Building an HTPC/Emulator machine- got some questions

[fantoboy]

Ok, I'm hoping someone has some experience with this:

Anyone have any knowledge of all the HTPC cases out there? I was looking at cases by Thermaltake and Zalman. Many of these media center cases have a display and remote. But the display uses their software to get the info. I was thinking of using GameEx as my main frontend, which probably doesn't output to these case displays. Can I run the case software in the background and utilize these screens? Or am I just going to have a useless screen? Are any of these case programs like Media Lab any good? I doubt they have all the functionality of something like the frontends discussed on these forums. Anyone have any good htpc case recommendations? I need several internal drive bays as I plan on having at least 3 HDDs.

The other issue is controlling it all. I have a Logitech Harmony and want to be able to navigate the menus as well as power on and off. Any cases out there that come with remotes that will allow this? If so, the Harmony can copy the functions. But will I have to run their software? Or can I buy something like a Microsoft MCE remote to control it all. Has anyone used the Microsoft remotes on regular XP with GameEX?

I plan on using XP running GameEx. I just want videos, music, emulators, and some pc games. Is there any advantage to using Windows XP MCE instead of XP? I have a DVR, so I don't need to do TV on my HTPC. Would MCE run all the games I would want to?

Any help is appreciated!

[KriSX]

Ok, I'm hoping someone has some experience with this:

Anyone have any knowledge of all the HTPC cases out there? I was looking at cases by Thermaltake and Zalman. Many of these media center cases have a display and remote. But the display uses their software to get the info. I was thinking of using GameEx as my main frontend, which probably doesn't output to these case displays. Can I run the case software in the background and utilize these screens? Or am I just going to have a useless screen? Are any of these case programs like Media Lab any good? I doubt they have all the functionality of something like the frontends discussed on these forums. Anyone have any good htpc case recommendations? I need several internal drive bays as I plan on having at least 3 HDDs.

The other issue is controlling it all. I have a Logitech Harmony and want to be able to navigate the menus as well as power on and off. Any cases out there that come with remotes that will allow this? If so, the Harmony can copy the functions. But will I have to run their software? Or can I buy something like a Microsoft MCE remote to control it all. Has anyone used the Microsoft remotes on regular XP with GameEX?

I plan on using XP running GameEx. I just want videos, music, emulators, and some pc games. Is there any advantage to using Windows XP MCE instead of XP? I have a DVR, so I don't need to do TV on my HTPC. Would MCE run all the games I would want to?

Any help is appreciated!

i'm pretty sure the screen in the thermaltake cases are just like a normal screen... meaning you can have it output whatever you want... i could be wrong, but i'm pretty sure i'm not

can't help you with the remotes.. hopefully someone else can...

in terms of any advantage running MCE instead of standard XP... that all depends on if GameEx will do everything you want it to? I am assuming it will so therefore just go with normal XP... unless you already have a copy of MCE... then whatever.

MCE is just XP with Media Center... so yes... everything will run no problems

hope this at least partly helps!

[fantoboy]

cool thanks.

I just found out about LCD smartie, is there a list of cases that it works on?

And can I use the MCE remote with the infrared receivers built in to some cases?

[meepus]

I think that you should be posing these remote questions on a forum dedicated to those remotes. Stick to whether or not they work with GameEx here. To answer that question: they should. So long as their input is mappable in one way or another, things should work just fine.

[Tempest]

I think that you should be posing these remote questions on a forum dedicated to those remotes. Stick to whether or not they work with GameEx here. To answer that question: they should. So long as their input is mappable in one way or another, things should work just fine.

There are a few people here with HTPC's, I'm sure they will be happy to help you when they wake up...it's a Global Community

Suprisingly (at least to me it was), the forums are actually more active during the week. I guess people spend time with their familys on the weekends....

This may be a dead-end, but Headkazes Lcd/led plugin will control some screens check out his thread here:

http://www.gameex.info/forums/index.php?sh...amp;gopid=29820

[fantoboy]

found this good review:

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/multimedi...ach-mozart.html

shows me that I can use the remote and display without their mediaplayer software.

edit:

ok so I decided to go with one of the cases in that review because I like the sound of it, but I can't get one!

Can anyone help me out?

Thermaltake Bach - VB8001BNS or VB8001SNS

or

Thermaltake Mozart VC4001SNS

all I can find are the models without the remote and screen or them for sale in Europe or Australia for twice the price they were offered in the US. If I get a case without the medialab, is the medialab sold separately the same thing? Or is it going to sit behind a window and look different? For those of you who don't know, the case without the remote and screen still have a window and the medialab is sold seperately.

Anyone have any experience with this issue?

[KriSX]

cool thanks.

I just found out about LCD smartie, is there a list of cases that it works on?

And can I use the MCE remote with the infrared receivers built in to some cases?

ah i think i am thinking of a different case... you're talking about a small text LCD screen aren't you? i'm thinking of the cases with like a 5" full colour LCD in them

2 very different things!

[LucasBarton]

ah i think i am thinking of a different case... you're talking about a small text LCD screen aren't you? i'm thinking of the cases with like a 5" full colour LCD in them

2 very different things!

I built an HTPC running GameEx and it works great. Here is the case I used: http://www.nmediapc.com/htpc400a.htm . I think I got it for around 150.00 over a year ago and it works fine. I wish I had gotten the one with the LCD screen though.