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Home Theater PC , Build, Please critique.

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coryburgess   02-23-2008 at 06:42:06 AM

Building a Home Theater PC for testing Media Center & Its abilties, I sale & install home theater systems and more and more customers keeping asking about a home theater PC. So its time to test the waters.

This PC would really only have MEDIA CENTER, OS, antivirus, and the software needed to RIP DVD's

Here's my thoughts, let me know what I could improve, or if something is a waste of money. I may change OS to Vista just for the smoother interface... dunno?

Case & PSU - Antec LifeStyle SONATA II Piano Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450W SmartPower 2.0 Power Supply - Retail $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129155

MOBO - GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard - Retail $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128059

CPU - Intel Pentium E2180 Allendale 2.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E2180 - Retail $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819116052

RAM - Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model $40 aftr MIB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820146565

Graphics - EVGA 512-P2-N757-TR GeForce 8600GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail $100 aftr MIB

OS HDD - Western Digital Caviar RE WD1600YS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA-300 Hard Drive - OEM $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136062

MEDIA HDD - Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31000340AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA-300 Hard Drive - OEM $260
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148274

DVD-rw - SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S203N - OEM $34
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827151154

***** (note here, I dont know the dif from IDE and SATA, i think SATA is faster right??)

OS - Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 w/SP2B - OEM $115
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116049

THings that I would probably add later:

BLU-RAY DRIVE, more HDD space - I could imagine this being used for Internet browsing and light gaming as well

What are you thoughts? Is this good, hows the price, is this more than what I need for a HTPC, even if I go Blu Ray??????

Please advise.

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coryburgess   02-23-2008 at 06:43:27 AM
- 0 +

TOTAL $879 after MIB's

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rickpcnerd   02-23-2008 at 07:00:10 AM
- 0 +

You forgot something, TV Tuner. Without tv tuner is not consider HTPC.

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coryburgess   02-23-2008 at 07:31:19 AM
- 0 +

Thats okay, Everyone wants HD DVR's now, so they'll get the Cable Box or Sat box with DVR.

This is more of a DVD server/ media center, for Pics, Music, videos & movies.

any thoughts on the build??

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