config ideas for MythBE/NAS + Myth/XBMC/Boxee FE

J

jalyst

Newcomer
Myth Back-end + NAS
This machine will do all video capturing/transcoding.
It will also be the Backup Server/NAS....

1x Old Lian-Li midi-Tower or Chen Mei FT
1x Gigabyte 8600GTS .................................... [could be useful for transcoding!?]
1x Hauppauge HVR-2200 .................................. [may eventually add a 2nd one]
1x GA-P35-DQ6
1x TWIN2X4096-8500C5DF ................................. [2x2GB DDR2 1066; 4GB should be heaps?]
1x Core2Duo (conroe) E6420 2.13Ghz ..................... [may underclock/volt slightly?]
1x Antec True Power 3.0 650W ........................... [Less wattage possible?]
Storage Sub-sys:
1x 1TB WD Black ........................................ [video capture disk, should handle 4 simultaneous HD streams?]
1x 150GB 10krpm raptor ................................. [boot/system volume?]
3x 1/1.5TB 3.5" 7.2k RPM HDD ....................... [For content storage & BU, may not be in RAID config]
__________
discarded
1x 74GB 10k rpm raptor .................................. [very old -not used much- slightly damaged connector so connection always a bit loose]
1x 4GB USB flash for OS ................................ [apparently USB flash unreliable when lots of writes involved]
1x 80GB? something


**************************************
Myth/XBMX/Boxee Front-end
This will be the "jack of all" media player & MAME PC.
Later (6mth) I'll buy a top-end GPU that will be swapped-in sometimes for gaming.

1x mATX H57 or Q57 mobo. ......... [make/model YTBD]
1x Intel Core i3 530
2x DDR3 1GB ...................... [make/model YTBD]
1x 30GB SSD? ..................... [might use the 74GB raptor temporarily if USBflash not suitable?]
1x 500GB HDD? .................... [make/model YTBD]
1x Xonar Essence ST (PCI)
1x H6 (Essence daughterboard for 7.1 analogue)
1x PSU ................................ [make/model YTBD]
1x Case ............................... [make/model YTBD]
1x nV GT210 ....................... [only if IGP not enough; make/model YTBD]


For the back-end I was thinking of doing a minimal ubuntu install & only adding what is needed.
For the front-end I was thinking of starting the same way and gradually adding MythTVFE, XBMC, and maybe a lightweight DE like crunchbang etc.

Interested in peoples thoughts on what I'm missing hardware or software wise or just some general advice.

Thanks!
 
Your backend is fine, but you won't get any transcoding help from the 8600.
I run my backend on an Athlon x2 5050e & it's a bit underpowered when recording 2 and playing one. It's also serving samba shares.
 
Okay...real keyboard now.
My backend WAS a Q6600 running Karmic and lots of hard drive space. You don't get transcoding help because, AFAIK, the linux drivers don't make that available to Myth.

On the frontend just remember you need the same Myth version as the BE. My frontend is a mac mini actually because I wanted Netflix and Hulu Desktop as well with no hiccups.

Stay away from ATI for the front end if you go with linux. They support sound over HDMI (which is awesome and NV doesn't), but their 2d accel = the sucks.
 
Mize said:
Okay...real keyboard now.
My backend WAS a Q6600 running Karmic and lots of hard drive space. You don't get transcoding help because, AFAIK, the linux drivers don't make that available to Myth.
Click to expand...

Hmm are you sure about that?
I would really love to make use of the 8600GTS rather than have it sitting there doing nothing.
Perhaps it's something that will be available soon?
It would be nice is it'd negate the need for a core 2 quad.

Stay away from ATI for the front end if you go with linux. They support sound over HDMI (which is awesome and NV doesn't), but their 2d accel = the sucks.
Click to expand...

Yeah well aware of ATi's pedigree for x-windows/video drivers.
Any idea what Intel's support is like now?
If I can get away with it I want to use only the IGP in the FE, & only a discrete for gaming etc.
 
Mize said:
Your backend is fine, but you won't get any transcoding help from the 8600.
I run my backend on an Athlon x2 5050e & it's a bit underpowered when recording 2 and playing one. It's also serving samba shares.
Click to expand...

do you do your BE+FE in one machine, why did you choose that format?
 
Myth Back-end + NAS
This machine will do all video capturing/transcoding.
It will also be the Backup Server/NAS....

