Please help me built the perfect HTPC for my needs...

[iratasan]

hello guys,

i have been a loyal XBMC user on my beautifully modded xbox for ages now and i consider it by far the best solution to play media on my TV, but in this day and age of HD content it doesn't do it for me anymore because of the lack of power of the xbox hardware, so now i need a new solution and i want to beg you to help me out.

i want to built a desktop/HTPC PC just for the purpose of running a version of XBMX on it.

it should fulfill the following criteria:

- powerup via remote
- boot into XBMC (if possible without a login screen)
- browse xbmc via remote
- shutdown via remote
- HDMI output for full 1080p
- gigabit LAN
- if i could use my logitech universal remote that would be incredible

as i got all of my media on an NAS system that supports nearly all protocols i don't neccessarily need a harddrive, so if using a highspeed USB-stick would give me some advantages i would be open for such a solution.

well, basically that's it. no workingwith the pc, just "on, xbmc, play media, off".

i have read the FAQs and by now i know that i need a powerfull machine with an intel dualcore CPU and a strong ndvidia gfx card.

now my basic questions:
- what version (linux, live, pc) would be the best or most comffortable to do this?
- what specific mainboard, gfx card, remote, htpc case and cpu are tested and approved to be working fine?
- in the faq it said that a strong dual core cpu would work good. how about quadcore? better or worse?

i tried to gather those seeked informations within the FAQs and the forum, but even though i found some useful informations what i found still was a bit to vague for me to answer my basic questions up to a point where i could conclusively answer to myself what would be the best solution.

some additional informations: i have near to none linux experience so far, but i am a quick learner and willing to go through a lot of work to make this the best possible solution.

thank you very much in advance to anybody that is willing to help me out and if me asking this noob questions should offend anyone then i hereby apologize in advance.

as this basically is a request for a "how-to guide" i am not sure if my post is right here or in the "Support/Help Requests" section.

cheers.

[artik]

Oh !! i was looking for EXACTLY the same system.
http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=40780
I'll look your topic, trying to get the best hardware configuration

;)

[iratasan]

Oh !! i was looking for EXACTLY the same system.
http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=40780
I'll look your topic, trying to get the best hardware configuration

;)

PM sent.


allright guys. does somebody at least have a link to a hardware compatibility list for ubuntu? the system should work as much out-of-the-box as possible.

[artik]

iratasan, have you found a way to solve power on issue ? i don't think a system can be turned on with remote ... maybe someone can help us ...

[Scotch]

edit- nevermind, i thought we were talking about xbox-XBMC

[iratasan]

iratasan, have you found a way to solve power on issue ? i don't think a system can be turned on with remote ... maybe someone can help us ...

yup, there are some infrared receivers with powerup function, but seems like those companys only ship to germany:

http://www.atric.de/IR-Einschalter/index.php
http://www.my-irshop.de/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=31&products_id=72

now the only question is if those receicers will work in linux and if i can use the MCE remote with them.

add:

big thanks to "snappz" for the following solution:

"Antec Fusion case with built in IR. This can be powered up by remote."

are there any other cases that can do this out of the box? anybody?

anybody got an idea if it is possible to powerup via remote with the OrigenAE HTPC Aluminium S16V - silver??

[artik]

edited.
see : http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=40751&page=2

[rernst]

I - THE CASE

iratasan it seems we have 2 good solutions :

MicroFusion Remote 350
http://www.antec.com/usa/productDetails.php?lan=us&id=15737

Fusion Remote Black
http://www.antec.com/usa/productDetails.php?lan=us&id=15735

Be careful, "fusion" classic don't have IR receiver, you need to buy the "black" one.

Also as you can see for exemple with the Fusion Remote Black, is the remote power on / off :D
http://www.antec.com/usa/productImage.php?url=/images/60/RM200_400.jpg&lan=us&id=15735

A little test made by missingremote.com :

Pros:
Cool-/Quietness
Looks
LCD/IR
Volume knob
Included quality power supply
Remote power on/off
Build quality

BUT, after read many test on specialized Home THeater PC, everyone said the Zalman HD160 Plus Black is the best product at this moment :

http://img.clubic.com/photo/00696428.jpg

Every tests said the remote sell with the zalman is the best ever. But i dunno if the system can be power on / off (i think yes, but not sure)

EDIT :

After viewing many things on internet, all system equiped with the iMON can be turned on / off.

So, The Silverstone Crown CW02S-MXR is very pretty, but big and expensive.

EDIT 2 :

NEWS NEWS NEWS ! :)
One of my best fiend bought this ORIGENAE case :
http://www.origenae.co.kr/en/htpc_x10.htm
amazingggg product, extra finitions.

II - IR AND REMOTE SYSTEM (With "real" power on)


and is coupled with :
http://www.origenae.co.kr/en/accessory_ir110.htm
http://www.origenae.co.kr/en/accessory_ir210.htm



But i don't know if these modules are available for all origenAE cases.

for "little" cases, http://www.origenae.co.kr/en/accessory_ir220.htm and other are available (power on fonction not avalaible)
I'm gonna send them an email to ask them if ir110 or 210 can't be use in cases like X10 (but i think yes :))
(confirmation by mail soon ;))

III - THE OPERATING SYSTEM

LIVE CD will be my choice. my friend told me LIVE cd is a debian release modified to boot immediatly on xbmc. On option on livecd allow this release to be copied on the hard drive, to boot immediatly, exactly like the Xbox 1 does.


I continu my researches =)

That box is huge ...

