Newb to GBPVR about to build

[danjerman]

Hi All,

I'm about to embark on afresh XP install and build my old XP MCE machine into a GPVR box. The machine is going to be a sever for a client or two and also serve an MVP or two. Its going to be run in the living room (hardware is all suitably quiet) without a keyboard and mouse with the TV as the only display.

I'm looking for general pointers on gotchas and what to look out for when using it in this setup as well as a few more specific questions:

1) Seeing as there will be no keyb/mouse, whats the best remote access, vnc / mstsc ? Is there any advantages to one or the other?

2) Ideally i'd still like to be able to use the webcam and have the occasional skype / msn messenger (now live messenger) video conference as its used for my kids to see/speak to their grandparents. Having that fnctionality in the living room still would be brilliant. Has anyone done anything like this? Is there a way of accessing one of these without a keyb/mouse on a GBPVR box?

Setup is :

K9-NGMII-FID with Athlon 3500 +, 1 Gig RAM, 1 x 250 Gig SATA (Seagate7200.8), 1 x 500 Gig SATA (Seagate 7200.9), Antec Fusion case. Considering replacing stock CPU fan for quieter model (advice here would be appreciated too!)

Many Thanks in advance
Danjerman

[danjerman]

...oh, and the capture card is going to be a Nova T 500. I'm in the UK on freeview.

:-)
Danjerman

[herbs]

On the psu look at a 380/430w seasonic. I would still get a wireless keyboard something like the 1st two just incase you need to do some updates or maintenance.

[rowle1jt]

The stock power supply is sufficiently quiet enough. I have that case with the boring front panel.

I use VNC, as it allows the GB-PVR front end to be displayed while I am remoted in, this is handy some times for me. RDP (mstsc) will "log off" the user and then you can't see anything on the screen.

And I agree with Herbs on the keyboard. I still use my wireless mouse/keyboard sometimes.

[danjerman]

It was the CPU FAN/Heatsink I was thinking of replacing as thats not too quiet. Any suggestions for that. What about the thermal gunge required...is that just standard stuff?

The PSU noise does seem to be ok....

Thanks for the VNC advice, i'd forgotten about MSTSC logging things off.

I suppose if I get the keyboard, I can hide that behind the TV and whip it out when I want to do a bit of Skype or MSN messenger (for video calls)....(or use the laptop and vnc to set it up! )

What about during the build/setup..is there anything specific I shall watch for with this kind of setup?

Ta
DM

[bigyoda1281]

I have purchased a small keyboard/trackball combo and i hide it under the sofa when i am not using it.

As far as build problems i can not see any i do the things you are mentioning virtually every day.

[gEd]

It was the CPU FAN/Heatsink I was thinking of replacing as thats not too quiet. Any suggestions for that. What about the thermal gunge required...is that just standard stuff?

this one is cheap, popular and quiet

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduc...subcat=821

this one is expensive, popular and quiet

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduc...subcat=821

this one is good as well
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduc...subcat=821

thermal gunge: well "us" overclockers go with Arctic silver 5. regular gunge will work but is not as good. DO NOT apply too much. Arctic silver have a guide on their website.

make sure power saving option is set to S3 before you install XP. too late to change it afterwards.

I would suggest partitioning the 250GB into 2 drives. a 20GB for windows and the rest for your recordings. you can then use the VA plugin to automatically archive (move) recordings > x days old over to the 500 GB drive. well that;s how I do it. Seems like the best way of making use of all the disk space.

If you plan to use XP MCE, make sure all the tv services are shut down. also spend time shutting down other services that are not required (google)

can;t think of anything else atm

[liteswap]

See my sig for hardware details, but I too VNC in from the work machine or the laptop in front of the GBPVR PC - works pretty well. Just don't try and watch video over VNC!

[systemshark]

I'd also suggest thinking carefully about which remote you are proposing to use with your GBPVR machine, I've currently using the Hauppage Remote in a silverstone case, and have two remotes. The physcial implementation is also important.

Getting the right remote for 'The Wife Factor' is very important also...

[danjerman]

Ok, thanks for the advice chaps. I've commenced the build and here is what has happened so far...

-clean XP install, did mulitple windows updates until no more required. Installed .net1.0, then more updates, 2.0 then more updates and then 3.0!

-Setup machine for performance and did a few basic settings etc

-Inserted Nova T 500 and installed drivers from extracted download (3.3c). Had a few issues starting even Haupauge software so did a complete clear and reinstall of just driver. Looks better now.

-Installed GBPVR and added Nova T bits to BDA.ini and put in config as two different capture devices.

-Did an xmltv download of the UK stuff and commenced the import.....


....then I had to come to work :-( So I don't know if its working.

Did I have to install a BDA driver as opposed to the ones in the drivers directory from the 3.3c downloaded extracted files?

I took a while to figure out the xmltv thing. I guess I have to schedule this and then config GBPVR to wake up and import it a bit later. Can I download 14 days every few days or should I do it daily ...for how long?

What have I missed?

I did have the BIOS set to standby S1 not S3 but i;ve changed it to S3 since install and it seems ok. Hmmmmm.

CPU fan and keyboard ordered.

Ta
DM