Build a Tri-Monitor, Cable Free, Tv Streaming, Linux Beast

So beastly, it had to be placed inside a network rack. Learn to build a triple monitor, linux running, cable free beast of a computer which runs dead quiet, streams recorded shows from an Xbox, and also raises your children. To drive the three DVI monitors from one PC, I needed two video cards. It made sense to buy two identical ones so I could go SLI if required.

I found the cheapest way to get lots of screen space was with the fantastic Dell 2007fp. Three of these gives me a desktop resolution of 4800×1200, which is plenty to avoid my windows overlapping too much. Via the Xbox, I can watch live TV and recorded TV wirelessly from my HTPC downstairs. To join it all together, I bought a Dell Powerconnect 2716 16-portGigabit managed switch. I have an rj45 cat5e patch panel where all my
devices are terminated.

I thought the 12 by 19″ cabinet was a horrible mistake when it first arrived. It looked roughly washing machine sized, and totally out of place at home. However, it turned out great. You can fit in lots of computers and get around the back of them easily. For the back of the monitors, I used ambilight to illuminate the wall behind the monitors.
My requirements for this project were:

- as much screen real-estate as possible
- as silent as I could possibly make it
- all my music/videos accessible from my laptop and HTPC
- fast enough to play occasional games
- no messy cables.
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