So, you're ready to build your (probably) second MythTV box. Your first one was nice, but you want this one to be a little different. You'll have more of some things, but want less of one important detail; noise. You are ready to enter the world of silent computing. In the MythTV world, silent computing is well within your reach.
By careful planning and selection of silent pc components, you can create a new PVR that doesn't sound like you have a jet engine sitting in your living room. It doesn’t have to be really expensive either. Modestly priced components can have a large effect on noise output.
First, lets define what we really mean by silent computing. There are really two tracks you can go down depending on your requirements and budget:
- True Silence
- A system so quiet that you can't hear it
So which do you do you aim for and why? Well, it depends on what you want to get out of your MythTV system in terms of features, and how much cash you have to put into it.
Basically, the trick is to identify the sources of noise in your potential MythTV system, then either eliminate the source of noise or make it as quiet as your budget allows.
Start by identifying what you want your new MythTV system to do.
The most important questions are:
- Do you want to be able to play High Definition video?
- Do you intend to store video on this machine, or will it be a remote frontend to a MythTV backend machine kept elsewhere?
The main sources of noise in a MythTV computer are the:
- Power Supply Fan
- CPU Fan
- Hard Drive(s)
- Video Card Fan
- Case Fan
This series will focus on what to consider to end up with a MythTV system that makes little or no noise and still meets your performance objectives.
