Yet Another HTPC-advice Thread!

[sam9s]

i had checked a few pages detailing the process. will try.

Yep .... a quick hint is you got to install OpenELEC first and then windows ..... with Linux and Windows dual boot, the sequence is Linux first and then windows...

anyway, experiencing one issue. the mouse & keyboard stop working if i move away from the cabinet by more than 2-3 ft. both devices are wireless. this doesn't happen with the mouse when i have its receiver connected to my android stick (mk808b plus); can operate the mouse from well 6-8 ft away. both the receivers, of the mouse & keyboard i have connected them to the USB ports at the back of the cabinet. could you tell why this might be happening, and solution?

[/quote]

I have no idea bro ....receivers behind the case might be the reason ....

 

[TheSeeker]

Yep .... a quick hint is you got to install OpenELEC first and then windows ..... with Linux and Windows dual boot, the sequence is Linux first and then windows...

and IIRC i read the opposite of it, because it said that if you install linux first and then go on to install windows on the same HDD, windows wont recognise the linux installation and override it to install itself on top of it. something like that. :|
anyway, let me burn a finger and see.

 

[sam9s]

Never tried that way ....., you can create NTFS partition from Linux but you cannot create ext4 partition from windows, hence Linux first and then windows ...

PS: Just checked , seems like you can install Linux after, just need to make sure you have "unallocated space" available before you boot from Linux removable media .... which would then create ext4 partition for the same ...

 

[amit96467]

Hi all,

This is my first post in the forum. I am very much interested to build a HTPC but not able to decide which components I need for that. My requirements are below:

(1) Watch full hd 1080p (not interested in 4K) movies through external hard disc on my 50 Panasonic LED
(2) 5.1 sound output through AV receiver
(3) Wi-Fi connectivity for mobile and other devices like keyboard and mouse or remote
(4) Net surfing like YouTube, online games and mail etc
(5) Basic software like MS Office etc.
(6) Should have decent internal space for my movie library
(7) Minimum power consumption and heat proof
(8) Horizontal cabinet which look good with av receiver and TV
(9) Upgradable and smooth operations.
(10) Last and most important budget is 25k only

I am from Jaipur (Rajasthan), so please suggest all components which I can get locally or online.

Thanks in anticipation.

 

[manniraj]

Hi all,

This is my first post in the forum. I am very much interested to build a HTPC but not able to decide which components I need for that. My requirements are below:

(1) Watch full hd 1080p (not interested in 4K) movies through external hard disc on my 50 Panasonic LED
(2) 5.1 sound output through AV receiver
(3) Wi-Fi connectivity for mobile and other devices like keyboard and mouse or remote
(4) Net surfing like YouTube, online games and mail etc
(5) Basic software like MS Office etc.
(6) Should have decent internal space for my movie library
(7) Minimum power consumption and heat proof
(8) Horizontal cabinet which look good with av receiver and TV
(9) Upgradable and smooth operations.
(10) Last and most important budget is 25k only

I am from Jaipur (Rajasthan), so please suggest all components which I can get locally or online.

Thanks in anticipation.

I have a htpc for sale which meets all your needs and just requires a purchase of a internal HDD. The cost is half your budget and no need to do any assembly as its a all-in-one slim PC and you just need to open up and install the HDD and load the OS of your choice. Let me know if it interests you.

Thanks

 

[mano2ht]

I have right now installed openelec(kodi) in mac mini and it has been served my purpose.
It should serve your too.

 

[sam9s]

Hi all,

This is my first post in the forum. I am very much interested to build a HTPC but not able to decide which components I need for that. My requirements are below:

(1) Watch full hd 1080p (not interested in 4K) movies through external hard disc on my 50 Panasonic LED
(2) 5.1 sound output through AV receiver
(3) Wi-Fi connectivity for mobile and other devices like keyboard and mouse or remote
(4) Net surfing like YouTube, online games and mail etc
(5) Basic software like MS Office etc.
(6) Should have decent internal space for my movie library
(7) Minimum power consumption and heat proof
(8) Horizontal cabinet which look good with av receiver and TV
(9) Upgradable and smooth operations.
(10) Last and most important budget is 25k only

I am from Jaipur (Rajasthan), so please suggest all components which I can get locally or online.

Thanks in anticipation.

Get NUC 2820FYK, with 500GB HD and 4GB ram it should not cost more than 15-16K. Install windows 10 on it along with Kodi for windows and your all of the above 10 points will be fulfilled ....

