Cave Man Posted August 23, 2008 Share Posted August 23, 2008 I'd like to build a dedicated box for use as a home theater PC under Leopard. The principal app for this box will be XBMC and I'd like it to be able to handle H.264-encoded 1080p video (Blu-Ray rips) with Dolby Digital AC3 audio. Here are the minimum requirements for such a machine. Mobo 1. LGA 775 2. Integrated video (x3100 preferred, but GMA950 would be ok) 3. DVI out 4. Optical audio out 5. 2x SATA connectors 6. 4x USB2 ports 7. 1x Firewire 400 or eSATA 8. 4 gb RAM capacity 9. 802.11n or gigabit ethernet I'd like to put it in a low-heat, small micro-ATX enclosure/ps if possible. I think I'd go with an e4600 Core 2 Duo processor, as it would be plenty to decode H.264 1080 video. Any suggestions? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/122378-htpc-box/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cave Man Posted August 29, 2008 Author Share Posted August 29, 2008 OK, this looks to be the PERFECT home theater mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813128072 Does anyone have this board, or can anyone comment on its suitability (i.e., GeForce 7100 and audio chip)?? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/122378-htpc-box/#findComment-872544 Share on other sites More sharing options...
candykane Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 dude Nforce chipsets are a F***** problem. you get no lan and not all of them can beinstalled get something else. stick with intel. asrock has nice micro board with video but you will have the use a hackled bios for multi core support. GIGABYTE GA-EG31M-S2 LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Mother...ame=GA-EG31M-S2 GIGABYTE GA-Q35M-S2 LGA 775 Intel Q35 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813128355 Open Box: GIGABYTE GA-G31M-S2L LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard only 41 dollars http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...82E16813128078R these are all boards that will work that last one is a real sweet deal good luck to you Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/122378-htpc-box/#findComment-872622 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cave Man Posted August 29, 2008 Author Share Posted August 29, 2008 That's a bummer about the chipset. This one is about the only mini-ATX that has optical (or coaxial) digital audio output, which is essential (to me) for an HTPC box. Guess it's time to keep looking... Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/122378-htpc-box/#findComment-872926 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elv13 Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 But why Leopard? Linux (MythTV, XBMC ou LinuxMCE) would do the job, even windows would! Why do you want OSX? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/122378-htpc-box/#findComment-873599 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cave Man Posted August 30, 2008 Author Share Posted August 30, 2008 I can manipulate OS X pretty easily. I'm not familiar with the other OSes. One less thing to learn about... Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/122378-htpc-box/#findComment-873646 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elv13 Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 Well, that's exactly why Windows still got 93% of user. OSX is not suitable for your need, you better to learn somethings else. After all, using a CD of mythbuntu ou LinuxMCE is not that hard you know, it will be less trouble than forcing OSX to work on such kind of devices. Life is only a long learning curve, that's what they say. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/122378-htpc-box/#findComment-875701 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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