Media-center(ish) PC

[thatguyyouknow75]

Hello everyone! In the very near future I'm going to be building another pc that will be used to stream netflix, play movies, and and browse the web on my tv. I'm open to any suggestions for parts or software that I haven't already bought. I don't have much experience with linux, but being as its free, what revision/form of linux do you suggest? I will also fabricate my own aluminum case based on the size of the MoBo and graphics card(with a 90 degree pci riser) in the hopes of possibly using passive cooling for the cpu, and using the graphics card fans as the only intake to cool ram MoBo parts etc. The passive cooling is still just an idea and i am prepared to modify the case if I'm unable to acheive stable temps. For those who are curious the parts i already have are 4gb ov corsair vengeance 1600mhz ram, a sapphire r7 265, an amd fx-4300, and a WD blue 320gb drive. Thank you for any advice/suggestions!

[interneteducated]

The hardware that you currently have is just fine, get a AM3+ MOBO and PSU and you're good to go. Unless you're doing something that is going to really hit the CPU most CPU coolers should thottle down to barely noticeable and you GPU would be making most of the noise. You might be able to turn the clockspeed and voltage down on your CPU if you can afford the performance hit to quiet it down. If you just want a linux flavor that can play videos and store videos on, Xubuntu or Linux Mint are quick and easy options that will work fine. I'v used them and they are easy to install and Mint comes with VLC, which can play most common video formats. Mythbuntu is a real powerhouse media center OS, it has a remote-friendly UI and has DVR features built-in, it does take a bit of time to really configure it properly. For your needs I would go with the first couple of options, whichever interface you like better. Make sure that if you're using a wifi dongle that it is compatible with linux.

[thatguyyouknow75]

The hardware that you currently have is just fine, get a AM3+ MOBO and PSU and you're good to go. If you just want a linux flavor that can play videos and store videos on, Xubuntu or Linux Mint are quick and easy options that will work fine. I'v used them and they are easy to install and Mint comes with VLC, which can play most common video formats. Mythbuntu is a real powerhouse media center OS, it has a remote-friendly UI and has DVR features built-in, it does take a bit of time to really configure it properly.

do you suggest any particular blu-ray/dvd drives? Id prefer something slim as opposed to the 5.25 inch drives in order to make the system more compact. I know that some mATX and mITX cases come with a slim cd/dvd drive but I don't know who manufactures them

[interneteducated]

do you suggest any particular blu-ray/dvd drives? Id prefer something slim as opposed to the 5.25 inch drives in order to make the system more compact. I know that some mATX and mITX cases come with a slim cd/dvd drive but I don't know who manufactures them

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=slim+blu-ray+drive+internal&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aslim+blu-ray+drive+internal

 

Although I really don't think it's worth the extra money over a standard 5.25 bay drive.

[TetraSky]

I personally just use an old laptop as an HTPC... with wireless keyboard and mouse. It's sitting behind the TV, I never shut it down (removed the battery as well, though it was dead anyway), set to sleep after 30 minutes not in use, I switch the source to it whenever I need it...

[thatguyyouknow75]

I personally just use an old laptop as an HTPC... with wireless keyboard and mouse. It's sitting behind the TV, I never shut it down (removed the battery as well, though it was dead anyway), set to sleep after 30 minutes not in use, I switch the source to it whenever I need it...

i use my laptop for schoolwork. I have the extra parts and was either going to build a lan box or media center pc, but seeing as I have no use for a lan box the latter makes more sense. Besides I like the challenge on trying to passively cool a pc with a case i fabricated myself