Hybrid Server Newbie Pack
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Contents |
Intro
A hybrid is a combination of the Core server (the workhorse of your LinuxMCE system) and a Media Director. You should not scrimp on this PC since it acts as a Core. 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/hybrid server. If you have a wired Ethernet LAN, the hybrid should be near your central LAN hub. If you have wired security cameras, hopefully they terminate near the same hub.
(Obviously, you have far more flexibility if you are using only wireless components.)
A hybrid is generally placed in your living room (in an entertainment center, for example). For this reason, it ought to have additional features:
- 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)
Since the hybrid also provides the functions of a Media Director, it needs the additional characteristics of a Media Director as well:
- 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
If your whole-house sound system is wired directly to a central amplifier, the hybrid server PC should be near the amplifier. That way you can output directly from the hybrid to the multi-channel amp.
Also see Category:Media Directors.
Barebones Integrated Systems (no CPU/RAM)
MSI MS-6421-030 (aka Media Live)
- Made specifically as a Media PC, with S-video, HDMI-video, SCART, RCA, 7.1 surround sound, digital video and audio and other outputs already integrated.
- Optimised for low-noise, low power (300 W) operation
- Proprietary CPU Fan Heatsink to Optimize the Acoustic (26 Db at idle mode) and Thermal Control
- Includes Everything but the CPU/RAM (Supports AMD® Socket AM2 Athlon 64 X2 (Dual Core), Athlon 64 and Sempron Processors )
- 4 DIMMs to Support DDRII 800/667/533 Memory (4GB Max.)
- VFD with Integrated IEEE 802.11b/g Wireless LAN, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and Infra-red Receiver
- Includes On-board NVIDIA® GeForce 6150LE video.
- Total of six USB 2.0 ports (4 on rear and two in front)
- Supports SATA 1~4 RAID 0, 1 or JBOD mode
- Gigabit LAN
- 8-channel HD Audio (Realtek ALC883)
- 7-in-1 Card Reader
- Infrared PC remote control included.
- Includes a Slot-load Slim DVD Burner.
- Has only 1 PCI card expansion slot
- REAR I/O Outputs:
- Component video out (RGB) x 3
- Audio RCA out x 8 (8-channel audio support)
- VGA out (D-sub) x 1
- HDMI x 1
- RJ-45 LAN Jack x 1
- USB2.0 x 4
- IEEE 1394 (6 pins) x 1
- AV out (RCA jacks) x 3
- S-Video out x 1
- Digital audio out (Coaxial) x 1
- Digital audio out (Optical) x 1
- Physical chassis size 430(W) x 320(D) x 80(H) mm
- Buyer feedback on newegg indicate the unit runs very hot and has poor cooling. Some users have improved or added items to make it run cooler. (Fans, larger heatsinks)
- About US$369 (Dec 2008). Rebate of $100 until 12/31/2008 thru MSI
- Newegg says this product is no longer available. (July 2009)
- Comes with MSI motherboard.
- Everything but the CPU/RAM
- Optimised for low-noise, low power (200 W) operation
- Made specifically as a Media PC, with S-video, 7.1 surround sound, and multiple other outputs already integrated.
- Includes an nVidia integrated video card
- Has Firewire, integrated IR, RF Remote control, multiple USB ports. Built-in WiFi.
- Does not include a DVD optical drive -- Pioneer (Bulk) DVR-K06 Slim Slot-In or SonyNEC AD7630A or Panasonic CW-8124-B recommended.
- A3 model comes with HDMI output port and ATI graphics card.
- Approx. US$300 (April 2008).
- Newegg says this product is no longer available. (July 2009)
- Shuttle Shuttle FN68PT motherboard 533/667/800 SDRAM unbuffered memory
- Integrated nVidia GeForce 7050 / nForce 630a with PureVideo for HDMI
- 7.1 Surround sound output (Realtek), HDMI video output, D-sub (VGA) port
- Firewire, WiFi, USB, Bluetooth, fingerprint-recognition ports (no Infrared)
- 1 PCI and 1 PCI-e16 slot
- Some users have recommended using 667 MHz memory instead of 800 MHz memory for this system
- Approx. US$340
- Newegg says this product is no longer available. (July 2009)
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
- ABIT AN-M2HD (LE) AM2+/AM2 GeForce7050PV/ nForce630a HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
- DDR2 800
- Includes 2 PCI, 1 PCI-e and 1 PCI-16 slots
- 6 audio ports (for 7.1 surround sound), HDMI port, D-sub video port, S/PDIF optical and coax ports, Firewire, USB
- GeForce 7050PV/ nForce630a integrated graphics
- 8 Gb max memory (4 x 240 pin memory slots)
- About $85 (July 2008)
- Newegg says this product is no longer available. (July 2009)
or
- MSI K9N2GM-FD AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 8200 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
- DDR2 240 pin 8 Gb Max memory
- 2 PCI, 1 PCI-e, i PCI-e(16) slots
- D-sub and DVI video outputs (FIH model has HDMI connector)
- 5.1 surround sound audio output from Realtek ALC888 card
- About $75
NOTE: MSI K9N2GM-FIH: LMCE 0710 Install issues has been reported with this motherboard. For HDMI please choose ABIT AN-M2HD if possible. For more info see [http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=6257.0 //johanr
or (for non-HDMI uses)
- MSI K9N6SGM-V V2 Motherboard (aka MS-7309-070)
- VGA video output only (will need an external VGA to S-video adapter).
About US$48
- Newegg says this product is no longer available. (July 2009)
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
Pioneer (Bulk) DVR-K06 Slim Slot-In
- Make sure your case does have an integrated DVD optical drive first!
- About $80 (April 2008).
Remote
Also see the Input Category
- About US$150
or
- About US$37
or
- Gyration Go 2.4 air mouse 100 ft. range Pro version
- About US$140
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
- Hauppauge (see here for the complete list):
- [1] Hauppauge PVR 150 - Single Input
- [2] Hauppauge PVR 500 - Dual Inputs
- [http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Hauppauge_WinTV-PVR-USB2' Hauppauge PVR USB - Single Input
- 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)
- DviCO FusionHDTV5 RT GOLD (PCI card) or FusionHDTV5 Express (PCIe card)
- there are some analog tuner sound issues with this card
- (about $100)