 

[amit96467]

Finally I have closed the deal on RPi3 with 1TB Seagate External HDD. It is serving me so well I must say. I have installed OpenElec, which is one of the best OS for media server. I love Exodus addon, which allows you to see the content which you can't excess easily.
So thanks guys for your valuable inputs and suggestions.

 

[nipunkx]

So thanks guys for your valuable inputs and suggestions.

Amit, you can also press the 'Thanks' button at the bootom of helpfull comments to show your gratitude.:clapping:

 

[sam9s]

Finally I have closed the deal on RPi3 with 1TB Seagate External HDD. It is serving me so well I must say. I have installed OpenElec, which is one of the best OS for media server. I love Exodus addon, which allows you to see the content which you can't excess easily.
So thanks guys for your valuable inputs and suggestions.

What happened to point 4 and 5?

 

[amit96467]

What happened to point 4 and 5?

I am working on that too...... have successfully installed Youtube addone, its working fine.. user interface is not that great but you can watch any video u want to watch. Rest is games, there are lots of addon for that too, but need to do some digging and research on google. Last is MS office, for that, I need to install separate OS like NOOBS or RASPBIAN, where in I can use Open Office which more or less like MS office.
I think RPi3 serves me well in all aspects which I wanted and its budget friendly too.
So what u say Mate.

 

[sam9s]

^^^ No my kinda setup .... frankly, but whatever floats your boat, I would not use Rpi for anything more than just as a media player, and maybe for your tube coz thats, a plugin that actually works properly.........

 

[TheSeeker]

hello all! back here after 2 months.

I have a htpc for sale which meets all your needs and just requires a purchase of a internal HDD. The cost is half your budget and no need to do any assembly as its a all-in-one slim PC and you just need to open up and install the HDD and load the OS of your choice. Let me know if it interests you.

Thanks

missed this, else would've most probably gone for it.
will see if I can persuade any friend to buy it.

 

[TheSeeker]

Never tried that way ....., you can create NTFS partition from Linux but you cannot create ext4 partition from windows, hence Linux first and then windows ...

PS: Just checked , seems like you can install Linux after, just need to make sure you have "unallocated space" available before you boot from Linux removable media .... which would then create ext4 partition for the same ...

hope you had a good vacation (been there yet?)

finally, realized the simpler way is to first install Linux & then windows, as you wrote. facing paucity of time these days, was reluctant to again go formatting the HDD & starting from scratch, when just by chance I happened to spot a tutorial to use your HTPC just like a portable media player in conjunction with Kodi! what I did was to install Kodi, and set the PC to boot up just like a media player with the Kodi screen welcoming you instead of the Win shell. very happy with this alternative route! now only hassle remains is installing a plethora of add-ons in Kodi. have installed a couple like youtube. on to game ROMs next. referring to some guides for this. also got to buy a flicr dongle to use an IR remote.

only issue that remains is, am not sure if I can use my browser simultaneously while using Kodi. at times its reqd. not sure can minimize Kodi when the PC boots up with it. or do we have a capable browser add-on too for Kodi?

 

[sam9s]

hope you had a good vacation (been there yet?)

Yep ... awsome 10 days of trip ....

finally, realized the simpler way is to first install Linux & then windows, as you wrote. facing paucity of time these days, was reluctant to again go formatting the HDD & starting from scratch, when just by chance I happened to spot a tutorial to use your HTPC just like a portable media player in conjunction with Kodi! what I did was to install Kodi, and set the PC to boot up just like a media player with the Kodi screen welcoming you instead of the Win shell. very happy with this alternative route! now only hassle remains is installing a plethora of add-ons in Kodi. have installed a couple like youtube. on to game ROMs next. referring to some guides for this. also got to buy a flicr dongle to use an IR remote.

only issue that remains is, am not sure if I can use my browser simultaneously while using Kodi. at times its reqd. not sure can minimize Kodi when the PC boots up with it. or do we have a capable browser add-on too for Kodi?

well I haven't tried the other way round, so can't compare .. , but I knew thats the conventional way of installing a linux/windows dual boot .. , hence suggested ....

Well using HTPC just like a media is good but when this guide was written openELEC was in its very very infancy stage, hence to use HTPC as a media player this was the only option, (install windows and then configure XBMC to load without windows explorer) .... but if you will ask me today I would probably easily recommend openELEC. openELEC has come a long long way since then and now is the best way to convert any HTPC to a media player like feel using kodi.

