Choosing your hardware is the very first thing you need to do to build your HTPC box (the second really if you count having to choose between LinuxMCE, Mythbuntu, Mythdora, Freevo and so on...) , is it really an easy task? What I think is really easy is to get overwhelmed with all those options you find. Update: Fiire is not really an option, because then you wouldn't really be building anything, would you? :D
What I really think LinuxMCE lacks (and please correct me if I'm wrong) is a very basic, affordable and specific hardware configuration recommendation (2 or 3 kits, combos, packs or whatever you want to call them, with brands and models, stores with best prices or something like that) maybe in the form of a step-by-step installation guide, put whit a link on the very first page of it's website, and I don't mean a Minimum Requirements sheet or a Compatible Products forum full of interesting threads which I know it already has, but a very basic known-working unexpensive list of hardware that wouldn't lead us (newbies) to confusion or frustration, if you are like me you don't want to read a lot of pages about working hardware.
I think that's why Mc Donald Combos do exist, too many options bring you to confusion, you go to a place like that just because you want to eat, you don't want to know about all their products on their list before you choose your meal, then you wonder "Combo 1, 2 or 3? ...Yeah, 3 is the one for me", if you want something extra like a sundae you order it, but the very basic was already picked, that's something that I think we IT people generally don't see, that's why Microsoft and Apple have such a big market shares, because they have whole departments that care about those topics.
But don't believe me, that's just my opinion, I would like to know yours
I guess that's one of the reasons why I never go to mcDonald's (not to mention that I can't stand their "food"). And I think you're plain wrong about m$ and apple. Also I think we already have just that in the form of fiire (http://fiire.com) delivering complete systems including support.
As this is an open community, please feel free to contribute those things you see a need for.
By the way, higlighting text like this is very annoying to read.
Sorry, I was modifying my post when a message ("Warning - while you were typing a new reply has been posted. You may wish to review your post.") came up, as you can see above my update was exactly about Fiire, and even Fiire shows their products like Mc Donalds shows their combos on their website.
I respect your opinion, I don't like Mc Donalds food much either, but I think you're missing the point there, I guess most of the people who get to linuxmce.com are computer geeks (or computer geek wannabes) and I think they would not buy fiire, they would want to build it on their own, but not every computer geek is a linuxMCE hardware specialist, that's the point I'm trying to make
Well you don't really get to make your own hamburger at mcdonalds either now do you? :D
Like I said before: feel free to contribute these things, as I doubt anyone is going to do that for you.
Thread making me hungry for Double Quarter Pounder Value Meal. (*with a Diet Coke of course.)
I think that between the wiki Hardware pages and the posts in this forum most people should be able to put together a compatible system. There ae minimum requirements posted on the wiki. If you want a kit buy the Fiire products. I have made my purchases based on "known working" products on the wiki. The only issue I have right now is my CCTV card that is Linux compatible,but I still am having trouble with in Motion.
I am waiting on some hardware and the 710 release and I will add to the wiki. Can we add a user page with a list of hardware we are using. Like "http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/DeadPenguin"?
Regards,
Blair
Quote from: DeadPenguin on December 11, 2007, 05:48:47 AM...
I am waiting on some hardware and the 710 release and I will add to the wiki. Can we add a user page with a list of hardware we are using. Like "http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/DeadPenguin"?
...
Even better, when you sign up with that username, you will get this one: http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/User:DeadPenguin automaticly as your personal page.
It would be nice to get back to the original thread topic.
The replies do not contribute a lot of useful information.
I am trying to put together some kits and some pre-installed setups to offer online.
Any one interested please PM me to discuss. (Located in New England USA).
Tim
I think it's a great idea to have at least of list of recommended hardware. I've just discovered linuxMCE and just started researching what it will take to set one up. I don't want to spend $800+ for a pre-built Fiire system. I have the ability to do it for much less, plus it's much more rewarding to tell people that "I built this".
I've already spent hours trying to determine what I will need browsing through the Wiki's and message boards. It would be nice if there was a list of some possible combinations to use describing the differences in using the cheapest from to the most expensive.
Quote from: jgaffney on December 21, 2007, 05:58:06 PM
I think it's a great idea to have at least of list of recommended hardware. I've just discovered linuxMCE and just started researching what it will take to set one up. I don't want to spend $800+ for a pre-built Fiire system. I have the ability to do it for much less, plus it's much more rewarding to tell people that "I built this".
I've already spent hours trying to determine what I will need browsing through the Wiki's and message boards. It would be nice if there was a list of some possible combinations to use describing the differences in using the cheapest from to the most expensive.
