best machine for linux
#1
Hello everyone. I have been using an original xbox with xbmc for a very long time...since it first began. I haven't had access to a high def tv until now. I am getting the latest and greatest 52 inch samsung lcd tv 1080p. Right now my setup is I have all my movies backed up to my computer harddrive and I stream them over the network to my xbox. Since I am getting this great tv, I would like to know what the best way is to get the best video quality out of everything. Some of my movies are blueray backups, while some are just dvdrips or hdrips. I heard that the xbox is unable to handle the streaming of blueray rips therefore I was trying to figure out what the best setup would be for me. I was thinking since the team has ported it to so many OS's (thanks so much for your hard work by the way xbmc is the best program ever developed) I was thinking of building a linux machine. I have never really built a computer before, but I am really good with computers and have disassembled them and added and taken things out and fixed them, so I understand a lot of it. I was just wondering if anyone could give me a couple of links to great linux systems which would give me the best video quality. I was thinking I could get a linux desktop and then load huge TB harddrives in it and just store everything on there and hook that up hdmi to my tv. Anyone have any ideas what I should get?

Also in the meantime, I am using my pimped out xbox (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=...q=xerc+200)

I bought an original microsoft component cable which has an optical audio out. Is this the best way to get the best video out of my xbox? or is it better to hook it up the vga style homemade connectors that people have made?

I appriciate your help. Thanks for looking and thanks for XBMC its amazing.
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#2
There are several threads about the best/cheapest/etc. hardware for a given OS platform. Search around. There's a dedicated hardware discussion forum in the off-topic area. Given the VDPAU acceleration possible now in the Linux version of xbmc, you don't have to spend much (less than $300 probably) on hardware to get excellent 1080p video from xbmc.

As for blu-ray, why do you want to use Linux if you have lots of blu-ray discs? AFAIK, Linux lacks any full-featured blu-ray player, so if you want to be able to play BRD's from your computer, best to have windows to fall back on. Of course, you'll have to spend more for a windows based machine, since 1080p will have to be handled by the CPU and not the graphics card (no VDPAU).

For the best quality from your current xbox, convert your blu-ray rips to 720p XVID at a constant bitrate of around 4000 bps, and keep the original DTS 5.1 audio. See this:
http://forum.xbmc.org/showpost.php?p=322...tcount=119
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#3
yeah I looked in the hardware thread and didn't find what I was looking for. It also would not let me post in there. I don't necessarily need linux I just thought it would be the best way to do it. Windows is fine with me. I am just looking for the best solution for me, more specifically what graphics card do I need and what are the requirements that I need to get the best xbmc experience?
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#4
You can't start a new thread, but you should be able to add to existing threads, like these:
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=51748
and
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=51402
and
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=48014

Three threads that basically ask the same question as you. Read up, then participate.
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#5
sion28 Wrote:You can't start a new thread, but you should be able to add to existing threads, like these:
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=51748
and
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=51402
and
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=48014

Three threads that basically ask the same question as you. Read up, then participate.

thanks a lot for your help. I think I am going to build something similar to this:

- Travla C138 mini-ITX case - (had to replace the psu with a 120W picoPSU)
- Zotac GeForce 9300-ITX WiFi Mini-ITX (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 MOBO
- Pentium Dual-Core E5200 2.50GHz
- Corsair 2GB Kit (2x1GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 XMS2 Memory
- Western Digital 320GB 2.5" Scorpio WD3200BEVT SATA
- Samsung SN-S083A/BEBE Slimline Internal DVDRW Black SATA - OEM
- Cyberlink Media Center Remote Control - With Mini USB IR Receiver

I am going to put in a tb or 1.5 tb harddrive though. Then in the future if my movie collection gets too big I am going to get an esata multiplier and put another harddrive on the system.

should I run xp or vista on it?
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#6
I don't know. Post your question(s) in one of those threads.
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