Help me Build my XBMC box

Hi

I am very excited about the XBMC, seems that it has all the features anyone would need in a media center. I would like to build a new ION box to run XBMC in my living room and would apprecaite some advice.

I am thinking about getting the
- Zotac IONITX-A-U Atom N330 Dual Core 90-Watt PSU WiFi ITX Intel Motherboard

1. Is it a good board? Do you recommend something else for XBMC?
2. What memory should I get 2GB or 4GB for performance?
3. Do you recommend a case, would like to have something nice for the room?
4. What OS should I run on this board, linux Ubunto or win 7? I hear ION is better supported on linux
5. Any remote control suggestion

Sorry so many questions but I do not want to spend the money and regret it afterwards

Thanks a lot

1. Zotac is good, if you're new I would also recommend the Asrock ION 300 or the Acer AspireRevo, both are prebuild and excellent to use with full 1080p playback.
2. The Zotac and other ION platform boards use the integrated gpu to play the movies. Extra RAM will only help the GUI to be more smooth afaik. I have a Asrock ION 330 and it runs PM3.HD and Aeon fine.
3. See 1.
4. Linux Ubuntu, preferably the MinimalCD. For easy installation of xbmc on linux see http://www.xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=57764
5. The original Xbox DVD Remote with a xbox to usb converter works very well. It's dirt cheap and xbmc development has always supported it out of the box.

Thanks alot for your detailed reply. Its really helpful, I am very comfortable building PCs but I am new to the ION system and wasnt sure which hardware to run with it.

I have looked at the other options you mentioned and was so close to getting the Acer Revo as I liked its form factor but I cant get over the fact that with the same price or even cheaper I can get the dual core Zotac with 4GB Ram and bigger HDD.

I also wanted to run Windows 7 but seems everyone is saying it doesnt fully support the ION yet and that I should stick to the Ubuntu which still has its flaws supporting YouTube and other applications

I now have to look for a nice case that can support the Zotac

I found this one but people complain that it's small and hard to install everything into it. I will keep looking though
Apex ATX case

Also would this remote work with XBMC?
XBOX Universal Media Remote


Thanks

See here for my build ( one year ago ) using the same case ...

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=43405 ..

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Asus-AT3N...-s-ITX-VGA £104.63

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Aplus-CS-...SB-80W-PSU £58.64

2x http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/1GB-Micro...ered-CAS-5 £22.53

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/160-GB-We...ache-12-ms £33.20

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/LiteOn-18...-Bare-SATA £12.98

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Compro-Vi...ontrol-Kit £13.69


£246 -- still more expensive (and higher profile) than the revo, which is actually incredible value, but this is dual core (helps with the XBMC UI a bit) and has a DVD-ROM in case you require the noisy silver things. Also aluminium so may look a bit better.

flxfxp Wrote:5. The original Xbox DVD Remote with a xbox to usb converter works very well. It's dirt cheap and xbmc development has always supported it out of the box.

For the life of me, I can't find this converter anywhere. Do you know any, preferably european sites, that sells it?

motd2k

Thanks, thats a great system you have there. I didnt know that Asus has ION MB, I will look into that, I think I would prefer Asus over Zotac.

how is the Apex case? I hear people complaining about the space inside, can you fit a fan in there as I heard that the dual board needs a fan to keep it cool

Thanks

Akronica, not to crash your thread but I too am interested in building or purchasing an HTPC myself.

I am leaning towards an ATOM 330 based machine like the Asus EeeBox PC EB1012. I love the small form factor. I prefer the look of the Lenovo IdeaCentre Q110 but from what I read an ATOM 330 is the sweet spot.

My biggest concern though about the ION machines is how they handle HD videos. If the video is encoded with 5.1 Profile, will it play on the ION machine. That was a problem for me with my PS3. It couldn't play any videos higher that 4.1. Can any one confirm this for me?

Not at all egas

Asus EeeBox PC EB1012 -
Lenovo IdeaCentre Q110

They both look like very nice options, I like their compact and cool designs. I would be interested to know the answer myself as I am new to this whole ION/ATOM thing

Here is a link in favor of the EeeBox claiming its support for 5.1
Asus EeeBox

Anything with blue LEDs I can immediately rule out. Blue LED plus darkened room is disaster.

Sorry Lenovo!