Messages

76

Users / Re: Looks very promising

« on: May 18, 2009, 03:49:16 pm »

Unboxing: http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fcn.engadget.com%2F2009%2F05%2F16%2Fengadget-smartq-7-mid-unbox%2F&sl=auto&tl=en&history_state0=

1200 RMB = $175   

77

Users / Re: Linux MCE - what is your fastest boot time?

« on: April 15, 2009, 03:56:35 pm »

I would like to see a guide to doing this as a file is downloadable from the gPXE website with the correct NIC driver already setup.

Well, it's not a guide but from http://rom-o-matic.net/:

For help and information about getting your OS loaded with gPXE or Etherboot,
Visit the Etherboot Home Page at http://www.etherboot.org/
and join the Etherboot-Discuss mailing list.
Sign up at: http://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/etherboot-discuss


Real-time help is often available on IRC on the #etherboot channel of irc.freenode.net.

brake16

78

Users / Re: Guidance on how to add a game console as a LinuxMCE controlled device.

« on: April 15, 2009, 04:11:30 am »

The URL you posted points to a device which allows to power off the PS3,

Note: This model will not Power ON the PS3

however, the http://shop.remoteshoppe.com/product.sc?productId=7 does support power on, for the amount of money, hari pointed out.

Thanks for pointing to the correct link.  I accidentally pasted in the wrong page.

wow, 99,99..

Yeah.  Woof.  I wish I could justify that kinda coin.  An extra $80 for an 'on' button. 

Then again, it does convert the IR signal to RF/bluetooth, so you don't have to take up a USB slot on your PS3.  And with the 'on/off' capability, it does enable fulfilling the quest to fully integrate the PS3 into linuxMCE.  And I've seen other posts here where people seriously consider spending $1K or more on an orbiter.

Oy.  Maybe someday.

brake16

79

Users / Re: Guidance on how to add a game console as a LinuxMCE controlled device.

« on: April 14, 2009, 11:16:55 pm »

last time i've checked the IR solutions were not able to power the ps3 on or off..

br, Hari

True enough with the one I posted above.  It was the easy one to find.  Here's the better solution that includes the power on/off feature:

http://www.shop.remoteshoppe.com/product.sc;jsessionid=F8A23987DAE18522FC56CA45C9B94D62.qscstrfrnt03?productId=6

brake16

80

Users / Re: Linux MCE - what is your fastest boot time?

« on: April 14, 2009, 10:36:54 pm »

I don't know enough about the MD startup scripts, but if PXE is part of the problem for the long boot time, would something like this help?  http://etherboot.org/wiki/about.  It looks like gPXE will be coming out "soon".  Would this be something worth trying, or does someone with more linuxMCE knowledge know why this is a non-starter?

This is a branch of coreboot (formerly LinuxBIOS) that aims to drastically cut down boot times.  Variations of coreboot are used in many 'appliance' applications.  See http://www.coreboot.org/Welcome_to_coreboot for more.

brake16

81

Users / Re: Guidance on how to add a game console as a LinuxMCE controlled device.

« on: April 14, 2009, 06:43:48 pm »

I am wondering if there is a way to use (whatever) LinuxMCE remote to control PS3 using a bluetooth dongle? That would be great for watching movies, single remote that controls PS3

This will get you halfway there.  It's a USB stick that allows the PS3 to receive IR commands.

It also comes with a pretty little oblong boxy-thing that has buttons on it.  Perfect for filling up that last bit of free space in your trash can.

http://www.amazon.com/PlayStation-3-Blu-Wave-Remote/dp/B000R5H7KE/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1239726473&sr=8-1

brake16

82

Users / Re: ASUS M3A78-EM and IDE drives

« on: April 12, 2009, 11:18:47 pm »

Sweet!  Thanks jimmejames.

brake16

83

Users / ASUS M3A78-EM and IDE drives

« on: April 12, 2009, 04:59:58 am »

Good Morning

Well, silly me.   I have 2 old hard drives waiting to be used, and my choice of an old CD-ROM drive or a DVD-RW drive.  Unfortunately, none of them have SATA connectors, which seem to be required by the ECS mobo I was considering (according to the wiki).  As a second choice, the ASUS M3A78-EM mobo is well documented here (thanks to Sethj), requiring only a separate nVidia card to achieve UI2 with alpha.  I know the ASUS board has a single IDE connection, so my question for the masses is this:

Does anybody know if the ASUS board will function with IDE-connected hdd & optical drive?

To my way of thinking, I'd rather get the ASUS board and have to pick up a video card, than get the ECS board and have to pick up a SATA hard drive & a SATA optical drive.

Thanks
brake16

84

Users / more RAM or separate video card?

« on: April 10, 2009, 03:05:56 pm »

Good Morning

I'm looking at getting this mobo for my hybrid/core:
ECS GF8200A (V1.0) ATX AMD Motherboard
NewEgg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813135085
LinuxMCE hardware wiki: http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/ECS_GF8200A

For now, I plan on playing around with it without using the HDMI jack.  I'll just keep my fingers crossed that that will have support when 8.10 comes out.  I'm sure I'll be configuring at least until then!  I have a few video performance questions:

• The hardware wiki profile for this mobo recommends at least 2 GB of RAM if using the onboard video card.  I don't have any problem doing that, and I'd go to 4 GB in a heartbeat if I thought that would give me smooth UI2.  Would I be better off loading up RAM or buying a separate video card?  Assume for now that fan noise is not an issue.
• I'm assuming for now that Nvidia's hybrid SLI setup is a no-go in any linux distro.  Any experience or knowledge either way? (Hybrid SLI: http://www.nvidia.com/object/hybrid_sli.html)  If this is an option, I'd be more than willing to try out something like this: Galaxy GeForce 8400 GS 84GEE6HDFEXN Video Card (Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16814162026) or any recommendations.

Here's the rest of my intended setup (open for comment/criticism/random smackdown):

• AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200 2.7GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor
• 2 to 4 (or 8?) GB of 1066 RAM
• Intel PWLA8391GT 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI PRO/1000 GT Desktop Adapter - OEM
• I have an 80GB hdd and a 250 GB hdd lying around to throw in.  I'll probably start with the 80 and use the 250 to "start" a NAS down the road.
• I have a Sony DVD-RW also lying around.  I'll have to double-check the model#.

Any thoughts?  I appreciate the experiences here (I've been lurking for about 16 months), and I'm looking forward to contributing my (successful?) setup someday.

Thanks
brake16

85

Users / Does HDMI audio work in lmce 710?

« on: April 08, 2009, 09:05:59 pm »

Good Morning

I've been looking to put a Core together for a while now.  I'm finally getting serious enough to look into nitty-gritty mobo details.  I've tried the suggestion of narrowing mobo's down to desired features, NVidia chips, and supported audio/LAN chips.  I kept coming up dry against the HDMI feature.  Everytime I found a mobo I thought would work, one of two things would happen:
  1. Someone on the forums would post an unresolved "HDMI audio doesn't work" or
  2. Someone (on the forums, or in the Hardware wiki) would state: mobo works, but I didn't test HDMI audio since I don't use it.

Next, I went to the Mainboards wiki and clicked on each listed mobo, one by one.  I couldn't find one that definitively stated that audio through HDMI is a working feature with 710.  So, long story short:

Does HDMI audio work in lmce 710?

Thanks
brake16