Core Server Newbie Pack
From LinuxMCE wiki
Also see Category: Cores.
Contents |
Intro
The Core server is the workhorse of your LinuxMCE. You should not scrimp on this PC. A PC to be used as a Core server has specific requirements:
- good processing power (CPU and fast motherboard bus) and lots of RAM.
- a large hard drive (or storage provided by an NAS (network attached storage) device or externally connected hard drive).
- LinuxMCE/Kubuntu installed as the OS
- expandability, i.e. multiple PCI slots to add extra cards
- two NICs (network interface cards)
You should plan carefully where you will place your Core server. If you have a wired Ethernet LAN, the Core server should be near your central hub. If you have wired security cameras, hopefully they connect at the same hub.
- a good sound card (or two) with surround sound output (optional, but recommended)
If your whole-house sound system is wired directly to a central amplifier, the Core server PC should be near the amplifier. That way you can output directly from the Core to the multi-channel amp. In this scenario, a good surround sound output card in the Core server is very useful. For example, I use two 5.1 surround sound cards in my Core server, so I have a wide flexibility in output to each of the 10 channels of the whole-house sound system.
If you have your network hub, surveillance cam hub, and sound amplifier in your living room (in an entertainment center, for example), you will likely be placing the Core server in your living room. In that case, most likely you will be using the Core server as a hybrid Core/Media Director. The PC then needs the additional characteristics of a Media Director as well:
- a slim (small form factor), stylish case
- low power requirements/heat emissions for the motherboard and CPU
- quiet operation (quiet fans or fanless heat sink)
- good (nVidia) graphic and sound output cards, with good output connectors (e.g. S-video and surround sound outputs)
- interfaces for input devices/remote controls (USB, wireless, Bluetooth, or USB-UIRT).
- DVD (optical) drive
Generic PC
There are many good PCs available to use as a core.
- Includes Athlon 64 x 2 4400+ 2.3GHz
- Includes 1 Gb RAM
- Includes nVidia GeForce 6100
- Includes Realtek 7.1 surround sound
- Includes 160 Gb harddrive
- Includes DVD-RW drive
- 2 PCI, 2 PCI-Express expansion slots
- Does not include a cooling fan (see below for recommendations)
- Approx. $150 or $185
or
- A low-end 64-bit desktop such as the eMachines T3646 is quite suitable.
- Includes AMD Sempron 2.2GHz 64-bit single core 45W processor (runs nearly as fast as a dual-core processor)
- Includes 1 Gb RAM
- Includes nVidia GeForce 6100
- Includes 5.1 surround sound
- Includes 160 Gb harddrive
- Includes DVD-RW drive
- 2 PCI, 2 PCI-Express expansion slots
- Approx. $249
Barebone Systems
- nVidia GeForce 6100
- Integrated 7.1 surround sound (Realtek)
- 2 PCI and 2 PCI-Express expansion slots
- Does not have a DVD-ROM -- must be purchased separately
- About $94
Individual Components
Case
- VFD front display
- Includes IR receiver, USB, firewire, and audio front ports
- 2 internal 3.5" drive bays for HDDs
- 1 external 5.25" bay for DVD-optical drive (not included, such as Liteon CD/DVD for $18)
- 4 expansion slots
- Includes quiet 430W power supply, 2 cooling fans
- Approx. $170 (June 2008)
or
- The SilverStone LaCasa LC19 has largely been superseded by the Silverstone LC20.
- No display
- USB, Fireware, Audio front ports -- no IR receiver
- Two 5.25" drive bays (for DVD optical drives, not included)
- Six 3.5" internal bays for hard drives
- 7 expansion slots
- Two case cooling fans
- Does not come with a power supply
- Approx. $140 (June 2008).
or
- The Silverstone LC20M includes a VFD display and an IR remote port.
- Approx $200 (June 2008)
Motherboard
- MSI K9N6SGM-V V2 Motherboard (aka MS-7309-070)
About US$48
CPU
- AMD Athlon X2 BE-2400 Brisbane 2.3GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core Processor
- Most reviewers recommend getting a quieter fan than the stock fan that comes with it.
