For the software, I strongly recommend LinuxMCE <linuxmce.com> Take a look at the video they have there, showing the software features, which takes impressively 20+ minutes! <wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Video> With the rest, I unfortunately can't help you much, but good luck! Best Regards, Thiago Varela On Sun, 03 May 2009 21:33:14 +0200 RedShift <redshift@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Hi list > > > Somehow I got it into my head that I want a home theater PC. I'm growing > tired of having to watch television and movies on my computer's 17" LCD > screen. At the shop I used to work at, once in a while we'd build a media > center computer, but the concept never really took off here (Belgium). There > are many reasons for that, such as: > > * Television is major suckage here (thanks to That Big Company and > Government-Not-Governing). The entire country is split into very small > regions where broadcast frequencies differ, there's no unified TV guide > system, not all regions can receive all channels. Digital television is even > worse: That Big Company forces you to buy one of their proprietary decoders. > The only way to receive digital television without restrictions is DVB-T with > a very limited number of channels (basically nothing). > * At that time, the hardware sucked (noisy, too big, not stylish enough to > put it along your other hi-fi components, not powerful enough, limited > digital outputs, etc...). The software wasn't much better (too complicated, > took a long time to start, etc...). > > > Anyway, my goal is to build the *ULTIMATE* HTPC. As such, strong demands must > be met: > > The hardware: > > * It should be stylish, a timeless look which fits with your other hi-fi > components. > * It must be entirely silent. Zero moving components. No exceptions. > * Unrestricted fully digital outputs. > * Must be able to play at least 720p MKV's using x264 encoded video. > * Easy remote control. No remote controls with more buttons than there are > stars in the sky and certainly no "dual function" buttons (those functions in > a different color which you need to flick a switch or are context dependent). > * Able to receive DVB-C. > > The software: > > * There is no room for "Digital Rights Management" fascism. All content must > play flawless and in the highest quality possible. In some cases this will > mean circumventing protections. That'll probably make the device illegal in > some countries, but I don't care. > * Easy user interface (also see hardware remote control point). > * Can connect to NAS or other storage devices such as USB sticks. > > In total: > > * Must be a complete replacement for your DVD player and other media devices. > The goal here is keeping the number of remote controls down. Ideally you > should only have two: one for controlling your HTPC and one for your hi-fi > set. > * It is geared towards modern television, that means stuff like HDTV and no > legacy connector stuff (like composite). > > > With those goals set, I started looking for hardware. Here's what I've come > up with: > > * Case: Silverstone LC19 > http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_spec.php?pno=lc19&area=usa > > + Fanless PSU. > + Casefans can be removed > + Comes with PCI-e and PCI risercards > + Integrated cardreader and slimline optical slot > + Available in black and silver > + Accommodates standard ATX I/O shield > + Room for a 3.5" storage device (SSD?) > + Vents right above the CPU > + Slim > > - Fits only small motherboard sizes > - Only 120 watt PSU > - No infrared receiver, no remote control > > > * Motherboard: Asus P5N7A-VM > http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=8YiUFvK51IergAqY&templete=2 > > + Powerful on-board graphics (nVidia 9300) > + Supports 16 GB of RAM > + eSATA port > + Optical audio output > + HDMI, DVI and VGA video output > + Gigabit ethernet > + Solid caps > > - nVidia on-board graphics (requiring proprietary driver) > - On-board graphics use system memory > - Crappy realtek audio codec > > > * DVB-C receiver: ? > > I have zero experience with DVB-C receivers for computers. I've come across > the "DVBWorldDTV Cable" (http://www.worlddvb.com/product/htm/pcic.htm) which > seems to provide what I'm looking for. Anyone know how good this hardware > actually is and how well it's supported by linux? > > I have an old hauppauge PVR-350 card which works well, unfortunately > hauppauge doesn't seem to have DVB-C products. > > > * Remote control: ? > > I want to have something simple here. Maybe a small USB infrared receiver and > a simple remote control with buttons up, down, left, right, enter? Anyone > know if such hardware exists? > > > * Processor: Intel Celeron? > > No idea how much processing power would be required for a decent HTPC. > Preferably as low powered as possible, as the CPU will have to be passively > cooled. > > > * Processor cooling: ? > > I was thinking of a big block with small fins which you see a lot in 1U > rackservers. Copper would be the logical choice but from what I've read, > aluminum allows for better heat transfer to the environment. So a copper base > with alu fins would be ideal. > > > * Storage: ? > > For storing the operating system I was thinking of those IDE compact flash > cards. Downside is that they are very slow. An SSD can be considered but I > want to leave the option open to use the 3.5" bay for a hard drive for people > that don't have the luxury of a NAS or don't want to leave a NAS running all > times. > > > Moving along. The most annoying aspect: software. Obviously we want all our > software to be open source. A shortlist of open source media center software: > > * MythTV (http://www.mythtv.org/) > * XBMC (http://xbmc.org/) > * Elisa (http://elisa.fluendo.com/) > > The point I really want to focus on is ease of use. Take this as a benchmark: > you only have to explain your parents once how it works. > > > Any suggestions, comments, thoughts, etc... are appreciated. > > > Thanks, > > > Best regards, > > Glenn
