Before you even begin the Mythbuntu installation, there are a few things that you might want to configure on your system through the BIOS setup program. Boot the system into the BIOS setup screen by pressing the proper key on the keyboard (e.g. "Del") at bootup. Here are some option settings to consider:
Usually on the Main screen:
Legacy Diskettes: Disabled HDD SMART Monitoring: Enabled
If you are using a motherboard with a built-in display adapter, you can usually find its configuration on the Advanced Configuration screen. Look around -- sometimes its on the Southbridge configuration page:
Shared or Stolen Memory: 32M (or whatever the lowest number is above 32M) Mythbuntu composes frames and loads them into the frame buffer as the become available. As such, the CPU does all the work and there is no need to provide the GPU with a large frame buffer. However, if you are using VDPAU, that's a whole 'nother story.
If you have an AMD processor and a motherboard that supports it, you can usually find the AMD-specific options on the Advanced Configuration screen:
AMD Virtualization: Disabled AMD Live!: Enabled AMD Cool 'n' Quite Function: Auto (or Enabled)
Usually on the Power/APM Configuration screen:
Restore on AC Power Loss: Enabled
Usually on the Power/APM Configuration or Hardware Monitor screen:
Q-Fan Controller: Enabled
On the Boot/Boot Device Priority screen:
1st Boot Device: CDROM (this allows you to attach a CDROM as a diagnostic tool at any time) 2nd Boot Device: Hard Disk 3rd Boot Device: Disabled 4th Boot Device: Disabled
On the Boot/Boot Settings Configuration screen:
Case Open Warning: Disabled Quick Boot: Enabled Bootup Num-Lock: Off Full Screen Logo: Disabled Halt On: All, But Keyboard
You might want to take a quick look through all of the other BIOS settings to see if there are any that make sense for a TV watching application (e.g. quiet is good, unattended is good, always on is good). Don't forget to save the settings when you're all done.