[gentoo-user] Setup questions for dedicated "media center" box.

[gentoo-user] Setup questions for dedicated "media center" box.

[Walter Dnes]

  A few weeks ago, I got a new AMD machine, and I specified the
motherboard that came with the "Geforce 6150" video chip onboard.  I
understand that hardware acceleration works with it.  Separately, I also
ordered a PCHDTV card ( http://pchdtv.com ) and a PCI modem.  I intend
to use the machine to record/playback TV broadcasts.  I got busy with a
few other things, but finally got around to installing console-only
Gentoo (2006.1) this weekend.

  Now for the setup questions.  In the portage x11-base directory, I see

kdrive
opengl-update
x11-drm
xdirectfb
xorg-server
xorg-x11

  I presume xorg-x11 is the standard X.  I've gotten into the habit of
emerging a GUI app onto a console-only system, and X never shows up in
"world".  It gets pulled in as a dependancy.  Will this cause problems
if I want to use hardware acceleration?  Is x11-drm a direct-rendering
version that's faster than standard X?  I'll probably be using mplayer
heavily, unless a showstopper comes along.  Is SVGA any faster than X?
Since this'll be a single-purpose dedicated box, connecting to the net
only for updates, I have no problem running it as root full-time.

-- 
Walter Dnes <waltdnes@waltdnes.org> In linux /sbin/init is Job #1
My musings on technology and security at http://tech_sec.blog.ca
-- 
gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list

Re: [gentoo-user] Setup questions for dedicated "media center" box.

[David Grant]

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On 9/10/06, Walter Dnes <waltdnes@waltdnes.org> wrote:
>
>   A few weeks ago, I got a new AMD machine, and I specified the
> motherboard that came with the "Geforce 6150" video chip onboard.  I
> understand that hardware acceleration works with it.  Separately, I also
> ordered a PCHDTV card ( http://pchdtv.com ) and a PCI modem.  I intend
> to use the machine to record/playback TV broadcasts.  I got busy with a
> few other things, but finally got around to installing console-only
> Gentoo (2006.1) this weekend.
>
>   Now for the setup questions.  In the portage x11-base directory, I see
>
> kdrive
> opengl-update
> x11-drm
> xdirectfb
> xorg-server
> xorg-x11
>
>   I presume xorg-x11 is the standard X.


Yep, that's all you need. Here's some more information.
http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/xorg-config.xml
http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_Setup_X_for_MythTV
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/NVidia/TV-OUT
http://gentoo-wiki.com/Xorg

 I've gotten into the habit of
> emerging a GUI app onto a console-only system, and X never shows up in
> "world".  It gets pulled in as a dependancy.  Will this cause problems
> if I want to use hardware acceleration?


No, it's still installed, so what do you care if it isn't in world?

  Is x11-drm a direct-rendering
> version that's faster than standard X?


I'm not sure, but I didn't need it and I've never heard of it.

Don't forget to emerge nvidia-drivers for opengl hardware acceleration.

  I'll probably be using mplayer
> heavily, unless a showstopper comes along.


Using mplayer to watch TV? Why not use mythtv?

 Is SVGA any faster than X?


I have no idea but I'm pretty sure that's like asking if apples are better
than oranges. :-)

Since this'll be a single-purpose dedicated box, connecting to the net
> only for updates, I have no problem running it as root full-time.


Bad idea.


-- 
David Grant
http://www.davidgrant.ca

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