- About $99 (June 2008).
or
- AMD Athlon X2 4050e 2.1GHz 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 45W 65nm Dual-Core Processor
- About $68
or
- AMD Athlon 64 LE-1600 2.2GHz 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 45W Single-Core Processor
- Most reviewers recommend getting a quieter fan than the stock fan that comes with it.
- About $35 (June 2008).
See MSI website for details about other processors compatible with MSI motherboards.
See MSI website for CPUs compatible with K9N6SGM-V motherboard listed above.
Cooling Fan or Heat Sink
- Silverstone NT07-AM2 Fan (website)
- For AMD CPU sockets up to 65W power
- Low profile
- Approx. $20 (April 2008).
- (Available in Europe only):
- NORTHQ NQ 3393 Heat sink with fan (website)
- or
- Hiper HFC10820C1(German website)
- Also see this review of the quietest, best cooling fans for your CPU. The best are about $50.
RAM
- DDR2 800Mhz 240-pin (PC2-6400) nonECC 1.8 V -- 1 Gb (used by MSI motherboard above)
- about $27 (May 2008)
Optical (DVD) drive
- Slim slot:
- Make sure your case does not have an integrated DVD optical drive first!
- Approx. $80 (April 2008).
- 5.25" slot:
- LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner
- Approx. $24
It is not strictly necessary for the Core to have a DVD drive if you will not be installing from DVD (and will install from CDs instead). However, it is nice to have.
There is no advantage to a Blu-Ray or other high-end DVD drive in the Core. Furthermore, Blu-Ray drives can be tricky in Linux.
Network Attached Storage
- Netgear ReadyNAS Duo 500 Gb (2-bay)
- Includes single 500 Gb drive
- Expandable to 1 Tb with second 500 Gb drive (not included)
- About $399
or
- Synology DS207+ 2-bay
- Requires additional hard drives, such as Western Digital Caviar 500 Gb for $80/ea.
- about $329 (not including drives)
Sound Card
Also see Category:Audio.
- supported by ALSA Linux drivers
- about $30
or
- Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card
- Has Linux drivers
- Also available in a PCI-Express card
- About $50 or here (May 2008).
or
- Integrated Realtek soundcards
- Realtek drivers are incorporated in the Linux kernel
- Realtek AC'97 audio codecs are also available (2.4 or 2.6) here
- Linux high definition audio codecs for Realtek are available here.
Other soundcards may work. Check this list of sound cards for a complete list of Linux/ALSA compatibility.
Barebones systems (as above) may already have integrated sound.
Troubleshooting Sound
For Kubuntu 7.10, see this tutorial for getting surround sound to work.
TV Tuner Card
- pcHDTV 5500 PCI card
- Analog (ATSC) and digital (DVB) dual TV tuner, designed for Linux
- For US and Canada
- about $129
or
- Hauppauge (see here for the complete list):
- WinTV-HVR-950Q (USB) (ATSC/NTSC/Clear QAM) -- about $99
- WinTV-1800 (PCI) (ATSC/QAM -- analog doesn't work)
- WinTV-HVR-1100 (PCI) (DVB-T)
- WinTV-HVR-1110 (PCI) (DVB-T)
- WinTV-Nova-T-500 (PCI) (Dual DVB-T tuners)
- DEC2000T-USB (USB1.1) (DVB-T)
- DEC3000S-USB (USB1.1) (DVB-S)
- or a list of analog tuners of the
- WinTV-PVR-150 class (PCI) (NTSC/PAL)
or
- DviCO FusionHDTV5 RT GOLD (PCI card) or FusionHDTV5 Express (PCIe card)
- there are some analog tuner sound issues with this card
- (about $100)
Home Automation
- CM11A Controller (X10)
- about $43
- with Decora Wall switch (ok for fluorescent lights -- ivory or white)
- about $33
or
- Insteon PowerLinc Modem, serial
- about $60
- with Decora Wall switch (ok for fluorescent lights -- white only)
- about $45
