2017-08-01, 13:36
Hi all, first post here.
Soo.. guess I'll start off with a little background, then move on to all the parts I am using in this new build, then I will move on to questions I have about configuration.
My current HTPC is an outdated eMachines EL1352G I traded my mom for when I built her a new one. I give her a discount on the price for letting me have her old machine. Upgraded the old Sempron chip to an Athlon II x4 650, SSD, 8 gigs of ram, and an nVidia 730GT video card. Not super fast, but fast enough for use as an HTPC on the 50" TV in the basement. Back then when I upgraded it, I was using Windows 7 on it, with Windows Media Center and an MCE remote. I also use an HD Homerun CableCard tuner. Took the free upgrade to Windows 10, and of course, you know the rest.. Well anyways, I've been getting by using a Logitech k400+ keyboard and the HD Homerun app for TV, but I of course, use other media sources like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Pandora, Sirius XM, and I also have an RTL-SDR.
I dabbled a bit with Kodi, figured out how to install plugins and what have you from the repository to test this and that, and it seems that Kodi is looking like THE program I want for what I have in mind. But, I don't want to configure it on that outdated eMachine, though it's been a good machine and still runs like a champ. I'll probably take it and use it as a cloud server on my network after I build the new HTPC.
I just ordered the parts last night which consist of
I plan on reusing the old SSD, DVD-Rom, & k400+ keyboard
I figure that should make a nice well rounded HTPC setup that will see the family through several years, and should be able to run most all emulators just fine as well for some fun gaming.. none of us are really into the more modern games except my son, and he games on his machine with the 1080GTX.
So my plan is to install Windows 10 on the new machine. I thought of installing Linux, but then, I'm the only one who has ever used it, the wife and kids would just get confused. But then I'm not sure, by doing some research here and there, if Windows is gonna do what I need. From what I could tell, some of the packages I think I would want for Kodi only work in Linux. I guess I have no problem with that if Kodi can be ran as a shell. Apps/services I want to integrate are:
HD Homerun
Netflix
Pandora
Winamp
LibreOffice
Emulators like Dolphin, ZSNES, Nestopia, MAME, etc
Sirius XM
RTL-SDR FM tuner
But here's the thing... I want to be able to control all/most of the functions using the Ortek VRC-1000. So I guess I am wondering are all, or most of these apps possible using Kodi, can I run it as a shell app? And how do I reprogram the remote to respond to button presses for various functions? Assign Apps to the different colors on the remote, things like that. I'm sure the answers are already here, just haven't been able to hunt down specifics that I need. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.
Soo.. guess I'll start off with a little background, then move on to all the parts I am using in this new build, then I will move on to questions I have about configuration.
My current HTPC is an outdated eMachines EL1352G I traded my mom for when I built her a new one. I give her a discount on the price for letting me have her old machine. Upgraded the old Sempron chip to an Athlon II x4 650, SSD, 8 gigs of ram, and an nVidia 730GT video card. Not super fast, but fast enough for use as an HTPC on the 50" TV in the basement. Back then when I upgraded it, I was using Windows 7 on it, with Windows Media Center and an MCE remote. I also use an HD Homerun CableCard tuner. Took the free upgrade to Windows 10, and of course, you know the rest.. Well anyways, I've been getting by using a Logitech k400+ keyboard and the HD Homerun app for TV, but I of course, use other media sources like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Pandora, Sirius XM, and I also have an RTL-SDR.
I dabbled a bit with Kodi, figured out how to install plugins and what have you from the repository to test this and that, and it seems that Kodi is looking like THE program I want for what I have in mind. But, I don't want to configure it on that outdated eMachine, though it's been a good machine and still runs like a champ. I'll probably take it and use it as a cloud server on my network after I build the new HTPC.
I just ordered the parts last night which consist of
Quote:nMediaPC 1800B HTPC Case
Ortek VRC-1000 MCE remote control
Inteset USB Internal Infrared Media Center Receiver (to be installed into nMediaPC case)
GIGABYTE GA-F2A88XN-WIFI motherboard
AMD A10-7860K CPU
8 GIGS OF Mushkin Enhanced Stealth ram
Noctua NH-L9a 92mm SSO2 CPU Cooler
FSP220-60LE Power Supply
SYBA SY-CAB65008 Extender cable
I plan on reusing the old SSD, DVD-Rom, & k400+ keyboard
I figure that should make a nice well rounded HTPC setup that will see the family through several years, and should be able to run most all emulators just fine as well for some fun gaming.. none of us are really into the more modern games except my son, and he games on his machine with the 1080GTX.
So my plan is to install Windows 10 on the new machine. I thought of installing Linux, but then, I'm the only one who has ever used it, the wife and kids would just get confused. But then I'm not sure, by doing some research here and there, if Windows is gonna do what I need. From what I could tell, some of the packages I think I would want for Kodi only work in Linux. I guess I have no problem with that if Kodi can be ran as a shell. Apps/services I want to integrate are:
HD Homerun
Netflix
Pandora
Winamp
LibreOffice
Emulators like Dolphin, ZSNES, Nestopia, MAME, etc
Sirius XM
RTL-SDR FM tuner
But here's the thing... I want to be able to control all/most of the functions using the Ortek VRC-1000. So I guess I am wondering are all, or most of these apps possible using Kodi, can I run it as a shell app? And how do I reprogram the remote to respond to button presses for various functions? Assign Apps to the different colors on the remote, things like that. I'm sure the answers are already here, just haven't been able to hunt down specifics that I need. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.