My Steam/XBMC HTPC laptop build

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I wanted to show the tek on the big screen for me and my family and the raspberry pi didn't last (the sd card died). So I wanted XBMC(Kodi) on a more stable and capable machine. The Asus N50VN we had lying around also ran Steam in home streaming really well. I had a goal to make it usable without using the keyboard.

 

Here is the build process

 

Hardware:

  • Asus n50vn

  • Android phone

  • Microsoft wireless usb reciever

  • 1+ controllers

  • HDMI cable

  • Wired Ethernet

  • TV

 

Software

 

Installation Process

  1. install linux mint
  2. install nvidia proprietary drivers
  3. plug in hdmi
  4. set TV as only monitor
  5. disable suspend
  6. install the xpad package from the steam os ports
  7. install xbmc
  8. install steam
  9. set steam to start in big picture mode
  10. update
  11. download script
  12. set script to run at startup
  13. fix ip address
  14. record mac address from ifconfig (I used the wired port)
  15. enable web access on xbmc
  16. set mac address and ip address on the PC autowaker app
  17. set ip and port on yatse
  18. reboot

 

How I use this system:

I boot it with PcAutoWaker. It boots to xbmc and I control that with yatse from the couch. Then when I want to game I close XBMC and the script launches Steam in big picture mode. From there I stream magicka and XCOM. Youtube and games reasonably easily without a keyboard or mouse. If I need to use firefox for vimeo or change settings I close steam big picture and that gets out of the infinite loop.

 

Has anyone else done something similar?

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I'm not sure I'd go with Mint 14 since Mint 17 is the latest LTS version. Personally, I'd probably opt to use LUbuntu if Microsoft Windows 7 wasn't an option. A less resource hungry OS and desktop GUI would seem to be the marching orders if this is going to be a dedicated HTPC. So you may want to re-think the OS portion. (Yes, I know Windows can be the biggest pig in the world when it comes to "resources." But Windows does seem to get it right a lot more often than Linux does -- and Windows doesn't exactly rely on ancient "X" windowing technology either.)

I think I'd also go with some MythTV too -- especially if you have a TV card and want to record (DVR) any shows. However, the one -- and only one -- reason you may want to go with Microsoft Windows would be to use it's Windows Media Center and it's dead simple set up.

Otherwise, I think just about anything would work -- including an actual Android device (not as a remote control either). HTPC's don't need a lot of horsepower. About all a HTPC needs is good video and audio and nowhere near the same quality that a gamer might need either. In fact, you could probably do exactly all you said you wanted with a much cheaper Raspberry Pi! Though there might be one problem with a Pi -- purchasing about 8-bucks worth of codecs.

 

3

That sounds like a really great use from some spare hardware. I've actually just turned an old intel oem desktop into a xbmc box with open elec. For what your doing I would stick with a light weight distro in the background so the previously mentioned lubuntu is a great suggestion. if your mostly not using the de then theres no point in taking up ram with a bigger one. Good luck, sounds like a realy interesting project