media center pc

hey guys so i want to build a media center pc. my budget is $300 or less. so far this is wat i have. i already have a a dvd rom
so all i need is a tv tuner and a wireless card thats low profile since my case i believe will limit me to it. so any suggestions? i need one from newegg. is the build okay for a media pc?
THANKS.

Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price
1 Intel Celeron E1200 1.6GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E1200
$49.99

1 ZOTAC N73PV-Supreme LGA 775 NVIDIA GeForce 7100 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate
$52.99

1 Kingston 512MB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory Model KVR800D2N5/512

-$16.00 Instant
$28.99
$12.99

1 hec Black 0.7mm Thickness SECC Steel 7KJ9 Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case (built in psu 270watt)
-$10.00 Instant
$69.99
$59.99

1 EXCELSTOR Jupiter Series ESJ9250S 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

$49.99
Grand Total: $225.95

Message edited by invisik on 07-02-2008 at 05:31:28 PM

------------------------------ intel core 2 quad q6600 @3.2ghz msi p6n diamond (X-FI Extreme sound) 6gig of OCZ+CoRSAIR oc 900mhz Nvidia gtx 260 sli @ 730/1465/1250
Lite-On Blue-ray Western Digital 7200rpm 500gb Antec 500 Earthwatt Window vista 64-bit

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anyone?

------------------------------ intel core 2 quad q6600 @3.2ghz msi p6n diamond (X-FI Extreme sound) 6gig of OCZ+CoRSAIR oc 900mhz Nvidia gtx 260 sli @ 730/1465/1250
Lite-On Blue-ray Western Digital 7200rpm 500gb Antec 500 Earthwatt Window vista 64-bit
Reply to invisik

IT will suck without atleast 1g of ram. Make sure to get a mobo that can do a mild OC.

Reply to roadrunner197069

even tho im gonna use linux on it?

Message edited by invisik on 07-02-2008 at 08:00:44 PM

------------------------------ intel core 2 quad q6600 @3.2ghz msi p6n diamond (X-FI Extreme sound) 6gig of OCZ+CoRSAIR oc 900mhz Nvidia gtx 260 sli @ 730/1465/1250
Lite-On Blue-ray Western Digital 7200rpm 500gb Antec 500 Earthwatt Window vista 64-bit
Reply to invisik

Then it will suck even worse.

Reply to roadrunner197069

If I was going to build the cheapest media pc, this is what I would build (which is under $300, also). I picked these components because they would allow for an upgrade to a blu-ray player with no additional upgrades, aside from the player itself... which you can get on newegg for $130 (PS3 eat your heart out):

Motherboard: BIOSTAR TForce TF720 A2+ AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA nForce 720a ATX AMD Motherboard
$79.99

Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Brisbane 2.2GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor - OEM
$47.99

There are also a host of single core, AM2 procs that cost as little as $30, which would probably work fine, as well.

Case: Athenatech Black SECC Steel A3712BB.450 ATX Media Center / HTPC Case - Retail
$64.99

RAM: Kingston HyperX 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory Model KHX6400D2LL/1G
$27.99

HDD: what you selected looks great!
$49.99

For a grand total of: $270.95

Blu-ray player (optional): LITE-ON Black SATA Blu-ray DVD-ROM Drive Model DH-4O1S-11 - OEM
$129.99

Message edited by hurbt on 07-02-2008 at 08:56:17 PM

Reply to hurbt

Wait for the G45 boards to come out.
They should be out this month.

The only thing you picked out that wasent sub-standard was the RAM and that was not enough.

Message edited by knotknut on 07-02-2008 at 09:00:19 PM

Reply to knotknut

780G mATX Mb $66.99 after MIR
X2 4600+ $56.99
1Gb DDR2 800 $20.99

The 780G has better integrated video which can fully decode HD video streams. Very important in a media PC. The 4600+ is way more powerful than the E1200 you selected and you really need at least 1Gb RAM.

As for low profile tv tuners...
The cheapist I could find was a Hauppauge WINTV-PVR 150MCE-LP for $69.99. Good brand but a little pricey. You can get a USB tv tuner for $14.99 after MIR but you will probably get what you pay for.

That is all.

------------------------------ If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce today would cost $100, get a million miles to the gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside.
PSA
Reply to outlw6669

the g45 how much better would that be and do u no how much its going to cost?

------------------------------ intel core 2 quad q6600 @3.2ghz msi p6n diamond (X-FI Extreme sound) 6gig of OCZ+CoRSAIR oc 900mhz Nvidia gtx 260 sli @ 730/1465/1250
Lite-On Blue-ray Western Digital 7200rpm 500gb Antec 500 Earthwatt Window vista 64-bit
Reply to invisik

I like the avermedia combo PCIe, usually around $80. Low profile even. With tuners you REALLY get what you pay for. I agree with the 780g/x2/1gb ram. 2GB if you can spare it. Your choices will stutter under anything more than 720p. Use froogle to find the items at ewiz. They have a 500GB hitachi for $67 that I buy twice a month. They won't have the tuner, I don't think, so newegg might be better there.

Reply to nvalhalla

Worlds better than the 7100, but the reviews aren't in as to its comparison to 780g.

