buy-new-mythtv-frontend/comment-page-1/#comment-7459 Nico Wed, 29 Oct 2008 06:39:16 +0000 http://gregbaker.ca/blog/?p=445#comment-7459 Kobski, now you did it. You mentioned the A-word. Prepare to be assimilated by Greg... Kobski, now you did it. You mentioned the A-word. Prepare to be assimilated by Greg…

]]> By: Kobski http://gregbaker.ca/blog/2008/10/26/wanted-to-buy-new-mythtv-frontend/comment-page-1/#comment-7447 Kobski Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:13:40 +0000 http://gregbaker.ca/blog/?p=445#comment-7447 I am currently going through the same thing - switching from a combined FE/BE to a split solution. I have settled on the AppleTV as my frontend. It does have a harddrive, but the thing is completely silent and passively cooled. I actually use XBMC as my frontend, but some people install Linux on the thing and run the MythTV Frontend. The only catch is that it only has 256MB Ram. That is sufficient for XBMC, but might be in the low end for Linux+MythTV FE. You can read more about the AppleTV + XBMC here: http://xbmc.org/davilla/2008/10/01/whats-this-xbmc-for-mac-running-on-the-appletv/ I am currently going through the same thing – switching from a combined FE/BE to a split solution.
I have settled on the AppleTV as my frontend. It does have a harddrive, but the thing is completely silent and passively cooled.
I actually use XBMC as my frontend, but some people install Linux on the thing and run the MythTV Frontend.
The only catch is that it only has 256MB Ram. That is sufficient for XBMC, but might be in the low end for Linux+MythTV FE.
You can read more about the AppleTV + XBMC here:
http://xbmc.org/davilla/2008/10/01/whats-this-xbmc-for-mac-running-on-the-appletv/

]]> By: Yang http://gregbaker.ca/blog/2008/10/26/wanted-to-buy-new-mythtv-frontend/comment-page-1/#comment-7444 Yang Mon, 27 Oct 2008 06:23:10 +0000 http://gregbaker.ca/blog/?p=445#comment-7444 I don't know much about pre-made consumer devices for doing what you want, so I'll talk about building one instead. When it comes to small, low-power machines for HTPC, the two contenders right now are Intel Atom and VIA Nano based systems. Here are some useful links: * http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/atom-nano-review.ars * http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/Athlon-Atom-Nano-power,2036.html * http://www.mini-itx.com/reviews/atoms/default.asp?page=1 As far as digital video and audio output is concerned, it looks like DVI-D output availability is still very rare, and none seems to offer digital audio out. However, if you opt for a board with PCIe-x16 expansion slot, you can install a RadeonHD 4350 video card which offers an on-board sound controller that can output audio via HDMI. The catch is that the open source drivers do not support this yet, and ATI's binary are notorious for falling flat on its face for a lot of people. Also, the 4350 just entered the market, and may be hard to get. For remotes, I've no idea: it's not something I've considered myself yet. Booting from USB shouldn't be much of an issue, AFAICS. As for cases, there are plenty of them out there, some even with built-in remote control features. Again, then, driver support is the issue. Having absolutely no mechanical parts is actually a tricky area as the chipset paired with Atom isn't cool enough to be run passively, and neither can the Nano. However, people report that the bundled fans are very quiet. If you insist on running them passively, there needs to be some major air movement in the case, which is difficult when they are small. Ethernet shouldn't present any issues at all. I don’t know much about pre-made consumer devices for doing what you want, so I’ll talk about building one instead.

When it comes to small, low-power machines for HTPC, the two contenders right now are Intel Atom and VIA Nano based systems. Here are some useful links:

* http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/atom-nano-review.ars
* http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/Athlon-Atom-Nano-power,2036.html
* http://www.mini-itx.com/reviews/atoms/default.asp?page=1

As far as digital video and audio output is concerned, it looks like DVI-D output availability is still very rare, and none seems to offer digital audio out. However, if you opt for a board with PCIe-x16 expansion slot, you can install a RadeonHD 4350 video card which offers an on-board sound controller that can output audio via HDMI. The catch is that the open source drivers do not support this yet, and ATI’s binary are notorious for falling flat on its face for a lot of people. Also, the 4350 just entered the market, and may be hard to get.

For remotes, I’ve no idea: it’s not something I’ve considered myself yet. Booting from USB shouldn’t be much of an issue, AFAICS. As for cases, there are plenty of them out there, some even with built-in remote control features. Again, then, driver support is the issue.

Having absolutely no mechanical parts is actually a tricky area as the chipset paired with Atom isn’t cool enough to be run passively, and neither can the Nano. However, people report that the bundled fans are very quiet. If you insist on running them passively, there needs to be some major air movement in the case, which is difficult when they are small.

Ethernet shouldn’t present any issues at all.

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