Thread: Complete Linux Noob; please review this list for htpc

Hi All,

I am completely new to Linux, but know my way around the Windows environment pretty well. I now have Ubuntu on my main PC and laptop and Xubuntu on kids PC. I've managed to get them all networked together, get my ATI video card to work, and have an X-box set up with XBMC which is streaming from my main PC.

NO MORE MICROSOFT !!! I'm stoked and can't believe I waited this long to take the plunge.

Any way, I am building a HTPC in the very near future and through some searching have come up with the following HW list; let me know what you think please:

ZALMAN HD160 Case $249.99
SiliconDust HDHomeRun TV Tuner Card $179.00
GIGABYTE GA-P35C-DS3R motherboard $156.00
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz cpu $190.00
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 PC2 6400 ram $67.00
ASUS EN8500GT SILENT/HTP/256M GeForce 8500GT 256MB video card $83.00
ZM460-APS power supply $100.00
ADESSO WKB-4000US wireless Keyboard $90.00


Total Price $1,114.99

Dont you think a HDD might come in useful? - With 1TB SATA drives now available you might want to think about giving yourself LOTS of space (This HDTV stuff seriously fills disks!)

You might also want to budget for replacing the CPU fan with a quieter alternative. My Mythbox sounded like it was made by Boeing until I ripped out a few fans and replaced with some near silent gear...