Message edited by nvalhalla on 07-02-2008 at 09:44:24 PM

Reply to nvalhalla

hey guys so this is wat i have so far. i might wait for the new g45 to come out. any more opinions?

Product Description Savings Total Price
1 Intel Celeron E1200 1.6GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E1200

$49.99
1 ZOTAC N73PV-Supreme LGA 775 NVIDIA GeForce 7100 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

$10.00 Mail-in Rebate
$52.99
1 hec Black 0.7mm Thickness SECC Steel 7KJ9 Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case

-$10.00 Instant
$69.99
$59.99
1 EXCELSTOR Jupiter Series ESJ9250S 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

$49.99
1 BTC 9116URF BLACK Black USB RF Wireless Mini Wireless Internet Keyboard With Dual Mode Joystick Mouse Mouse Included

BTC Black RF Wireless Wireless Internet Keyboard With Dual Mode Joystick Mouse

$24.99
1 GIGABYTE GN-WP01GS PCI Wireless Adapter

$17.99
1 mushkin 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory Model 991527

mushkin 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory

$7.50 Mail-in Rebate
$22.99
1 LITE-ON Black SATA Blu-ray DVD-ROM Drive Model DH-4O1S-11

$129.99
1 KWORLD ATSC 340U Dongle HDTV USB Stick ATSC/ClearQAM AC3 Output

KWORLD ATSC 340U Dongle HDTV USB Stick ATSC/ClearQAM AC3 Output
Item #:N82E16815260013

-$15.00 Instant
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate
$49.99
$34.99
Grand Total: $443.91 - 37.50 rebate

Message edited by invisik on 07-02-2008 at 09:45:25 PM

------------------------------ intel core 2 quad q6600 @3.2ghz msi p6n diamond (X-FI Extreme sound) 6gig of OCZ+CoRSAIR oc 900mhz Nvidia gtx 260 sli @ 730/1465/1250
Lite-On Blue-ray Western Digital 7200rpm 500gb Antec 500 Earthwatt Window vista 64-bit
Reply to invisik

Dont bother with the bluray if you want that mb, it wont cut it.

Reply to nvalhalla

Just what I posted earlier.
Nvidia chipsets are junky.
You would do much better getting the AMD setup.
Better decoding support and faster proc.

------------------------------ If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce today would cost $100, get a million miles to the gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside.
PSA
Reply to outlw6669

Here, I did the leg work.

780g MB $67
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=M [...] f959f499d6

X2 3800 $40 (you'll need a cooler, should be less than $10)
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=A [...] f959f499d6

2GB DDR2-800 $41
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=T [...] f959f499d6

Message edited by nvalhalla on 07-02-2008 at 10:00:16 PM

Reply to nvalhalla

Outlw6669's links at newegg are good prices too.

Reply to nvalhalla

k ill go with the 780g and the amd x2 3800.
thanks guys ill order this when i get back from vacation.
=]

------------------------------ intel core 2 quad q6600 @3.2ghz msi p6n diamond (X-FI Extreme sound) 6gig of OCZ+CoRSAIR oc 900mhz Nvidia gtx 260 sli @ 730/1465/1250
Lite-On Blue-ray Western Digital 7200rpm 500gb Antec 500 Earthwatt Window vista 64-bit
Reply to invisik

No problem and best of luck with your new build!

------------------------------ If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce today would cost $100, get a million miles to the gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside.
PSA
Reply to outlw6669

ooppppss one last ? anyone no of a good low profile wireless card the one i found was not lp.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by invisik on 07-02-2008 at 11:02:18 PM

------------------------------ intel core 2 quad q6600 @3.2ghz msi p6n diamond (X-FI Extreme sound) 6gig of OCZ+CoRSAIR oc 900mhz Nvidia gtx 260 sli @ 730/1465/1250
Lite-On Blue-ray Western Digital 7200rpm 500gb Antec 500 Earthwatt Window vista 64-bit
Reply to invisik

invisik wrote :

ooppppss one last ? anyone no of a good low profile wireless card the one i found was not lp.

Hard to say.
I could not spot any low profile WiFi cards on newegg. What you could do is get one with a low profile PCB and remove the backplate. If you don't jostle the system around it should stay seated and work fine for you. You could also look into a USB WiFi adapter although I might be leery of the range on those.

------------------------------ If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce today would cost $100, get a million miles to the gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside.
PSA
Reply to outlw6669

Here's one at zipzoomfly:

ZyXEL G-302 54Mbps 802.11b/g PCI Network Adapter Retail $20

You can always just get a USB WiFi.

Reply to rwpritchett

kk thanks guys,
=]

------------------------------ intel core 2 quad q6600 @3.2ghz msi p6n diamond (X-FI Extreme sound) 6gig of OCZ+CoRSAIR oc 900mhz Nvidia gtx 260 sli @ 730/1465/1250
Lite-On Blue-ray Western Digital 7200rpm 500gb Antec 500 Earthwatt Window vista 64-bit
Reply to invisik

Just make sure you put a Hemi in it. They usually show at least a 56% increase in write speed, and are able to stream black and white video at unprecedented levels. These components also have a very small energy footprint, especially when you take into account their (Dollar/Euro+Dinar)/performance ratio!

Reply to matthroswell

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