My first HTPC build. Need advice please!

[skatingn330]

CASE: Thermaltake: Mozart Media Lab  ( Front USB, Audio, 1394 ), Silver/Black
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+, Socket AM2, 2.1GHz, 64-Bit Dual-Core, 2x512KB Cache
MOTHERBOARD: MSI GeForce 7050, AM2+/AM2, HDMI, RAID, w/FireWire-1394, Audio, GbLAN, Video
(Socket AM2
CPU Athlon 64 X2
FSB 1GHz
Chipset NVIDIA® MCP68PV
Memory Type DDR2 533/667/800
DIMM Slots 4
Max Memory 8GB
PCI-Ex16 1
PCI-Ex8 N/A
PCI-Ex4 N/A
PCI-Ex1 1
PCI 2
IDE 1
SATA 4
RAID 0/1/0+1/5/JBOD 
LAN 10/100/1000*1
TPM 1 (Optional)
USB ports (Rear) 4
Audio ports (Rear) 6
Serial ports (Rear) N/A
Parallel ports (Rear) N/A
1394 ports (Rear) 1 (Optional)
eSATA N/A
VGA 1
DVI 1 (Optional)
HDMI 1 (Optional)
Form Factor M-ATX )

RAM DDR2: 1024MB 667MHz / PC5400
STORAGE: 250GB SATA-II 7200RPM w/8MB Buffer
ROM:DVDRW: 20x Dual-Format/Dual-Layer w/LightScribe, Black Color  (Blueray drive later)



I'm just not sure if the Board will work with Linux MCE, its got NVIDIA Chipset. I ve been researching a lot and it seems like theres a lot of Nvidia support for Linuxmce, I just don't know about this one. Possibly i could add a card that supports it, but hopefully it won't come to that. I have a samsung 46 1080p and my GOAL is to run LinuxMCE on it and have great blueray 1080p playback.  I just wish they made a videocard with HDMI output with audio through HDMI. ANY COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, OR ADVICE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.  Thanks -Matt

[tschak909]

be sure to add:

* Tuner card, one of Hauppauge PVR-150/250/500/PVRUSB2 for SD, and a HDHomeRun for HD
* for IR I/O control, either use a USB UIRT, or a Global Cache GC100 with the IR Learning dongle, so that you can learn the IR codes from your AV gear to create the necessary device templates for control.
* Xantech 286 Double IR emitter, to affix to the AV gear for AV control

also you must have two NIC cards, and this system must be the DHCP server for the house, connect one NIC to your modem, the other NIC to your LAN switch.

-Thom

[skatingn330]

I already got the USB UIRT, I've already decoded most of my AV gear with girder. I ll just pickup another network card at bestbuy. I think htey are only about 20 bucks there. Thanks for the advice. -Matt

[royw]

be sure to add:

* for IR I/O control, either use a USB UIRT, or a Global Cache GC100 with the IR Learning dongle, so that you can learn the IR codes from your AV gear to create the necessary device templates for control.
* Xantech 286 Double IR emitter, to affix to the AV gear for AV control

Question, can a USB UIRT be used instead of the GC IR Learning dongle?  GC is very proud of their IR Learning dongle and I already have an USB UIRT.

Also why the dual IR emitter?  Is this for equipment that have two IR receivers?  A little confused.

TIA,
Roy

[tschak909]

Yes, the USB UIRT can be used for IR learning..

-Thom

[skatingn330]

The dual emitter is for plugging in an ir headphone jack extender, is u can plug that in then aim the extender at 2 diff pieces of av equitment.

[royw]

The dual emitter is for plugging in an ir headphone jack extender, is u can plug that in then aim the extender at 2 diff pieces of av equitment.

Thank you.

[skatingn330]

After Selling some items on ebay, and getting taxes back, i decided to go for the quad core with blu ray:

Thermaltake: Mozart Media Lab [ VC4000SNS ] ( Front USB, Audio, 1394 ), Silver/Black
500W Power Supply - PSU [ NSP-50OV2.0BF12 ]
AMD Phenom 9500, Socket AM2+, 2.2GHz, 64-Bit Quad-Core, 4x512KB Cache
Abit GeForce 7050, AM2+/AM2, RAID,1394, HDMI, S/PDIF, Audio, GbLAN, Video. [ AN-M2HD LE ]
DDR2: 2048MB 667MHz / PC5400
320GB SATA-II 7200RPM w/16MB Buffer
Blu-ray DVD Player Drive
High Definition 7.1 Digtial Surround Sound
Integrated onBoard 10/100/(1000) Port(s)
USB-UIRT
mcekb nmediapc keyboard