1x Old Lian-Li midi-Tower or Chen Mei FT
1x Gigabyte 8600GTS .................................... [could take much load off CPU for transcoding w/VDPAU?]
1x Hauppauge HVR-2200 .................................. [may eventually add a 2nd one]
1x GA-P35-DQ6
1x TWIN2X4096-8500C5DF ................................. [2x2GB DDR2 1066; 4GB enough?]
1x Core2Duo (conroe) E6420 2.13Ghz ..................... [may underclock/volt slightly?]
1x Antec True Power 3.0 650W ........................... [Less wattage possible?]
Storage Sub-sys:
1x 1TB WD Black ........................................ [video capture disk, can it handle 4 simultaneous HD streams? should]
1x 150GB 10k RPM Raptor ................................. [boot/system volume?]
3x 1/1.5TB 7.2k RPM HDD ....................... [For content storage & BU, may not be in RAID config]

********************************************
Myth/XBMX/Boxee Front-end
This will be the "jack of all" media player & MAME PC.
Later (6mth) I'll buy a top-end GPU that'll be swapped-in sometimes for gaming.

1x mATX H57 or Q57 mobo. ......... [make/model?]
1x Intel Core i3 530
2x DDR3 1GB ...................... [make/model?]
1x 30GB SSD [or already owned USB Flash?] + 74GB 10k RPM Raptor? (already owned, for local content storage)
OR
1x 1TB WD Black or Samsung F3? [innermost sectors -20GB?- for OS, outermost for local content storage]
1x Xonar Essence ST (already own, PCI)
1x H6 (already own, Essence daughterboard)
1x PSU ................................ [perhaps BE PSU is best here if I intend to use strong GPU sometimes; make/model?]
1x Case ............................... [make/model?]
1x nV GT210 ....................... [only if IGP/CPU not enough; make/model?]

For the back-end I was thinking of doing a minimal Ubuntu install & only adding what is needed.
For the front-end I was thinking of starting the same way and gradually adding MythTVFE, XBMC, and maybe a lightweight DE like crunchbang etc.
Interested in peoples thoughts on what I'm missing hardware or software wise or just some general advice.
Thanks!
________
discarded:
1x 74GB 10k RPM Raptor .................................. [very old -not used much- slightly damaged connector so connection always a bit loose]
1x 4GB USB flash for OS ................................ [apparently USB flash unreliable when lots of writes involved?]
1x 80GB? make/model YTBD
 
I built a front end with that 5050e for silence, but was disappointed I couldn't hack it to play Netflix even after installing deneb (OSX). After that I installed it in my basement as an untangle firewall and PlayOn streamer for my 360s and PS3.

At that point my Q6600 was my backend and samba server.

Then I decided I wanted a gaming rig again so I took the backend and put a Q9550 and 5870 in it and switched it from Karmic to W7-64. I then put karmic on the firewall/playon and made it my backend/samba machine.

I do have a front-end on it too, but I don't use it.

edit: and as far as I know, Myth won't use GPUs for transcoding :( only for accell 2d. Myth loves multicores though.
 
What about my Qns in this post? Particularly:

Yeah well aware of ATi's pedigree for x-windows/video drivers.
Any idea what Intel's support is like now?
If I can get away with it I want to use only the IGP in the FE, & only a discrete for gaming etc.

Thanks.
 
It looks like you're right about transcoding - the question is whether you need it.
For example I'm only recording airwaves which are mpeg2 by default so no need for transcoding.
Where you would want it is in the frontend for playback, right?
 
I am, did you check this for yourself, where did you find validation?
I was going on murky memories....

No I'd transcode on back-end for storage and then pull to front-end when needed.
What about my other 2 questions/points in post #13?

Thanks, good night!
 
Myth Back-end + NAS (already own the parts; cept 3x 1/1.5TB HDD)
This machine will do all video capturing/transcoding.
It will also be the Backup Server/NAS....

1x Old Lian-Li midi-Tower or Chen Mei FT
1x Gigabyte 8600GTS .................................... [take transcoding load off CPU w/VDPAU or is this def. not doable?]
1x Hauppauge HVR-2200 .................................. [may eventually add a 2nd one]
1x GA-P35-DQ6 (ATX form-factor)
1x TWIN2X4096-8500C5DF ................................. [2x2GB DDR2 1066; 4GB enough?]
1x Core2Duo (conroe) E6420 2.13Ghz ..................... [may underclock/volt slightly?]
1x Antec True Power 3.0 650W ........................... [Less wattage possible?]
Storage Sub-sys:
1x 1TB WD Black ........................................ [video capture disk, can it handle 4 simultaneous HD streams?]
1x 150GB 10k RPM Raptor ................................. [boot/system volume?]
3x 1/1.5TB 7.2k RPM HDD ....................... [For content storage & BU, may not bother w/RAID till get hw controller?]

