Messages

1

Users / Re: Kubuntu question

« on: August 08, 2008, 04:20:52 pm »

Not even just for the PC itself?

I know I can't run it as the GUI for interfacing with MCE, but I mean just as the PC part...

2

Users / Kubuntu question

« on: August 08, 2008, 03:25:59 pm »

I see that i get an interface with MCE to use kubuntu on my MD's for personal computing,
What I am wondering if it works just like normal kubuntu, will I be able to make it use GNOME
instead of KDE?

3

Users / Re: Question about digital TV

« on: August 05, 2008, 02:17:29 pm »

So, there is no latency like this or anything?

4

Users / Question about digital TV

« on: August 05, 2008, 10:40:56 am »

I have watched the demo video, and I am a bit confused about something... Maybe it was just in there to demonstrate it was possible...

I am confused as to why you would want to use the cable box when you have digital cable... Could you not just connect the line to a digital tuner card, and use the Myth interface? Then you can send the signal through the same means as everything else... Ethernet...

Is there a downside to taking the cable box out of the equation or was he just demonstrating it was possible if you wanted to not use a tuner card?

Anyone who can provide some info I would appreciate it...

5

Users / Re: My MD's and Core

« on: July 28, 2008, 11:59:25 pm »

Zebra3,

 I am working on the M3N78 board. I have yet to get it to boot up as a diskless md. have only tried the hdmi output at this point which does not work properly at this time even with the current 177.13 Nvidia Beta driver. I will not have time to play with this further until later in the week. So be advised this board is not working as a diskless MD at this point.

 Dave

How about this board instead?
Asus M2N-CM DVI Socket AM2

My worry with this is no HDMI, how is the conversion from DVI to HDMI, using a cable... I have never seen it myself.

6

Users / My MD's and Core

« on: July 28, 2008, 07:21:06 pm »

Hey everyone, below you will find my plans for what to build as a core and the MD's... I would like as much feedback as I can get before I build them.

I would like to know, both if you think something needs to be better, or, if you think something has more resources than it needs... I am of course trying to save money where I can, so, anything you can put here would be useful...

I live in Sweden, so my access to parts can be somewhat limited, keep that in mind... Thanks in advance.

My MD's
Omaura TF5 Chassi
Asus m3n78 - EMH HDMI
AMD Sempron LE-1150 2.0GHz Socket AM2, 256KB
OCZ Value Pro DDR2 PC25400/667MHz CL5 1x1024MB OCZ26671024V
SilentX 300W Ultra Silent PSU

My Core
Asus M3N-H/HDMI Socket AM2
AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 3,0GHz Box Socket AM2
OCZ Nvidia SLI 2GB Kit 2x1024M
Antec Basiq Power 550W
Linksys EG1032-EU
Hauppauge WinTV HVR-1100T
Pioneer BDC-202BK Blu-Ray Combo drive BD-ROM/DVD±RW BLACK Bulk SATA
Samsung SpinPoint F1 HD103UJ 32MB 1TB
Antec Three Hundred Chassi

7

Users / Re: Using my Windows PC and MCE

« on: July 28, 2008, 01:30:47 pm »

You can't just pipe the DVI/VGA output to LMCE to play Crysis  . Guess you could always dual boot though.

I guess this is basically what I was trying to do, use my windows through the MCE interface...
I was hoping I could connect the windows PC like a piece of media, and use an RF dongle to control the keyboard and mouse.
But i guess your saying that is not possible?

8

Users / Using my Windows PC and MCE

« on: July 28, 2008, 11:45:08 am »

Hey everyone, I haven't actually setup my system yet... Want to do my research first...

What I am wondering is if anyone has their Windows PC hooked in to be used through the MD's...
I want to keep my Windows PC for Gaming mostly...

I figure you must be able to make it so you can send a wireless keyboard and mouse, through the MD's using RF... Any tips on how this can be setup?

But my main problem is, figuring out how to get the DVI signal from the PC into the core... I could do it with Svideo instead, but the picture is not nearly as nice like that...
I there a TV tuner type card for receiving DVI? Any info anyone has on this would be helpful...

Thanks in advance

9

Users / Re: LinuxMCE and Popcorn hour

« on: July 24, 2008, 06:16:27 pm »

CPU don't need much - AMD Sempron LE-1200 2.1GHz clock speed 256Kb L2 cache 45Watt AM2. (£20)

Will this be OK for HD-vid playback as long as I have a decent video card, i am just wondering because i read a site that said you need 3ghz or more for HD playback.

10

Users / Re: LinuxMCE and Popcorn hour

« on: July 24, 2008, 01:48:55 pm »

Tack!

I should point out, I live in Sweden, but I am Canadian, so, thanks for not writing the answer in Swedish.
I will look in to that, I like the idea of HIfi type chassis, also, glad to hear that you think internal stuff will work fine, really cuts down on the profile of the case.

As far as the power supply goes, any info about how loud it will be with a fan... The PC is have at home is really loud, but it's also a big bad @ss kicker. So I don't have experience with silent ones. Do they have fanned ones that are at least relatively quite?

11

Users / Re: LinuxMCE and Popcorn hour

« on: July 24, 2008, 10:54:16 am »

That's exactly what I think I will do,
I don't live in the UK, but Sweden, so I can get from the UK, for a bit more money...

Do you have any tips on Chassis, something small and discreet... I have been looking around and found a few, but I am just wondering if you have any tips.

How about power supply? Any tips on that? Silent of course...

Do you think an on board graphics card will stream Blue Ray well enough? Do I need 512 of the card, or will 256 do it?
In my PC at home, I have a sparkle graphics card, any feelings about using one of them, as I understand it's just like Nvidia, same arch and drivers, but half the price.

Any tips are appreciated.

12

Users / LinuxMCE and Popcorn hour

« on: July 23, 2008, 11:41:17 am »

I am looking in to a lot of solutions for home theater and home automation, and I have settled on LinuxMCE as the OS on the "brain" machine. I will build my own PC for this. But am having trouble with decisions regarding the client machines.

I like the fiire station solution, great features, easy setup, and hides very well (a big issue for my girlfriend). But, I don't live in the USA, which makes this solution somewhat expensive for me, because of shipping and import fees. And lets face it, you can build PC's with the same capabilities for half the price.

So, I am wondering if anyone has tried combining the Popcorn Hour A-100 and a LinuxMCE server machine? Has this worked for you?
Also, do I need to use the popcorn interface, or does someone have a way to boot MCE on one of these? Making it basically the same solution as a Fiire station?

I am also really interested in building my own thin clients, anyone who has some tips about that I would really appreciate it, I am having trouble finding ways to make them small enough.

Thanks very much