[iratasan]

artik, thanks man, great ideas. i think i will go a similar way, but of right now i think i will go with the regular linux release and i might use a origenae case and mod it so that i can put a crystalfontz 4 row displayin there. anyway, i want to gather some more infos before i'll make my final decisions.

thanks to anybody that contributed so far. as well here as in my other threads. please keep those ideas coming. it is very much appreciated.

[gerryyoung1977]

artik, thanks man, great ideas. i think i will go a similar way, but of right now i think i will go with the regular linux release and i might use a origenae case and mod it so that i can put a crystalfontz 4 row displayin there. anyway, i want to gather some more infos before i'll make my final decisions.

thanks to anybody that contributed so far. as well here as in my other threads. please keep those ideas coming. it is very much appreciated.

Hi

I bought one of these, i have my Harmony remote setup an an MCE remote and i use this device, works out about £20 delivered to power on/off my machine.

Works a treat.

http://www.simerec.com/PCS-2.html

[artik]

EDITED :

Here is my final solution to get best HTPC.

It is very expensive, i know, but solutions with lower price is also possible. I bet on an extra slim case, that mean special motherboard, and of course special system cooling. A bigger case don't need these specials elements.

My HTPC features :

- "Real" Power ON / OFF
- fully fonctionnal remote
- Black slim case, VERY HIGH QUALITY with slot-in drive
- Total silent htpc (fanless)
- 3.16 Ghz intel core 2 duo processor
- 2 Ghz memory (can be more)
- low HDD capacity (just need to install XBMC on it, every files are on smb serveur) but bigger HDD can be set

ok, the details :

My case : A-tech fabrication HeatSync® 2500 Mini-Client (http://www.atechfabrication.com/products/mini_client_2500.htm)

http://www.atechfabrication.com/images/htpc/products/HeatSync%202500%20085-700.jpg
http://www.atechfabrication.com/images/htpc/products/2500_DG45FC%20009-640.jpg
Mine is black :
http://www.atechfabrication.com/images/htpc/products/NAS-8x-2500%20034-320.jpg
The case is totally fanless, and power supply is extern (i prefer)

Power On / Off solution : :

The best way i found : plug the case power on a ON / OFF radio receiver. the remote will be different that the IR build on my PC case, but it's the best way to correctly power On the unit. Simple, and Easy.
http://www.idkmultimedia.com/images/product_document/YC-6899.jpg
That was the solution i had found for my Xbox 1. works like a charm since 7 years !!

Motherboad : http://www.intel.com/Products/Desktop/Motherboards/DG45FC/DG45FC-overview.htm
with 3.16 core 2 duo processor

http://www.intel.com/Assets/Image/product/dg45fc_sm.jpg

IR solution, and remote :

this is the lastest part of my configuration. I simply checked this website to buy an USB IR receiver, linux compatible :
http://www.lirc.org/html/table.html#@hw-usb and Logitech harmony compatible.

Most people told me IMON receiver / remote are the best. I wanted an external IR Receiver, and here is the best way :
http://www.soundgraph.com/Eng_/Products/imon23.aspx?topMenu=2&subMenu=1&leftMenu=23
http://www.soundgraph.com/Images/product/mini.jpg

Linux system :

Once again, i need to finalise my htpc case to test different linux distrib. XBMC live, or ubuntu, i don't know yet (if someone can help me to choose)

Final price :

The case : 1250 US$ (ouchhh !!!)
Motherboard : 150 US$
Processor : 200 US$
IR receiver Imon : 25$
Power On / OFF adaptator : 30 US$

I really hope my research will help people like me. I'd like to thank iratasan, he really motivate me to do all that. i'll post pics of my final htpc once everything will work. Also, remember the price is expensive, due to the slim case. You can buy another case, with normal cooling system and incase power. Finally, i strongly recommand a-tech fabrication case. Amazing quility.

[artik]

Updated IR receiver section

[sho]

I half expected a donate button in this thread as well.

[g00fy1]

Hi

I bought one of these, i have my Harmony remote setup an an MCE remote and i use this device, works out about £20 delivered to power on/off my machine.

Works a treat.

http://www.simerec.com/PCS-2.html

That is awesome! Thanks!!

[Firesign3394]

Get a mac!

[kbrookes]

Firesign3394, you're making we Mac users look bad. I have four Macs in my home and could be said to be an avid Apple user. However the default position for every argument should not be 'Get a Mac'.

At the same time I think the solution being posited earlier is just plain silly at a time when we have VPDAU available to us. I'm about to build a HTPC that will do 1080p without breaking a sweat and be not much bigger than a MacMini. I'm going to be able to do this for less than $AU500 - about half the cost of a decently specced Mini.

The Mini's a great machine and if you've already got one it presents a great solution.

It's far from being the best option tho.

[domi55]

http://www.atric.de/IR-Einschalter/index.php
http://www.my-irshop.de/catalog/prod...products_id=72

now the only question is if those receicers will work in linux and if i can use the MCE remote with them.

The "IR-Einschalter" from atric.de does work with XBMC 9.04.1 and a MCE Remote (for example HAMA MCE Remote). I additionally configured my Harmony One with the "IR-Einschalter". Works great so far ;)

http://htpc.netdata.ch/?p=63

[stokedfish]

The case : 1250 US$ (ouchhh !!!)
Motherboard : 150 US$
Processor : 200 US$
IR receiver Imon : 25$
Power On / OFF adaptator : 30 US$

Holy camoly, did you win the lottery or what?

Awesome set up though! :D