Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: HTPC help linux/remote on/hardware

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Cardiff
    Posts
    439
    Thanks
    29
    Thanked
    27 times in 23 posts
    • no_numb's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte ma770-ud3
      • CPU:
      • AMD Phenom x6 1055t (95W)
      • Memory:
      • 4gb Kingston 1066 hyperx
      • Storage:
      • 2x40gb kingston ssds, 1tb Spinpoint f3, 320gb Samsung spinpoint f1 + 640gb seagate freeagent extreme
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire 4670 ultimate
      • PSU:
      • ocz stealthxtreme 400w
      • Case:
      • Xigmatek Midgard
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 19", DGM 23" and lg 42ld490 42"

    HTPC help linux/remote on/hardware

    Right here's what I have:
    Sammy Hard disk
    Case (got a few to choose from but for now will probably go for my old coolermaster centurion 5!)
    AMD 550be cpu

    Here's what I need:
    Ram (just going to buy 2gb ddr3 £14 from play)
    Motherboard
    Power supply

    I'm looking to build a HTPC because I may as well. I want to do it very cheaply.

    I'll be using some form of linux for the os. Now some questions, what is the best linux distro for HTPC duties? I've heard about mythbuntu but what else is there to consider? XBMC? Using ubuntu on my netbook but I am very new to linux.

    I want to be able to wake up the computer from hibernate via my harmony one remote, is this possible? I saw that the foxconn deluxe am3 mobo comes with a remote, wifi and has hmdi. Can be had for £45 on ebay so seems like a good choice.
    Any other recommendations for motherboards. AM3, ideally mATX with onboard graphics, hdmi, able to play 1080p, under £50 cheaper the better and very willing to go second hand. mATX a plus as in the future I might use a smaller case so it doesnt clog up the living room.

    Any recomendations on a very cheap reasonably quiet psu? Or does anyone have one for sale?

    Have a powerful main pc and a laptop and netbook so I dont really need this I just figured I may as well seeing as should be able to buy a decent one for not much money.

    I'm not that worried about having the highest quality parts like psu and ram. I know cheap psu's can be bad but I'm only doing this for fun as I really dont need this pc. It will be used mostly for streaming online videos and maybe in the future I'll rip all my dvds/blus.

    Any help on hardware/software is appreciated.

  2. #2
    jim
    jim is offline
    HEXUS.clueless jim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Location: Location:
    Posts
    11,457
    Thanks
    613
    Thanked
    1,645 times in 1,307 posts
    • jim's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Maximus IV Gene-Z
      • CPU:
      • i5 2500K @ 4.5GHz
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Corsair Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Sandisk SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ASUS GTX 970
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX650
      • Case:
      • Silverstone Fortress FT03
      • Operating System:
      • 8.1 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2716DG
      • Internet:
      • 10 Mbps ADSL

    Re: HTPC help linux/remote on/hardware

    Quote Originally Posted by no_numb View Post
    I want to be able to wake up the computer from hibernate via my harmony one remote, is this possible?
    Check if the motherboard has wake-on-USB. If it does, then yes you can, if it doesn't, then no you can't.

    Also, for the sake of future reference, ripping dvds/blu-rays is technically illegal so best not to discuss that in the thread.

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Cardiff
    Posts
    439
    Thanks
    29
    Thanked
    27 times in 23 posts
    • no_numb's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte ma770-ud3
      • CPU:
      • AMD Phenom x6 1055t (95W)
      • Memory:
      • 4gb Kingston 1066 hyperx
      • Storage:
      • 2x40gb kingston ssds, 1tb Spinpoint f3, 320gb Samsung spinpoint f1 + 640gb seagate freeagent extreme
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire 4670 ultimate
      • PSU:
      • ocz stealthxtreme 400w
      • Case:
      • Xigmatek Midgard
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 19", DGM 23" and lg 42ld490 42"

    Re: HTPC help linux/remote on/hardware

    Quote Originally Posted by snootyjim View Post
    Check if the motherboard has wake-on-USB. If it does, then yes you can, if it doesn't, then no you can't.