That's my whole point
While I agree guys that it is possible to build a system a little bit cheaper than a Fiire system (a couple hundred dollars, which can be a big deal) the benefits of a Fiire system vs building your own is GUARANTEED compatibility for the base system, and also the fact that Fiire does contribute code back to the LinuxMCE project if you for example had a card/device with Linux drivers but that didn't play well with LinuxMCE yet. If you are talking about a core system, go ahead and build your own, they actually posted the EXACT parts and specs they use in a thread around here, but if you are going for an MD, I'd recommend using one of theirs, its hard to argue with the size (and the nice hardware acceleration capabilities) not to mention again the guaranteed support. I know there are a few users on this forum that are also building compatible systems for different regions which is awesome. Fiire, if I read their post correctly actually negotiated directly with VIA to get some discounts plus some special drivers, so for the MDs you really might have a hard time building a comparable system, but if you just want DIY cheep and works, check the wiki.
I would like a LIST with alternatives, prices, and features, and some configurations from cheaper to better.
Cases:
Mobos:
Processors:
Ram:
Cable card:
Sat card:
TDT (DVB-T) cards:
Analogic tuner cards:
Combo tuner cards:
Remote controls:
Audio cards:
DVD (&+) devices:
Upscaling cards:
Video cards:
Silent fans or coolers:
Infrared devices for stations:
Web cams:
Wifi cards:
Speakers:
Some other hardware:
Quote from: mitcoes on December 23, 2007, 01:49:24 PM
[..]
Speakers:
You must be kidding.
Regarding the other things on your list: Do some homework and use the http://wiki.linuxmce.org (http://wiki.linuxmce.org). Search for hardware and you should get a long list of things for you to pick and choose.
Regarding fiire at the beginning of this discussion: You have two choices. Build your own and do the research, or go to fiire and get a mostly ready made solution. I don't like their MD cases, so I will build my own, based on the cases from http://www.hifiatx.com/hfx.php?lang=EN (http://www.hifiatx.com/hfx.php?lang=EN) (Caution: Flash Alert). The hfx Classic looks mighty nice, IMHO.
rgds
Oliver
rgds
Oliver
I want to build a modest system based on this:
Motherboard: VIA PC-1 PC2500e (http://wiki.linuxmce.com/index.php/Via_PC2500e-gOS) (from $60) which comes with integrated processor, video and audio (not proven to work yet but closely, still getting feedback (http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=3326.0))
Video capture card: Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-150 MCE (http://wiki.linuxmce.com/index.php/Hauppauge_WinTV-PVR-150_MCE) (from $49.99 (http://computers.pricegrabber.com/video-capture-devices/m/4267835/search=Hauppauge%20WinTV-PVR-150%20MCE))
Remote control: Microsoft Remote Control ( from $31.00 (http://computers.pricegrabber.com/other-multimedia/m/6396454/skd=1/search=windows%20media%20center%20remote%20control))
These are the most problematic hardware pieces I think, the rest like RAM, hard drive, case, etc I think is up to you and your pocket
Quote from: posde on December 23, 2007, 04:48:16 PM
You must be kidding.
Regarding the other things on your list: Do some homework and use the http://wiki.linuxmce.org (http://wiki.linuxmce.org). Search for hardware and you should get a long list of things for you to pick and choose.
Regarding fiire at the beginning of this discussion: You have two choices. Build your own and do the research, or go to fiire and get a mostly ready made solution.
Quote from: jvizueta on December 10, 2007, 05:26:22 PM
[/b]Fiire is not really an option, because then you wouldn't really be building anything, would you? :D
...
What I really think LinuxMCE lacks (and please correct me if I'm wrong) is a very basic, affordable and specific hardware configuration recommendation (2 or 3 kits, combos, packs or whatever you want to call them, with brands and models, stores with best prices or something like that) maybe in the form of a step-by-step installation guide, put whit a link on the very first page of it's website, and I don't mean a Minimum Requirements sheet or a Compatible Products forum full of interesting threads which I know it already has, but a very basic known-working unexpensive list of hardware that wouldn't lead us (newbies) to confusion or frustration, if you are like me you don't want to read a lot of pages about working hardware.
Quote from: mitcoes on December 23, 2007, 01:49:24 PM
Cases:
Core: 2xHP DL380 + Netapp FAS2020
MD: Sliverstone LC19
Quote
Mobos:
Core: included with the case
MD: http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/ABIT_AN-M2HD
Quote
Processors:
Core: included with the case
MD: AMD BE2400
Quote
Sat card:
Nokia DBOX2
Quote
TDT (DVB-T) cards:
Cinergy T XS Hybrid
Quote
Remote controls:
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Nokia_N800
Quote
Audio cards:
RME Multiface 2
Quote
Upscaling cards:
VP50 (external device)
Quote
Video cards:
included with core and md mobo
Quote
Infrared devices for stations:
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Gc100
Quote
Web cams:
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/D-Link_DCS-5300G
Quote
Wifi cards:
Cisco Aironet Series
Quote
Speakers:
ALR Jordan
other Hardware:
Slimdevices (Logitech now) SqueezeBox, Transporter
Cisco 7970 Phones
KNX
...
