Plex Hackintosh HTPC Project

[ultraxmode]

Hi guys, this is Greece calling!

I want to build a Hackintosh HTPC with Plex in it. I want you to help me on it please.

My hardware configuration is the following :

Motherboard : Asus P5Q (P45 chipset)
CPU : Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 at 2.8GHz
RAM : 4GB 1066MHz Kingston HyperX
Audio : Built-In (Realtek ALC1200, 8-channel High Definition Audio CODEC
- Support Jack-Detection, Multi-streaming, and Front Panel Jack-Retasking
- Coaxial S/PDIF_out ports at back I/O
- ASUS Noise-Filtering)
HDD : Intel X-25M 40GB SSD (System), 2x2TB Seagate SATA2 drives
Graphics : NVIDIA 8500GT Silent 512MB
CPU Cooler : Scythe Mini Ninja
Case : NZXT Duet Black Midi Tower
HDTV : Philips 42PFL370D/12 42" inches LCD HDTV 1080p READY


Questions :

1. Will I be able to install Snow Leopard 10.6.7 on it?
2. How can I connect audio from my motherboard to my HDTV?
3. Can I later receive 7.1 from my on-board audio after connecting it to a 7.1 sound system?
4. Can I connect the Apple Remote Control to my HTPC?
5. My HTPC does not have HDMI. Can I buy a new Graphics Card with HDMI on it and connect it to my HDTV so video/audio can stream simulteneously? Which GPU do you recommend?


I will surely make a lot of question in the near future so THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

PS : Just to help you out I attached a picture from my back side of my HDTV and my motherboards back panel.

 

[Smithcraft]

If I may ask, why not go with an i3 based system?

SC

 

[ultraxmode]

If I may ask, why not go with an i3 based system?

SC

Cause I already have this hardware...

I wish I could buy an i3 based system. But... Core2Quad will do for me I suppose. Right?

 

[Smithcraft]

I should hope that a Q9550 should be able to do it!

Any way, I was just curious.

SC

 

[Huberer]

Here you can find a thread about a successful installation of SL on an Asus P5Q with the same CPU

http://www.tonymacx86.com/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=20032&hilit=+asus+p5q*

For Audio over HDMI Tony recommends the GPU Zotac Geforce GT 430 Zone Edition (passiv cooled). Others also reported the success of Audio over HDMI on a GT210, GT240 or ATI 5770. Just for Plex I guess a GT210 is quite ok. If you want to be on a good side go with the Zotac GT430.
You can also have a look on this how-to
http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com/2010/10/hdmi-audio-video-solutions.html

 

[ultraxmode]

Here you can find a thread about a successful installation of SL on an Asus P5Q with the same CPU

http://www.tonymacx86.com/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=20032&hilit=+asus+p5q*

For Audio over HDMI Tony recommends the GPU Zotac Geforce GT 430 Zone Edition (passiv cooled). Others also reported the success of Audio over HDMI on a GT210, GT240 or ATI 5770. Just for Plex I guess a GT210 is quite ok. If you want to be on a good side go with the Zotac GT430.
You can also have a look on this how-to
http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com/2010/10/hdmi-audio-video-solutions.html

Wow! Thanks for the quick reply Huberer !

A friend of mine got a GT220 so maybe I will buy his GPU.

The other solution is to buy a DVI-to-HDMI converter and put the HDMI in the HDTV ? If I go this way, will I be able to connect my motherboard's onboard sound to the HDTV ? I cannot understand. See picture of the HDTV's back side.

 

[Smithcraft]

If the adapter doesn't have any way to connect the optical out from the computer, then no, you will not be able to use the HDMI to carry the audio if your video connection is the DVI port.

SC

 

[ultraxmode]

Another question is :

Will I be able to use the Apple Remote Control ? I am gonna need IR, right?

 

[josjev]

For remote, probably the easiest solution is finding an original Apple IR module from a Macbook Pro or so. I got one and connected it to an internal USB-port which enabled wake/sleep using the Apple remote, or even better, my Harmony remote (for which Plex has a special setting).

 

[ultraxmode]

I dont have a MacBook, so I searched a little bit for an original IR Apple module...with no luck.

I read somewhere that a solution to that (in the Hackintosh field) is the "Mira" IrDA Receiver. Does anybody used this in the past? Is it working ok with a Hackintosh 10.6.7 Mac OS X Snow Leopard and an Apple Remote Control (original) ?