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UrbanMyth

122 posts

Master Geek


#95309 30-Dec-2011 11:09
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Good morning all,

I am looking to build a home theatre PC with the follow hardware:
M2N-VM DVI mobo with an AMD 4800+ x2 CPU
2G RAM
MCE USB Remote and receiver
Graphics are currently integrated; as is the audio. Both of these will likely be add-on cards in future.
The listed hardware will form the basics to which I will add on as budget allows.

I have no idea what OS/appplications to use.

My background:
I am very computer literate in both Windows and Linux. Cannot code bash to save myself lol
Very proficient with hardware as well.
Up until now I have used an old IBM workhorse with a P4 2.8GHz CPU and 1 GB RAM. This also contained an FX5500 PCI graphics card. The OS was Ubuntu with XBMC installed. However I am getting sick of the hack jobs required to get this installed as well as having to have a keyboard/mouse installed.

What I want to happen is this:

An OS which has no issues with my current hardware (nVidia card and Intel HDA audio) and future hardware I might add. If an application is used on top of an OS, this is ok.
The computer will need to boot directly to the Media Centre shell (without using 3 other applications like shellinstaller etc etc); and if the shell is exited, the computer either shuts down or goes to the OS as per which exit mode is used.

A remote control will handle all usage within the shell. NO wireless mouse or keyboard

Is this possible? If so, how

(I have no problem buying an OS etc - I just don't want to buy things that dont work.)

There is a limited budget - i.e. I don't want to be spending 1K

Ideally; my computer literate 7 year old will be able to turn the computer on, then use the remote to navigate to a movie of their choice and watch it.

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PANiCnz
990 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #562823 30-Dec-2011 11:15
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Have a look at OpenELEC it should do everything you want, it uses XBMC as the frontend.

With your list of software requirements its probably worth avoiding Windows and heading down the path of one of the preconfigured XBMC live CD's such as XBMCFreak or OpenELEC.

May run into some dramas with an AMD video card, but i think support is getting better for these. Otherwise a cheap nVidia card will have you humming along in no time.



rvangelder
352 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #562854 30-Dec-2011 12:45
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Windows 7 has Windows Media Center. You won't regret it.

UrbanMyth

122 posts

Master Geek


  #562942 30-Dec-2011 17:08
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PANiCnz: Have a look at OpenELEC it should do everything you want, it uses XBMC as the frontend.

With your list of software requirements its probably worth avoiding Windows and heading down the path of one of the preconfigured XBMC live CD's such as XBMCFreak or OpenELEC.

May run into some dramas with an AMD video card, but i think support is getting better for these. Otherwise a cheap nVidia card will have you humming along in no time.
Dude you're a freakin genius :D

Openelec worked perfectly.

Thank you :)



Gilco2
1556 posts

Uber Geek


#563399 1-Jan-2012 07:41
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would openelec work with i3-2120 and gigabyte H67 board .  Also using the chip HD2000 graphics




HTPC Intel Pentium G3258 cpu, Gigabyte H97n-wifi motherboard, , 8GB DDR3 ram, onboard  graphics. Hauppuage HVR 5500 tuner,  Silverstone LC16M case, Windows 10 pro 64 bit using Nextpvr and Kodi


UrbanMyth

122 posts

Master Geek


  #569247 15-Jan-2012 21:48
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Should do. Check this out: http://www.openelec.tv/get-openelec/which-build

You could try the "Intel" build. If that doesn't work. "Generic" should

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