I'm not kidding, of course I can do this job, but, even me, if you can read a recopilation work and some tsted configurations, as a newbe or even as a computer seller, you woud be able to choose better.
My plan is to buy a silent case and put my actual computer on it with some aditions as tuner and upscaling devices when I'll buy a new computer
I have a Gigabyte 8iI945P mobo, P4 530 @3 Mhz with 3 Gb of RAM DDR2, ASUS ATI X600 EAX, DVD PLEXTOR 750A, conceptronic firewire card and integrated ethernet, realtek sound card, and 2x 200 Gb SATA HDD, 1x500 GB SATAII HDD, 1x 40 GB IDE HDD (With Kubuntu),
and as external devices ASUS web cam(it doesn't work with linux, but it is detected), Canon lite scanner, Brotherhl-1230 as Laser printer, 2 200 GB external IDE HDD with dual firewire/USB cases.
Perhaps there are a good and cheap configuration, that can change my plan and then let this computer running linux, and let the new one only for games (I'm a gamer and still use windows for gaming, some day, when video drivers will preform similar it will not be necessary).
But my request was and is not because of me, is becouse newbes can find an easy way (better if it is a closed product for them) to become LinuxMCE users. I'm sure if LINUX MCE would have any product with it preinstalled as some windows MCE specific devices, it would have more market introduction.
If I were a CEO from any computer company, even hardware company that make those Multimedia USB HDD , I would have a good and cheap product and a High level product with LinuxMCE, and with my name as for example //XXXX Media Center// and a logo that says Powered by Linux MCE, but normal people would buy my //...// because they do not understand and know about operating Systems and hardware configurations.
That because I would like this kind of list, where there are other question, devices with good drivers for linux, not only that work, for example, ATI is not a good brand for Linux, even they are making efforts, now Nvidia Linux drivers are much better, the gap between windows and linux performance is bigger in ATI.
Internal Upscaling cards does it exist? because I've read about this specific hardware chips for DVDs but I cannot find any for PCI, but can it be performed by software and better with PC Video cards?, I'm afraid not.
Then, even if it is not a hardware design, and it is only a computer that you can buy by parts, making a branded product, would expand the use of Linux MCE and of course the same Linux itself. As there are more game consoles than desktop computers, there will be more MCE than desktop computers , and this marvellous work is an enormous advantage to be placed at a lot of homes, and perhaps can be the beginning of the success (in market share terms) of opensource OSs. But I think a little bit more, the remote commands are similar to Wii ones, and MCE boxes will be too excellent Linux video game machines, with games Wiimote style, Open Source games, but commercial ones too and some TV models today has HDDs inside, why not Linux MCE as OS for this TVs and then TVs will be computers, and the same model, cheaper only with IR receiver.
This would be a great product for Hotels.
Excuse my long post, I cannot be right, but I'm not kidding, and the subject is Hardware packs for newbies, a list and even final products is a good idea, not from only one person, a colaborative one or a wiki. And of course some product as the Wallmart one for gOS.
Quote from: mitcoes on December 24, 2007, 10:51:42 AM
[..]Internal Upscaling cards does it exist? because I've read about this specific hardware chips for DVDs but I cannot find any for PCI, but can it be performed by software and better with PC Video cards?, I'm afraid not.
During a recent HT enthusiasts meeting we compared a Lumagen Scaler to a PC running Dscaler5 (without ffmpeg specifics), and we could not find a noticable difference on a CRT beamer displaying onto a 2,20x1,50 screen.
I don't know at the moment, how good the scaling within xine is, but even if it might not be as good as the used windows solution, it will eventually be there.
rgds
Oliver
Xine uses the Dscaler technology. (Wonders of open source.) Switching it on when running Xine from a desktop is pretty simple. In LMCE is very difficult to figure out which features are enabled. On the Media director options there is a section for deinterlace quality where you can explore the options. They are VERY CPU intensive on HD. And using the alpha blended UI conflicts a little with them so you get worse tearing etc. I use the overlay mode on my main video at 1080p. On the HQV disk none of the options seemed to make a big difference but I'm not sure they even took. Supposedly you change the option and reload the router for it to work. But you may need to restart the MD to see it work.
A newbie question, a PS3 (Sony Pkaystation3) version of LinuxMCE will be created?
May PS3 be a good hardware for LinuxMCE?
I think that it is possible and if it has good performance Sony will sell a lot more of their consoles and probably would preinstall LinuxMCE on some PS3 systems, and it would be a great tool in HD vs. BR disks battle.
The PS3 would be a great platform for LMCE if the Linux for it made the internal services available. The Linux for the PS3 gives access to one of the 8 processors and no access to the media player stuff as I remember. Possibly Sony is worried about passing BluRay content out of the box.
i did a "newbie pack" for a diskless md in the wiki:
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/MD_Newbie_Pack_Slim_I
not yet confirmed working (awaiting order) but the board was tested by totallymaxed and others.
best regards,
Hari