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HP ProLiant MicroServer
- Thread starter iDOL
- Start date
SomeoneEls
Senior Member
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I'm considering getting one of the servers to use as an HTPC (XBMC) and have some questions.
I'm thinking of putting in a Gigabyte GT 210, but the sound output over HDMI will not work for me.
My amp only does HDMI pass-through and my SO is not going to agree to an amp upgrade. I would like to be able to use S/PDIF via coax or optical.
What sound card would you recommend (must support DTS) that will fit in the server together with the gpu?
I'm thinking of putting in a Gigabyte GT 210, but the sound output over HDMI will not work for me.
My amp only does HDMI pass-through and my SO is not going to agree to an amp upgrade. I would like to be able to use S/PDIF via coax or optical.
What sound card would you recommend (must support DTS) that will fit in the server together with the gpu?
It's also just a matter of time before the spammers discover they can edit pages without logins and it will be spammed to death.
I'm also curious to know if someone has done this.
So I copied some stuff from my ubuntu install then basically wiped it with openelec. Installing openelec really is dead easy and quick. Copy to my flash drive took a few seconds, gui claims 20s. Then installing was also basically under a minute. Installer does need work though.
Then they weren't kidding about it being appliancey, basically saw the HP Bios booting stuff (wish I could disable half of that stuff like the PXE boot screen etc) then SYSLINUX and bam, xbmc!
My only gripes are that on the shutdown menu on xbmc exit and shutdown do the same thing, suspend does nothing. Reboot does reboot. Also noticed that ssh'ing and using kill on the xbmc process also shuts down
My main issue is that I used to hibernate with ubuntu and WOL from XBMC remote would work but it never used to work when I shut down. Now there is only shut down so it basically doesn't work. On the Openelec forums they claim that hibernate and shutdown should have no hardware difference, which could be true but there must be some sort of flag in the BIOS or something. I can actually see my HPMS network activity light flash occasionally while it's off so it must be somewhat "awake".
Then they weren't kidding about it being appliancey, basically saw the HP Bios booting stuff (wish I could disable half of that stuff like the PXE boot screen etc) then SYSLINUX and bam, xbmc!
My only gripes are that on the shutdown menu on xbmc exit and shutdown do the same thing, suspend does nothing. Reboot does reboot. Also noticed that ssh'ing and using kill on the xbmc process also shuts down
My main issue is that I used to hibernate with ubuntu and WOL from XBMC remote would work but it never used to work when I shut down. Now there is only shut down so it basically doesn't work. On the Openelec forums they claim that hibernate and shutdown should have no hardware difference, which could be true but there must be some sort of flag in the BIOS or something. I can actually see my HPMS network activity light flash occasionally while it's off so it must be somewhat "awake".The only problem you'll be running into with this setup is finding a soundcard which has optical output already on it without having to have an addon adapter. On top of that, finding one that is low-profile.
I found this one:
http://www.vantecusa.com/en/product/view_detail/456
Which is available in SA and can be sold from a reseller. Myself, postman, etc. Question now is if it would fit or not. It's also not a full PCI-E x16 card.
EDIT: Scratch the Vantec, this is the card you want: Asus Xonar DX - Comes with a converter for an optic cable, and a low-profile bracket.
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SomeoneEls
Senior Member
Don't think anyone has! But I could be wrong! as mentioned above you're gonna find it hard to find a sound card that will fulfill your needs. Perhaps your only option would be to get a non low profile card and modify the bracket.(Try this one http://www.ikonicit.co.za/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=56751) There aren't too many low profile PCI-E sound cards around
Yup I agree, that's why I suggested the login to edit
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Read my post =D
SomeoneEls
Senior Member
I have
the problem with the Asus Xonar DX is it's +-R650 by itself add another R500 for the Graphics card things and the total price for his box starts creeping over R2500, without additional HDDsWhich if he's just going to use this as an HTPC he might be better off getting a AMD e350 with spdif onboard and building a more compact one!
No problem. Only thing i'm worried about is the card fitting in the little machine. Such a long card!
I was fiddling with a similar issue and found that I had to change the setting in OpenElec to "suspend" instead of shutting down. Before my HTPC would shutdown when pressing the power-button on the remote and then could not be restarted from the remote (obviously). After changing it to "suspend", the remote works as expected, suspending the PC and then waking it again
I was fiddling with a similar issue and found that I had to change the setting in OpenElec to "suspend" instead of shutting down. Before my HTPC would shutdown when pressing the power-button on the remote and then could not be restarted from the remote (obviously). After changing it to "suspend", the remote works as expected, suspending the PC and then waking it again
I did try change that setting but it wont go to anything besides shutdown. Presumably related to the suspend button not doing anything.
recre8
Senior Member
I bought a Asus Xonar U3 because my amp also comes from before HDMI. It is a little USB flashdrive-size thing with a 3.5mm combination Optical/minijack output. Plugged it into my amp with a 3.5mm to Toslink cable (the xonar box also includes a 3.5mm to toslink converter if you only have toslink-toslink cable), and set the output in XBMC to directSound Optical in passthrough mode and now everything works fine. The amp switches to whatever mode the audio stream in the content in XBMC is.
On a side note, I also took my Playstation 3 Blu-Ray remote Control, a small bluetooth dongle in the internal USB port of the microserver and now use that with XBMC. Works great! I specifically wanted the Playstation remote, because it has buttons for almost all the functions in XBMC, and the bluetooth is cool because I can control it without line of sight (no unsightly IR receivers protruding from the cabinet).
On a side note, I also took my Playstation 3 Blu-Ray remote Control, a small bluetooth dongle in the internal USB port of the microserver and now use that with XBMC. Works great! I specifically wanted the Playstation remote, because it has buttons for almost all the functions in XBMC, and the bluetooth is cool because I can control it without line of sight (no unsightly IR receivers protruding from the cabinet).
The bluetooth ps3 remote is very cool, i'm currently rendering my ps3 obsolete because of Cinavia. Which bluetooth dongle are you using ?
Also ordered myself a Hp Microserver from Hp for a very sweet deal hope it gets delivered without hiccups as certain members stated in previous post, if all goes well I will have scooped one for R1154.10 including delivery.
Avidly following this thread and kudo's to everyone for setting up the wiki and member contribution towards it, you guys rock!!!!
Just an Update: Sorry I havent updated the wiki like i've said, i'm sorting out some stuff because I'm working through a new process on a new Channel Build for PseudoTV
I'll write it up as soon as I get everything down to a science.
I'll write it up as soon as I get everything down to a science.
rtayob
Senior Member
I know tarsus has them in the tbay sometimes for 999. Will check if they have today and update. We might get lucky and be able to score a few.
Are these guys reliable?