    Also, for the sake of future reference, ripping dvds/blu-rays is technically illegal so best not to discuss that in the thread.
    Cheers for that. Is it just a case then of getting any IR remote for the pc and then just copying the commands on my harmony. Are many remotes easily usable in linux?

    Ah well for the sake of keeping it legal lets assume I mean home videos that I've put onto dvds/blu rays and since lost the originals and need to rip them back. But yes no need to discuss that here really.

  4. #4
    jim
    jim is offline
    HEXUS.clueless jim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Location: Location:
    Posts
    11,457
    Thanks
    613
    Thanked
    1,645 times in 1,307 posts
    • jim's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Maximus IV Gene-Z
      • CPU:
      • i5 2500K @ 4.5GHz
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Corsair Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Sandisk SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ASUS GTX 970
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX650
      • Case:
      • Silverstone Fortress FT03
      • Operating System:
      • 8.1 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2716DG
      • Internet:
      • 10 Mbps ADSL

    Re: HTPC help linux/remote on/hardware

    Excellent point, it's always a pain when you lose the originals

    And yeah, that's pretty much it with regard to the remote. I did exactly the same thing with my W7 HTPC, hence why I can't really recommend one for linux.

    I suspect if you look on the mythbuntu forums there will be some recommendations of remotes - I found mine by checking MediaPortal (windows equivalent) forums for the most recommended remote.

  5. Received thanks from:

    no_numb (09-05-2011)

  6. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Cardiff
    Posts
    439
    Thanks
    29
    Thanked
    27 times in 23 posts
    • no_numb's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte ma770-ud3
      • CPU:
      • AMD Phenom x6 1055t (95W)
      • Memory:
      • 4gb Kingston 1066 hyperx
      • Storage:
      • 2x40gb kingston ssds, 1tb Spinpoint f3, 320gb Samsung spinpoint f1 + 640gb seagate freeagent extreme
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire 4670 ultimate
      • PSU:
      • ocz stealthxtreme 400w
      • Case:
      • Xigmatek Midgard
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 19", DGM 23" and lg 42ld490 42"

    Re: HTPC help linux/remote on/hardware

    So is mythbuntu the recommended distro then? Seems to be the one I've heard most about. Will get over to the forums there.

  7. #6
    ***** Lurker
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    724
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked
    15 times in 15 posts
    • d3fiant's system
      • Motherboard:
      • GB X58A-UDR3 FB11
      • CPU:
      • Core i7 950
      • Memory:
      • Corsair 12GB DDR3 1600
      • Storage:
      • 2x 120GB OCZ Agility SSD + 500GB SP F3
      • Graphics card(s):
      • GB Windforce GTX670 2GB
      • PSU:
      • 850W Akasa
      • Case:
      • Fractal R3
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 x64 HP Retail
      • Monitor(s):
      • 24" 1920x1080 Iiyama LED
      • Internet:
      • 60MB VM

    Re: HTPC help linux/remote on/hardware

    Focusing on the software ff ur not needing the ability to watch and record TV then XBMC is very simple to setup and very good, I have an Acer Revo that runs ubuntu and xbmc, the xbmc forums are very good with guides for all skill levels.

  8. #7
    jim
    jim is offline
    HEXUS.clueless jim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Location: Location:
    Posts
    11,457
    Thanks
    613
    Thanked
    1,645 times in 1,307 posts
    • jim's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Maximus IV Gene-Z
      • CPU:
      • i5 2500K @ 4.5GHz
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Corsair Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Sandisk SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ASUS GTX 970
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX650
      • Case:
      • Silverstone Fortress FT03
      • Operating System:
      • 8.1 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2716DG
      • Internet:
      • 10 Mbps ADSL

    Re: HTPC help linux/remote on/hardware

    Quote Originally Posted by no_numb View Post
    So is mythbuntu the recommended distro then? Seems to be the one I've heard most about. Will get over to the forums there.
    Oh I wouldn't say that at all. It's certainly the most famous, but that might just be because the name is memorable!

