Looking to build a media center PC....need some advice. - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

asudevil83 · 07-30-2005, 08:56 PM

i'm going to be moving into a buddy of mine's house early next month. the room that i'm getting isnt the biggest room, and in fact its pretty fucking small. so space is an issue right now i'm looking to buy a PC, and figure that the best way to get what i want and best way to max what i get for the money is to build my own. and a SFF one would be a nice way to save space.

i figure a GREAT way to save some space is to consolidate electronics. so that means building something that'll become my theater, gaming system, and regular PC. and i also figure that i can give myself a little bonus by adding some great features for a small price.

so this is what i've found so far. its pretty much a complete system, so i'm just looking for some recommendations and advice.

CASE - $92?
i had settled on a case that would be perfect for what i wanted to do. the Antec Aria mATX case. its small, slick, and still does exactly what i need. comes with a 300W power supply which is a plus.
Picture

MB - $87?
this is where i'm having issues. i had settled on a motherboard, but i stupidly overlooked one thing. i need a Micro ATX board. DUH....but oh well. i originally was going to purchase an ASUS A8V-E. PCI-E x16 slot, 2 PCI-E x1 slots, and 3 PCI slots. the best feature was the built-in wireless.
INFO

but after that dissappointment i found one that MIGHT work. The MSI RS480M2-IL. PCI-E x16 slot, and 3 PCI slots. as far as features go, i dont know if it competes with the Asus. but its gotten great reviews at Newegg, so i think this should suffice.
INFO

the other option would be to stick with the ASUS and find myself another case. but the MSI would eliminate the immediate need for a Video Card, so that's a plus.

CPU - $190
i'm thinking athlon 64 for this. Athlon's run cooler the P4's, and i just like the design better. so the processor i want is Athlon 63 3200+ Venice. its not too expensive, but still has plenty of power.
INFO

Memory - $84
2 sticks of 512MB Corsair Memory. i'm not a memory buff, so i'm a little iffy on what to do here. i know Corsair is a reputable name, and figure that this should be good enough.

HD - $98
Western Digital 200GB HD. here, i need a good amount of space. if i'm going to be recording television, then space on this HD will be taken up fast. i'm on a bit of a budget, but i figure that 200GB should be plenty for now.

DVD-RW - $45
Lite-on 16x DVR, 6X DVD-RW, 16X ROM.....blah blah. i've heard some good things about Lite-on, and finding a DVD-RW for a decent price is good enough for me.

Video Cards - $89? AND $99
MSI RX600XT-TD128EII. i'm not a HUGE gamer, but i want to be able to play some games sometimes. this is a middle of the road card. cheap, but packs enough punch to play recent games. i'm not TOO concerned here. i could save some money with the MSI board and go the integrated route for now, but i think that i'm going to need a decent Video Card for this next piece of hardware.
INFO

Fusion HDTV 5 Lite - i'd like to be able to watch some high quality tv. my buddy has Cox Digital Cable, and i figure that i'd be nice to watch sports with a NICE signal. $100 extra isnt much to turn my computer into an HDTV reciever.
INFO

OS - $125
Windows XP Media Edition. it does pretty much everything i need. no explaination needed here.

Monitor - $240 after rebates
Fuji Plus FP-988D 19" 12ms LCD. i plan on using a monitor as my television. Fuji makes a pretty nice one, and its not all that expensive. its gotten great reviews on NewEgg.
INFO

so based on all of this i think i can build myself a great little PC for $1200 or so. i just need to figure out what to do about the Motherboard. do i go the ASUS way and find another case? or should i stick with the MSI? and if i do stick with the MSI should i stick with the onboard graphics or pick up the video card? additionally, because the ASUS comes with built-in wireless, i'm saving some money there.

i myself am a little iffy on getting a board with integrated video. i've never upgraded from onboard to off-board video, so i dont know if there would be any issues with it and the HDTV receiver. any help would be great.

Wingless · 07-30-2005, 10:18 PM

I was just reading about this last night. Check out this site for a cool guide to what to purchase.

