Going to Build a HTPC .. software advice + please

[Nemeses]

Ok never even looked at building one before, so decided to use my old bits I have laying about to build one.

Questions I have:

1) what the best software to use (free stuff ofc)
2) I do not want to have to use a mouse or keyboard, so will it work and boot up without any issues with just a remote?

I have a old 148 Opteron, alongside a 7800GT, with 2 GB of G.Skill PC 4000 ram. It will all go into this Box with a H50 cooler if it will fit.
Will this Kit run a HTPC ok, I will only ever use it to watch movies play music etc, it will never be used to play games.

Any advice and comments appreciated

Cheers

 

[Smit]

For software I would go with perhaps Ubuntu with XBMC (or even just XBMC Live so no need for Ubuntu)

How will you get content to play? Will it be streamed from some NAS?

 

[Nemeses]

For software I would go with perhaps Ubuntu with XBMC (or even just XBMC Live so no need for Ubuntu)

How will you get content to play? Will it be streamed from some NAS?

Erm no it will have a HD with a wireless card will download and then play direct.

 

[Nemeses]

Should have added it will have a Blue Ray player fitted, and can XBMC run without a Operating system, if so would go for that I guess, as you can see I know very little about this.

 

[Smit]

What sort of programs will you use to download these files? This may ultimately force you to use a certain OS unless you are open to changing the software you use to obtain files.

 

[Nemeses]

What sort of programs will you use to download these files? This may ultimately force you to use a certain OS unless you are open to changing the software you use to obtain files.

I don't mind changing the software, all my media files are stored on a 2TB HD in this PC which I stream to the xbox to watch on the TV.

So what I want to do it remove this HD and put it in the HTPC.

I'm not fussed on which software I use, as long as its reasonable easy to get on with

 

[Nemeses]

O and I use uTorrent.

 

[R088ieS86]

Is the 7800GT AGP or PCI-e?
If its PCI-e i'd swap it out with one of the 5450's on sale for a whopping £17.99.
FAR less noise and more output options (HDMI)

 

[fireisdangerous]

I used media browser wich is a plugin for windows media player. It deals with all the film info and images and its free! Remote wise i have a wireless keysonic keyboard if i browse on the tv or for just watching films i use the myremote app on android which is also free,

 

[SGWills]

xbmc live will run without a OS, im sure you would need some sort of OS if you use Utorrent as it would be easier to use a dedicated program for renaming and downloading fanart film info etc

 

[Nemeses]

xbmc live will run without a OS, im sure you would need some sort of OS if you use Utorrent as it would be easier to use a dedicated program for renaming and downloading fanart film info etc

erm such as?

Is the 7800GT AGP or PCI-e?
If its PCI-e i'd swap it out with one of the 5450's on sale for a whopping £17.99.
FAR less noise and more output options (HDMI)

Its a AGP its pretty old, had it a long long time. (opy 148 were pre PCI-e)

I used media browser wich is a plugin for windows media player. It deals with all the film info and images and its free! Remote wise i have a wireless keysonic keyboard
if i browse on the tv or for just watching films i use the myremote app on android which is also free,

Im guessing that you need windows installed to do this, which is not a issue as I have Winfows XP. Vista and a extra copy of Win 7.

xbmc live will run without a OS, im sure you would need some sort of OS if you use Utorrent as it would be easier to use a dedicated program for renaming and downloading fanart film info etc

Are you saying that there is a dedicated program I can use that will not require a OS?