Before i order... another one of those posts. ;)

[aussie]

i know you are all prob saying "Not another one" but if someone could spare some time ill try and give back as much as ive got out. Before i go on my 2k Spending frenzy im listing below are my modules and accessories which i am going to buy unless someone can tell me why not to eg compatibility ect...
So here we go

So far my core is set up.
Specs are as followed
Asus -p5b premium MB vista edition. love this board so far no probs at all...
4gb of ram however only registers as 3.2gb
2.4 Ghz Duocore Intel processor.
TV@nywhere Hybrid DVB card PCI
dvd rom for now but have contacted sony aus to see if i can grab my hands on a jukebox.
5 Hard drives 3 x 200
                    - 2 x 250

And a Geforce7200 Nvidia 512mb Video card

This station will be soon running from the living room running through CAT5 cableing which has 5 ports throughout the House.

Now this is where my spending frenzy comes in.
my media directors i am wishing to buy for now i am only buying two MD's  for the moment and prob buying two more for bedrooms and one near the spa. dont worry it will be protected and attached to a projector which im about to show u. My shopping list is as followed....



SHOPPING LIST TAKE 1:
Starting with the x10 devices.
X10 ActiveHome Pro USB PC Interface w/ Software (CM15A)  ---
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/X10-ActiveHome-Pro-USB-PC-Interface-w-Software-CM15A_W0QQitemZ330184840226QQihZ014QQcategoryZ50583QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Is this the module which will be able to connect to my core and spread throughout my house?
or would something smaller less technical like this be better
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/X10-Anywhere-Universal-Remote-w-PC-Receiver-SW-VK62A_W0QQitemZ330160557046QQihZ014QQcategoryZ50584QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

3 x screwable light thingys http://cgi.ebay.com.au/X10-Socket-Rocket-Mini-Lamp-Module-X-10-LM15A_W0QQitemZ330161593426QQihZ014QQcategoryZ40976QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem
is there any of the other type the clip and twist kinda ones? havnt seen many around.

3 x sensors   http://cgi.ebay.com.au/X10-3-PK-EagleEye-Motion-Sensor-Home-Automation-MS14A_W0QQitemZ330160556976QQihZ014QQcategoryZ50585QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem



Media driectors
i keep changing my mind on the case looks so for now i will be purchasing
This nice little slim case
http://www.entacom.com.au/?page=products&category=4&view=136

cant find anything with the RCA ports on them from epia for a good price at the moment so for now am just gonna use a HD converter plugs for the dvi outputs
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/VIA-EPIA-EK10000EG-Mini-ITX-Mainboard-1GHz-CPU-Dual-Lan_W0QQitemZ160174271464QQihZ006QQcategoryZ1244QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

can i buy USB tv tuners???   
if so here are some i have found which i could just put in the back of a MD?
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Digital-USB-2-0-DVB-T-HDTV-TV-Tuner-Recorder-Receiver-C_W0QQitemZ140176761984QQihZ004QQcategoryZ111509QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-DVB-T-USB-Digital-HDTV-TV-Tuner-Recorder-Stick-Gift_W0QQitemZ160175311754QQihZ006QQcategoryZ111509QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

and my projectors i am hopefully gonna buy two if the first one is good qual if not ill hold off for awhile and get a fair decent one in the living room.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-LCD-Video-TV-Data-Digital-Home-Theatre-Projector_W0QQitemZ300164856964QQihZ020QQcategoryZ81741QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

and my skype connector hopefully this will work soon with it all.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/VOIP-USB-to-RJ11-Home-Cordless-Phone-Adapter-for-SKYPE_W0QQitemZ190170656702QQihZ009QQcategoryZ61838QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

hope i havnt missed out on anything except for the obivious including ram for md's if i have please call me blond    anyways hope in a way this has helped someone aswell as myself...

Thanks for reading Dane

[totallymaxed]

Hi,

The EK10000EG is really only just upto the job and is a little underpowered (we have tested this board) for video playback. I would suggest you avoid that board as i am sure you will find its limitations quickly frustrating.

I would suggest you look at something like the EN12000EG Motherboard with 1.2GHz Fanless C7 CPU from EPIA together with the DVI-03CG-80PIN add on board which gives you DVI out. We can buy the two here in the UK for about 160 UKP...all you need to add to that is a stick of memory. We are using this board and it performs excellently under UI1 with the Via Unichrome Pro drivers. As this is a totally fanless design it uses very little energy (around 9watts idle) and is silent so its great for environment like bedrooms or anywhere where even low levels of ambient noise is not acceptable.

I would suggest you go DVI as this give you far better picture quality and the AVwizard will generate a almost optimum modeline for you that will give you excellent video performance.

Hope the above helps :-)

Andrew

[aussie]

what about something like this?

NEW! VIA MM3500 Motherboard, with VIA C7 1.5GHz CPU, VIA CN896/VT8237A..
http://www.entacom.com.au/?page=products&category=11&view=1096

i have looked at EN12000EG and may get one does this board have the avi/rca in puts RED WHITE YELLOW? for tv?

If not which board should i be looking at?

[totallymaxed]

what about something like this?

NEW! VIA MM3500 Motherboard, with VIA C7 1.5GHz CPU, VIA CN896/VT8237A..
http://www.entacom.com.au/?page=products&category=11&view=1096

i have looked at EN12000EG and may get one does this board have the avi/rca in puts RED WHITE YELLOW? for tv?

If not which board should i be looking at?

The MM3500 MB looks ok too (but I have not tested one of those)

The EN12000EG has stereo out plus the 'yellow' composite out socket for TV... but I would suggest not using that output as you will get much better quality out of the DVI out (but you will need the add-on board to get that output on the EN12000EG). You would then need either DVI or HDMI inputs on the TV your are connecting too.

[astewardson]

Hi,
Just wondering if you got the 'X10 ActiveHome Pro USB PC Interface w/ Software (CM15A)' and how you got on with it?

[gazzzman]

hi I have bought a bucket full of X10 stuff and converted some of it from 110 to 240 V
and my using it with LinuxMce is pivitol on being able to use my cm15!
so I too have more than a passing interest in how things go