Hardknock · 07-30-2005, 10:33 PM

I'm trying to turn my box into a PVR as well. I have pretty much everything I need in my box right now except a good video capture card. I'm shopping for one right now. What I want to end up doing is to be able to record live TV onto my PC that sits in the back room of my house using just the TV and remote in the living room and access those files from that same TV by using the remote. I like ATI's all in wonder 2006 card but I'm sure that there are others that will do the job for less, just haven't found any yet. If anybody knows any good reviews on some I'm all ears.

MikeSty · 07-31-2005, 10:35 AM

Try to find the OEM version of the processor that doesn't have the box and all the other crippity-crap that you'll end up throwing out.

- Buy a Hauppauge tuner
- Buy a snapstream FireFly remote

skaven · 07-31-2005, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hardknock

What I want to end up doing is to be able to record live TV onto my PC that sits in the back room of my house using just the TV and remote in the living room and access those files from that same TV by using the remote.

You can build a much cheaper PVR by using MythTV. The cards that it's compatible with are pretty cheap generic capture cards, and the software supports all kinds of cool plugins and will let you put the main server wherever you want. You can even have multiple servers, each recording shows, and you can watch shows off of either server from any client system. Very cool stuff.

Hardknock · 08-01-2005, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skaven

You can build a much cheaper PVR by using MythTV. The cards that it's compatible with are pretty cheap generic capture cards, and the software supports all kinds of cool plugins and will let you put the main server wherever you want. You can even have multiple servers, each recording shows, and you can watch shows off of either server from any client system. Very cool stuff.

Cool. Thanks. I have dish network in my house. Any conflicts?

sailor · 08-01-2005, 05:44 AM

MythTV rocks, I've got it set up in my house. A backend server with all the storage and two tuner cards, and frontends on 2 seperate TVs, soon to be 3. Works like a charm, and holds all our music and photos too. You'll want to be somewhat comfortable with Linux to get it up and running, but it's come a long way in a couple years, and there are some good tutorials and such out there.

Make sure to keep in mind youll need a video card with a TV-out, as well as a tuner card. Also, you want a machine that is above all quiet and cool. SFF is the right idea. That 3200+ processor will definitely be strong enough--in fact, it will be overkill. As long as its about 2ghz or the AMD equivalent, you shouldnt have a problem. If you have a hardware encoder card, you can get away with significantly less than that--probably less than 1ghz.

docbungle · 08-01-2005, 05:47 PM

If you get Media Center Edition, just make sure it's the 2005 version. The older versions are handicapped and lacking multiple functions, such as the ability to add streaming extenders and whatnot.

maul · 08-02-2005, 05:22 AM

If you want SFF then take a look at www.shuttle.com They are a little pricey but a very good option.

asudevil83 · 08-04-2005, 06:13 PM

i think i'm going to scrap the HDTV idea. from what i've read, unless i'm really adament about it, then its not even worth it. and i dont even think that a 19" monitor has the resolution to fully take advantage of the resolution of HDTV.

additionally, i'm going to wait a month or so. AMD just announced that they are cutting prices of their processors, and additionally it looks like the price of video cards is going to drop a good amount over the next month/month and a half. so i figure that i can save a little money with the components i've got chosen, or even upgrade to something different (3500+) maybe.

and as far as shuttle goes, i really am not impressed with the MB's they've got. i'm not a huge fan of their AMD offerings. the ONLY case i'd really concider is the SN25P, and i'm NOT going to spend over $400 for a case, PS, and a meager MB with only one PCI-E x16 slot and only one PCI-E x1 slot. i quickly eliminated them from my list of choices.

tuffrr · 08-05-2005, 02:38 AM

I'd be looking at more than 200gb of HD storage. I have more than this in my xbox and its so easy to fill up. IMO, there is nothing more frustrating than having to cull stuff to put something new on the drive.

asudevil83 · 08-05-2005, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuffrr

I'd be looking at more than 200gb of HD storage. I have more than this in my xbox and its so easy to fill up. IMO, there is nothing more frustrating than having to cull stuff to put something new on the drive.

yeah, i was thinking about maybe a 300GB drive. but i'm still not completely decided.

if anything, i can just add another. i'm really debating here two cases again. either the Aria case or the Aspire Q-Pack. i love the idea of the Aria and its media card readers....but i think the Q-Pack will give me better airflow, and the larger PS should serve me well. either way, i think both cases have room for up to 3 HD's.