Now if you want your HTPC for some windows tasks as well, then its a different case. In your scenario, I think that's what you want, I think there is a browser plugin that can be used. Not sure how you have configured your windows HTPC,but is it loading explorer or straight going to Kodi?????, if its not loading explorer, you cannot minimize kodi and use browser, you won't even see any windows app if you have done this. You have to load explorer in order to load any windows app (browser in this case). If I remember correctly, its been ages I have taken this route., you need to run task manager (ctrl,alt,del) and then go to file and then new task and type explorer.exe, that would load explorer and then you can open the browser or any other wndows app by minimising kodi. I won't take that route today, as I said

I still would suggest the openELEC way, much easier and effective...

 

[manniraj]

hello all! back here after 2 months.



missed this, else would've most probably gone for it.
will see if I can persuade any friend to buy it.

Thanks I have put a very good price now almost half the original cost as its lying idle. Do let me know if somebody is interested.

 

[TheSeeker]

Yep ... awsome 10 days of trip ....



well I haven't tried the other way round, so can't compare .. , but I knew thats the conventional way of installing a linux/windows dual boot .. , hence suggested ....

Well using HTPC just like a media is good but when this guide was written openELEC was in its very very infancy stage, hence to use HTPC as a media player this was the only option, (install windows and then configure XBMC to load without windows explorer) .... but if you will ask me today I would probably easily recommend openELEC. openELEC has come a long long way since then and now is the best way to convert any HTPC to a media player like feel using kodi.

Now if you want your HTPC for some windows tasks as well, then its a different case. In your scenario, I think that's what you want, I think there is a browser plugin that can be used. Not sure how you have configured your windows HTPC,but is it loading explorer or straight going to Kodi?????, if its not loading explorer, you cannot minimize kodi and use browser, you won't even see any windows app if you have done this. You have to load explorer in order to load any windows app (browser in this case). If I remember correctly, its been ages I have taken this route., you need to run task manager (ctrl,alt,del) and then go to file and then new task and type explorer.exe, that would load explorer and then you can open the browser or any other wndows app by minimising kodi. I won't take that route today, as I said

I still would suggest the openELEC way, much easier and effective...

exactly! that is my scenario and what I want(ed).
the PC straightaway goes to Kodi. only when I quit Kodi does it load the explorer (takes barely 1-2 seconds for that). i'll try the ctrl+alt+del method.

openelec is almost Kodi itself, correct? that means wont be able to use browser or youtube in it (I didn't find the youtube add-on apt for my use).

P.S. - glad that you had a great trip! a short summary of the trip with plenty of pics would be good.
or you already created one?

 

[sam9s]

exactly! that is my scenario and what I want(ed).
the PC straightaway goes to Kodi. only when I quit Kodi does it load the explorer (takes barely 1-2 seconds for that). i'll try the ctrl+alt+del method.

Ok if thats the case, u dont need to quite kodi, you can load explorer from within kodi by the method I described, (check my HTPC thread for exact instructions, its there I know)

openelec is almost Kodi itself, correct? that means wont be able to use browser or youtube in it (I didn't find the youtube add-on apt for my use).

Yes openELEC is linux variant of base kodi, its basic XBMC, and it wont have youtube by default, since its base kodi you have to install the plugin(s) and then youtube will work the way it should. same goes with browser, there is a plugin called "WEB VIEWER" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwEf3k-7nXE), install it and that shall allow you to browse web from within kodi itself.

P.S. - glad that you had a great trip! a short summary of the trip with plenty of pics would be good.
or you already created one?

no have not uploaded pics or any summary, thought no one will be interested ... will do so .... will share the FB link for photos and you can have a look....

 

[neoonwheels]

Sorry to hijack your thread !!! Could anybody please confirm my config with the output I want?

Requirement:
1. Full HD output, 3D is bonus
2. Audio output: DTS, Dolby digital, DTS HD, DTS HD MA, Dolby True HD, Dolby HD etc

So basically, HTPC which will effortlessly output full HD (3D bonus) with all possible audio formats as output. I have an AVR which can decode almost all audio formats (Dolby, DTS etc).

Config 1:
AMD Athlon 5350 APU AM1 25W 1080p
GIGABYTE GA-AM1M-S2H AM1

Config 2:
AMD A6-6400K FM2 65W 1080p
GA-F2A68HM-HD2

Config 3:
INTEL G3240 3.1GHZ LGA 1150
MSI H81M-P33
Zotac NVidia GT710 1080p

Thanks
Abhijeet

 

[sam9s]

^^ Whats the budget??? Anyway I will go with option 3, considering 3D playback, GPU will be advisable. If possible get Asus/Gigabyte instead of MSI.