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diff --git a/content/posts/2007-11-14-htpc-mayhem.html b/content/posts/2007-11-14-htpc-mayhem.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..06e7000 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/posts/2007-11-14-htpc-mayhem.html @@ -0,0 +1,142 @@ +--- +date: "2007-11-14T03:33:06Z" +title: HTPC Mayhem! +--- + +<img src='http://pablotron.org/gallery/misc/antec_fusion-thumb.jpg' + width='200' height='105' align='right'/> + +<p>I've been planning to build an HTPC for quite a while now, and I'm +finally doing it. I got an <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129030">Antec Fusion Black</a> case for my +birthday, and I went out and bought the rest of the parts yesterday +evening. Here's the hardware I'm using:</p> + +<ul> +<li>Case: <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129030">Antec Fusion Black</a></li> +<li>CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ </li> +<li>Motherboard: Asus M2A-VM HDMI</li> +</ul> + +<p>The other pieces were all spare parts and aren't particularly +interesting. This post is about the Antec Fusion Black. Let's start +with the pros:</p> + +<ul> +<li>Built-in case fans are extremely quiet.</li> +<li>Enough room for a standard ATX power supply.</li> +<li>Same width and style as standard home theater gear.</li> +<li>Front-mounted USB, Firewire, and HD audio ports.</li> +<li>Built-in IR port.</li> +<li>Built-in programmable LCD.</li> +<li>Several in-case cable ties to keep things properly routed and +organized.</li> +</ul> + +<p>And the cons:</p> + +<ul> +<li>Three-compartment design makes running anything other than power and +SATA cables a bit of a hassle. It took a bit of magic to thread a +standard EIDE cable from the motherboard compartment to the DVD/LCD +compartment, for example. </li> +<li>The IR receiver is for MCE-compatible remotes only; it doesn't work +with standard universal remotes, so don't even bother.</li> +<li>Linux support sucks. I believe you can get everything working, but +doing so requires a bit of effort. See below for more information.</li> +<li>The included manual is horribly out of date and contains errors and +omissions. Your best bet is to use the manual as toilet paper and +download the PDF from <a href="http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=15739#">Antec's product page</a>, although that +manual is still dated. Both versions claim that the motherboard has a +3-pin power supply fan signal connector cable, and no such cable +exists in my case. There is also a mysterious two-pin purple and +black cable labeled "M/B PWR" that is not documented in either manual +(<a href="http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=878407&page=2">this thread on AVS Forums</a> explains what it's for).</li> +<li>Non-standard power connection for the LCD and IR receiver. This only +matters if you need to replace the power supply; see below.</li> +</ul> + +<p>Fortunately I've already decided to buy a Harmony remote, so the MCE +remote requirement is a minor inconvenience and an excuse to go buy a +new gadget.</p> + +<p>The most irritating problem so far is that the power supply fan is +extremely loud. I think my PSU is probably defective, because it +doesn't make any sense to design a sound-isolating case with extremely +quiet case fans and then put a power supply that sounds like an air raid +in there. Alternatively, the noise might be related to the non-existent +3-pin power supply fan signal connector cable mentioned above.</p> + +<p>Anyway, I don't really want to send the case back, so I ran to +Microcenter and picked up a new silent power supply. That's when I +noticed the non-standard cable that powers the LCD/IR receiver, and the +following blurb tucked away in the manual:</p> + +<blockquote> + <p>Note: If you choose to swap the included power supply with another + power supply, please call Antec Customer Service to purchase a special + 24-pin Extender with the 3-pin connector to power the display.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>I've already ordered the adaptor from Antec's web site; I figure even if +I figure out how to quiet the existing power supply it's worth having so +I don't end up without the LCD and IR port if the power supply failure +in the future.</p> + +<p>Next up, Antec Fusion Linux support. The LCD is not officially +supported in Linux by Antec. The good news is that the LCD in the +Fusion V2/Black is better than the VFD display included in the original +V1 Antec Fusion case. Unfortunately it is much harder to find +documentation on the newer display. The newer display also requires a +couple of patches and some config file twiddling.</p> + +<p>Here's what you need to do, as of today:</p> + +<ul> +<li>Install <em>patched</em> versions of <a href="http://lirc.org">LIRC 0.8.2</a> and +<a href="http://lcdproc.org/">LCDproc 0.5.2</a>. You can get the patches from +<a href="http://codeka.com/blogs/index.php?cat=30">here</a>.</li> +<li>Follow the instructions exactly for patching and compiling LIRC +and LCDproc. </li> +<li>When you recompile LIRC, select <em>"Soundgraph iMON MultiMedian IR/VFD"</em>, +not "Soundgraph iMON PAD IR/VFD". </li> +<li><p>After you patch LCDproc, you need to do the following or LCDproc won't +pick up the changes from the patch:</p> + +<p><code><pre> + aclocal && automake && autoconf + ./configure --enable-drivers=imonlcd +</pre></code></p></li> +<li><p>Compile and install both LIRC and LCDproc.</p></li> +<li><p>Find the <code>[server]</code> section in <code>/etc/LCDd.conf</code> and add the following +lines:</p> + +<p><code><pre> + Driver=imonlcd + DriverPath=/usr/local/lib/lcdproc/ +</pre></code></p></li> +<li><p>Add this section to <code>/etc/LCDd.conf</code>:</p> + +<p><code><pre> + [imonlcd] + Device=/dev/lcd0 + Contrast=300 + # do NOT set the Size, if you do it won't work + #Size=16x2 +</pre></code></p></li> +<li><p>Make sure the LIRC modules are loaded: </p> + +<p><code><pre> + modprobe lirc_dev && modprobe lirc_imon +</pre></code></p></li> +<li><p>Start up <code>lircd</code> and <code>LCDd</code>, and things should be working.</p></li> +</ul> + +<p>If you're using <code>2.6.23.1</code> or newer the patches above will not work; +you'll need <a href="http://codeka.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=14&sid=dfba9b5872d57bbe1602ed1c8b229afb">these updated patches against the CVS version of LIRC</a>. +You'll still need to follow all the steps above, even with the updated +patches.</p> + +<p>That's all for tonight. It looks like configuring the motherboard in +will be a battle too; I'll have more details as events warrant.</p> + + |