ZenFilthPig · 08-09-2005, 03:09 AM

If you go to www.jaycarelectronics.com and do a search for hdtv, they have a PCI card which seems to be in the same price range as the fusion unit. I was just looking at them in a catalog today and wondering if they're any good.

07-30-2005, 08:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
asudevil83 Psycho Location: Scottsdale, AZ	Looking to build a media center PC....need some advice. i'm going to be moving into a buddy of mine's house early next month. the room that i'm getting isnt the biggest room, and in fact its pretty fucking small. so space is an issue right now i'm looking to buy a PC, and figure that the best way to get what i want and best way to max what i get for the money is to build my own. and a SFF one would be a nice way to save space. i figure a GREAT way to save some space is to consolidate electronics. so that means building something that'll become my theater, gaming system, and regular PC. and i also figure that i can give myself a little bonus by adding some great features for a small price. so this is what i've found so far. its pretty much a complete system, so i'm just looking for some recommendations and advice. CASE - $92? i had settled on a case that would be perfect for what i wanted to do. the Antec Aria mATX case. its small, slick, and still does exactly what i need. comes with a 300W power supply which is a plus. Picture MB - $87? this is where i'm having issues. i had settled on a motherboard, but i stupidly overlooked one thing. i need a Micro ATX board. DUH....but oh well. i originally was going to purchase an ASUS A8V-E. PCI-E x16 slot, 2 PCI-E x1 slots, and 3 PCI slots. the best feature was the built-in wireless. INFO but after that dissappointment i found one that MIGHT work. The MSI RS480M2-IL. PCI-E x16 slot, and 3 PCI slots. as far as features go, i dont know if it competes with the Asus. but its gotten great reviews at Newegg, so i think this should suffice. INFO the other option would be to stick with the ASUS and find myself another case. but the MSI would eliminate the immediate need for a Video Card, so that's a plus. CPU - $190 i'm thinking athlon 64 for this. Athlon's run cooler the P4's, and i just like the design better. so the processor i want is Athlon 63 3200+ Venice. its not too expensive, but still has plenty of power. INFO Memory - $84 2 sticks of 512MB Corsair Memory. i'm not a memory buff, so i'm a little iffy on what to do here. i know Corsair is a reputable name, and figure that this should be good enough. HD - $98 Western Digital 200GB HD. here, i need a good amount of space. if i'm going to be recording television, then space on this HD will be taken up fast. i'm on a bit of a budget, but i figure that 200GB should be plenty for now. DVD-RW - $45 Lite-on 16x DVR, 6X DVD-RW, 16X ROM.....blah blah. i've heard some good things about Lite-on, and finding a DVD-RW for a decent price is good enough for me. Video Cards - $89? AND $99 MSI RX600XT-TD128EII. i'm not a HUGE gamer, but i want to be able to play some games sometimes. this is a middle of the road card. cheap, but packs enough punch to play recent games. i'm not TOO concerned here. i could save some money with the MSI board and go the integrated route for now, but i think that i'm going to need a decent Video Card for this next piece of hardware. INFO Fusion HDTV 5 Lite - i'd like to be able to watch some high quality tv. my buddy has Cox Digital Cable, and i figure that i'd be nice to watch sports with a NICE signal. $100 extra isnt much to turn my computer into an HDTV reciever. INFO OS - $125 Windows XP Media Edition. it does pretty much everything i need. no explaination needed here. Monitor - $240 after rebates Fuji Plus FP-988D 19" 12ms LCD. i plan on using a monitor as my television. Fuji makes a pretty nice one, and its not all that expensive. its gotten great reviews on NewEgg. INFO so based on all of this i think i can build myself a great little PC for $1200 or so. i just need to figure out what to do about the Motherboard. do i go the ASUS way and find another case? or should i stick with the MSI? and if i do stick with the MSI should i stick with the onboard graphics or pick up the video card? additionally, because the ASUS comes with built-in wireless, i'm saving some money there. i myself am a little iffy on getting a board with integrated video. i've never upgraded from onboard to off-board video, so i dont know if there would be any issues with it and the HDTV receiver. any help would be great.