    Personally, I had a Windows 7 license so never bothered looking into unix.

  9. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Cardiff
    Posts
    439
    Thanks
    29
    Thanked
    27 times in 23 posts
    • no_numb's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte ma770-ud3
      • CPU:
      • AMD Phenom x6 1055t (95W)
      • Memory:
      • 4gb Kingston 1066 hyperx
      • Storage:
      • 2x40gb kingston ssds, 1tb Spinpoint f3, 320gb Samsung spinpoint f1 + 640gb seagate freeagent extreme
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire 4670 ultimate
      • PSU:
      • ocz stealthxtreme 400w
      • Case:
      • Xigmatek Midgard
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 19", DGM 23" and lg 42ld490 42"

    Re: HTPC help linux/remote on/hardware

    Low (ish) on money and dont fancy buying another windows license when theres a free alternative!

    Quote Originally Posted by d3fiant View Post
    Focusing on the software ff ur not needing the ability to watch and record TV then XBMC is very simple to setup and very good, I have an Acer Revo that runs ubuntu and xbmc, the xbmc forums are very good with guides for all skill levels.
    Well initially I wouldnt be watching/recording but it might be something I'd be interested in, in the future. Perhaps ubuntu/xbmc would be a good starting point and if needed later I could move onto mythbuntu. I assume xbmc has decent support for remotes as well?

    Any recs on a (very) cheap psu?

  10. #9
    jim
    jim is offline
    HEXUS.clueless jim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Location: Location:
    Posts
    11,457
    Thanks
    613
    Thanked
    1,645 times in 1,307 posts
    • jim's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Maximus IV Gene-Z
      • CPU:
      • i5 2500K @ 4.5GHz
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Corsair Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Sandisk SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ASUS GTX 970
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX650
      • Case:
      • Silverstone Fortress FT03
      • Operating System:
      • 8.1 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2716DG
      • Internet:
      • 10 Mbps ADSL

    Re: HTPC help linux/remote on/hardware

    Quote Originally Posted by no_numb View Post
    Low (ish) on money and dont fancy buying another windows license when theres a free alternative!
    Yeah exactly, don't disagree with you there. As I said, I had one already, or at least I got one very cheaply, otherwise I probably would've done the same thing.

  11. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Cardiff
    Posts
    439
    Thanks
    29
    Thanked
    27 times in 23 posts
    • no_numb's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte ma770-ud3
      • CPU:
      • AMD Phenom x6 1055t (95W)
      • Memory:
      • 4gb Kingston 1066 hyperx
      • Storage:
      • 2x40gb kingston ssds, 1tb Spinpoint f3, 320gb Samsung spinpoint f1 + 640gb seagate freeagent extreme
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire 4670 ultimate
      • PSU:
      • ocz stealthxtreme 400w
      • Case:
      • Xigmatek Midgard
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 19", DGM 23" and lg 42ld490 42"

    Re: HTPC help linux/remote on/hardware

    Quote Originally Posted by snootyjim View Post
    Yeah exactly, don't disagree with you there. As I said, I had one already, or at least I got one very cheaply, otherwise I probably would've done the same thing.
    Yeah If I had a spare one I'd probably use that for simplicities sake!

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Upgrade old PC for 1080p? Freeview HD HTPC?
    By hatrack in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 31-03-2010, 12:37 PM
  2. Advice on small and quiet HTPC please
    By elsmandino in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 19-03-2010, 03:18 PM
  3. Advice required on HTPC + PVR
    By DavidA in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 02-12-2008, 03:50 PM
  4. Stupid question on HTPC
    By machinist in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: 18-05-2006, 12:36 PM
  5. Ars System Guide: HTPC edition
    By Steve in forum HEXUS News
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 10-02-2005, 05:30 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •