New build , suggestions please... currently running XBMC Frodo with UnRaid for storage.

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › New build , suggestions please... currently running XBMC Frodo with UnRaid for storage.

ping182nz

188 posts

Master Geek

#152146 17-Sep-2014 17:03

Hi,

I am going to build a new HTPC, currently using Windows 7 with XBMC, Storage is a separate PC running UnRaid.

I am wanting to change my big case etc for a smaller case that with fit on my shelf or in the TV cabinet.

I am thinking of giving the Live TV in XBMC a go, so will need to have a TV card - Any recommendations - would rather spend the $ and get the best gear....

What should I be looking at? i5 or i7?

What case do you recommend?

What motherboard?

Anyone have specs fro a build that they would recommend me going with, I will obviously need some local storage for recordings.....

solival

160 posts

Master Geek

#1131286 18-Sep-2014 10:52

The smallest one will be Intel NUC with external TV tuner, but two boxes...

What's your size limitation? For my "steam machine" I need to buy PCIe-16x angle raiser for video card because height of case is very low (low-profile), less than 10cm. Otherwise choose some HTPC case for your build.

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Mattmannz

471 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1131314 18-Sep-2014 11:48

You could also use Mediaportal as the backend for TV on your other storage box and then stream TV to the XBMC machine as that removes the hardware problems.

I am using an Amazon Fire TV for Netflix and XBMC and it works very very well.

Matt.

ping182nz

188 posts

Master Geek

#1131333 18-Sep-2014 12:04

solival: The smallest one will be Intel NUC with external TV tuner, but two boxes...

What's your size limitation? For my "steam machine" I need to buy PCIe-16x angle raiser for video card because height of case is very low (low-profile), less than 10cm. Otherwise choose some HTPC case for your build.

What NUC do you suggest, i.e. is the i5 version quick enough for Live tv , recording etc?

Did you go for the NUC?

What External TV tuner is the best?

NZtimbo

165 posts

Master Geek

#1131338 18-Sep-2014 12:13

I use openSUSE on my server with mythTV as the recording backend and have a Pivos XIOS and HTPC as frontends, the two sync back to the server which is cool. If you went internal tuner then Hauppauge is best, for external I'd use a Hauppauge HD PVR as it plugs into your network and sounds to be fairly easy to setup.

Hardware I'd go i5 unless your just wanting HTPC then a Intel NUC or even ITX motherboards work good in a small case, no need for additional video cards for most decent boards now as the onboard HD can do it all for video.

Tim

hio77

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12999 posts

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#1131357 18-Sep-2014 12:39

woo! another unraid machine!

ild go i5, unlikely you will need an i7..

while i cant think of the names off the top of my head, if your willing to splash on case, to make it look good in your tv setup, ild look at one of the ones that looks a bit like a dvdplayer or something.

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ping182nz

188 posts

Master Geek

#1131409 18-Sep-2014 13:42

hio77: woo! another unraid machine!

Yup, UnRaid was my solution to my storage issues... havent looked back since...

Does anyone have any ideas about an external TV tuner?

geekiegeek

2513 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1131413 18-Sep-2014 13:46

i3 is plenty for an HTPC. mine is an i3 with 4GB ram running Win7 32bit and Mediaportal. Almost all processing is done by the GPU so the CPU is idle most of the time.

ping182nz

188 posts

Master Geek

#1131813 18-Sep-2014 21:04

I am thinking of this case --> Milo ML04 Home Theatre, Black

Anyone have any experience in fitting CPU coolers etc into cases, how do I know what i want fits?

Can you get a half height TV Tuner card?