07-30-2005, 10:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
Wingless Psycho Location: Metro Detroit, Mich, USA	I was just reading about this last night. Check out this site for a cool guide to what to purchase. __________________ Tommy Nibs is a funny word. So here I am, above palm trees, so straight and tall... You are, smaller getting smaller, but I still see... you. Jimmy Eat World - Goodbye Sky Harbor

07-30-2005, 10:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
Hardknock Republican slayer Location: WA	I'm trying to turn my box into a PVR as well. I have pretty much everything I need in my box right now except a good video capture card. I'm shopping for one right now. What I want to end up doing is to be able to record live TV onto my PC that sits in the back room of my house using just the TV and remote in the living room and access those files from that same TV by using the remote. I like ATI's all in wonder 2006 card but I'm sure that there are others that will do the job for less, just haven't found any yet. If anybody knows any good reviews on some I'm all ears. Last edited by Hardknock; 07-30-2005 at 10:49 PM..

08-01-2005, 05:44 AM	#7 (permalink)
sailor beauty in the breakdown Location: Chapel Hill, NC	MythTV rocks, I've got it set up in my house. A backend server with all the storage and two tuner cards, and frontends on 2 seperate TVs, soon to be 3. Works like a charm, and holds all our music and photos too. You'll want to be somewhat comfortable with Linux to get it up and running, but it's come a long way in a couple years, and there are some good tutorials and such out there. Make sure to keep in mind youll need a video card with a TV-out, as well as a tuner card. Also, you want a machine that is above all quiet and cool. SFF is the right idea. That 3200+ processor will definitely be strong enough--in fact, it will be overkill. As long as its about 2ghz or the AMD equivalent, you shouldnt have a problem. If you have a hardware encoder card, you can get away with significantly less than that--probably less than 1ghz. __________________ "Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws." --Plato

08-01-2005, 05:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
docbungle It's all downhill from here Location: Denver	If you get Media Center Edition, just make sure it's the 2005 version. The older versions are handicapped and lacking multiple functions, such as the ability to add streaming extenders and whatnot. __________________ Bad Luck City

07-31-2005, 10:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
MikeSty The Computer Kid :D Location: 127.0.0.1	Try to find the OEM version of the processor that doesn't have the box and all the other crippity-crap that you'll end up throwing out. - Buy a Hauppauge tuner - Buy a snapstream FireFly remote

08-02-2005, 05:22 AM	#9 (permalink)
maul Upright Location: New jersey	If you want SFF then take a look at www.shuttle.com They are a little pricey but a very good option.

08-04-2005, 06:13 PM	#10 (permalink)
asudevil83 Psycho Location: Scottsdale, AZ	i think i'm going to scrap the HDTV idea. from what i've read, unless i'm really adament about it, then its not even worth it. and i dont even think that a 19" monitor has the resolution to fully take advantage of the resolution of HDTV. additionally, i'm going to wait a month or so. AMD just announced that they are cutting prices of their processors, and additionally it looks like the price of video cards is going to drop a good amount over the next month/month and a half. so i figure that i can save a little money with the components i've got chosen, or even upgrade to something different (3500+) maybe. and as far as shuttle goes, i really am not impressed with the MB's they've got. i'm not a huge fan of their AMD offerings. the ONLY case i'd really concider is the SN25P, and i'm NOT going to spend over $400 for a case, PS, and a meager MB with only one PCI-E x16 slot and only one PCI-E x1 slot. i quickly eliminated them from my list of choices.

08-05-2005, 02:38 AM	#11 (permalink)
tuffrr Registered User Location: On the internet	I'd be looking at more than 200gb of HD storage. I have more than this in my xbox and its so easy to fill up. IMO, there is nothing more frustrating than having to cull stuff to put something new on the drive.

08-09-2005, 03:09 AM	#13 (permalink)
ZenFilthPig Upright Location: Here. No, not there... here.	If you go to www.jaycarelectronics.com and do a search for hdtv, they have a PCI card which seems to be in the same price range as the fusion unit. I was just looking at them in a catalog today and wondering if they're any good.