Hello all,

I'm new here, so if this is posted in the wrong thread I apologise.

Anyway, I am looking to build my very first Linux box - and I primarily want it to be able to play full screen MPEG2 videos.

So, I am really looking for advice on what sort of components would be best for this, i.e. here are a couple of questions...

1. What sort of processor is required?
2. What graphics cards are supported (is this very different from windows?)

Basically, I've built many windows systems, but this is my first attempt at a Linux box (it will be Linux only).

On windows it seems that you need a pretty powerful processor or specialist hardware to play MPEG videos.
However, have had a peek inside my friends TiVo box - it didn't look overly laden with big processors etc..


After all that rambling , I think that all I'm basically after is a minimum Linux setup, and then I guess I can build from there.

Thanks in advance.

it depends quite what you want to get out of it.... any general system is more than likely to do you happy. I have a dedicated divx (so not mpeg2 but still...) that's only got an 800mhz c3 cpu and built in graphics....

Have a look at http://freevo.sourceforge.net . This project is for a TiVO type device, which records and plays TV programs. There is a hardware section which should answer your questions, and also a forum with another set of like-minded users who may well be willing to help out.

Good luck!

Thanks for the link NoPane, that looks like what I'm after :¬)

On a more general note - CPUs, am I best going for AMD or Intel?

AMD. I personnaly did somthing almost similar but I used powermacs running a hacked up version of yellow dog linux. Theres about 10 of em sitting in my basement and they encode TV and DVD to AVI But are not fast enoug for playback at the full resoultion. I leave that to an AMD Atholon 1.8.