********************************************
Myth/XBMC Front-end (don't have the parts; cept where mentioned)
This will be the media player & MAME PC...
Later (6mth) I'll buy a top-end GPU that'll be swapped-in sometimes for gaming.

1x mATX H57 or Q57 mobo. ......... [make/model?]
1x Intel Core i3 530
2x DDR3 1GB ...................... [make/model?]
1x 30GB SSD or USB Flash*? + 74GB 10k RPM Raptor? (for local storage; already own)
OR
1x 1TB WD Black or Samsung F3? [innermost sectors -20GB?- for OS, outermost for local storage]
1x Xonar Essence ST (PCI; already own)
1x H6 (Essence daughterboard; already own)
1x PSU ................................ [perhaps BE PSU is best here if I intend to use strong GPU sometimes; make/model?]
1x Case ............................... [make/model?]
1x nV GT220 ....................... [only if IGP+CPU not enough; make/model?]

For the back-end I was thinking of doing a minimal Ubuntu install & only adding what is needed.
For the front-end I was thinking of starting the same way and gradually adding MythTVFE, XBMC, and maybe a lightweight DE like crunchbang etc.
Interested in peoples thoughts on what I'm missing hardware or software wise or just some general advice.
Thanks!
________
discarded:
********
74GB 10k RPM Raptor ....................... [very old -not used much- slightly damaged connector so connection always a bit loose]
*4GB USB flash ................................ [aside from the fact that 4GB is too small, is USB flash too much of a poor alt to SSD?]
80GB 7.2k HDD, make/model YTBD.
 
jalyst said:
I am, did you check this for yourself, where did you find validation?
I was going on murky memories....

No I'd transcode on back-end for storage and then pull to front-end when needed.
What about my other 2 questions/points in post #13?

Thanks, good night!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I verified VDPAU is enabled by default if you have nV since MythTV 0.22.
As for the front end I think you'll be fine with on-board, but you can always add it later. Certainly a 260 is major overkill - you can get a passively cooled 9400 for, what, $60 USD?
 
Yeah, I verified VDPAU is enabled by default if you have nV since MythTV 0.22.
Click to expand...
Yeah I know that but I'm not sure how well it handles transcoding in conjunction with VDPAU, if at all... If it does it fairly well now then that's a good reason to keep the 8600GTS in the BE, otherwsie it's just a waste sitting there.

As for the front end I think you'll be fine with on-board, but you can always add it later.
Click to expand...
Do you know what I'd use for the Intel IGP/CPU to get any form of HW assist decode similar to VDPAU? Even is it's only half as good, so long as there solid progress I'd prolly be happy.

What about thishttp://forum.beyond3d.com/As for th...th on-board, but you can always add it later., would you agree more with it? ...
As much as I'd like a shiny new Clarkdale-based FE :LOL:
I'm starting to think it might make more sense to do an AIO?

Thanks & definitely good night, 420am, yikes!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
jalyst said:
Yeah I know that but I'm not sure how well Myth handles transcoding in conjunction with VDPAU, if at all.
If it does it fairly well now then that's a good reason to keep the 8600GTS in the BE, otherwise it's just a waste sitting there.
Click to expand...

I think you may be mistaken, a few others have said there is no transcoding via VDPAU, yet to verify for myself.

Do you know what I'd use for the Intel IGP/CPU to get any form of HW assist decode similar to VDPAU? Even is it's only half as good, so long as there solid progress I'd prolly be happy.
Click to expand...
As figrin mentioned Core i3-xxx VA-API support for acceleration is getting there, but still pretty rough.
If I find it + sw decode via CPU is not enough after a few months, then I can always chuck in a GT220 to be used w/VDPAU.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I think I'm going with an AIO, but with the FE I outlined as the platform base.

So that means I'll sell most of the parts outlined for my proposed back-end.
This will give me a little cash towards the new build, whilst allowing me to move to the newer/sexier Intel platform :)

It'd be cheaper to go with the BE as the base for an AIO (& it'd be plenty of horsepower), but I prefer this approach.
I'll outline the new machine I have in mind soon....

I do have plans later this year to build a Core i7-based native VMM (baremetal hypervisor).
So this could become the BE & "jack of all" server, and the AIO could revert to a FE/occasional gaming machine.

In the meantime I'll have my XBOX360 & soon a PS3 which can be used as FE's of sorts.
PS3 in particular, now that it's "apparently" been fully hacked...

Thanks for your thoughts thus far, any further ideas greatly appreciated!
 
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