Low Profile Recommendation

[jereece]

I am looking to build a low profile desktop computer to connect to my 42" LCD TV. I want to use it as a DVR as well as a computer with large monitor. I plan to buy a long range wireless mouse and keyboard. I want a video card that has HDMI out. I have found several good low profile cards, but I am having trouble finding what I think is a good motherboard. Most boards I find seem to have on-board Atom processors and a standard PCI slot. The low profile video cards are PCIexpress. I don't want to put too much into this computer but can you make a motherboard recommendation for my needs?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[saint19]

Hi newcomer and welcome to the Tom's hardware forum.

This ASUS MA477TD is a solid option for ur needs.

 

[mosox]

What case have you selected?

 

[may1]

If you are looking at Atom-based platforms then you are likely to be better off looking into pre-built nettops.

Acer Revo R3600 is quite good. You can purchase a removable DVDR since that doesnt have a DVDROM.

 

[Crashman]

I am looking to build a low profile desktop computer to connect to my 42" LCD TV. I want to use it as a DVR as well as a computer with large monitor. I plan to buy a long range wireless mouse and keyboard. I want a video card that has HDMI out. I have found several good low profile cards, but I am having trouble finding what I think is a good motherboard. Most boards I find seem to have on-board Atom processors and a standard PCI slot. The low profile video cards are PCIexpress. I don't want to put too much into this computer but can you make a motherboard recommendation for my needs?

Thanks,
Jim

Or, you could give up entirely on low-profile cards and simply use a case with a riser card, to turn the card sideways. You didn't say you needed anything narrower than a Micro ATX low-profile case, after all.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163088

You can thank me later.

Now, if you really want a Mini ITX board to use with your low-profile card in a narrower case, I have a couple for you to consider:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/h55-h57-motherboard,2555.html

Check out the ECS and Intel motherboards in that roundup.

 

[jereece]

Maybe I did not emphasize "I don't want to put too much into this" enough. The recommendations I saw looked more expensive than I want. I was hoping to keep this under $300. Don't need a fast computer for DVR. Could I accomplish my goals of having an inexpensive, slim (fit on shelf) computer with HDMI out and wireless keyboard/mouse with an older computer? Maybe a Dell GX P4 2.8Ghz? My main concern with older computers this is the power supply for the HDMI card.

I appreciate your thoughts on this.

Jim

 

[Crashman]

Maybe I did not emphasize "I don't want to put too much into this" enough. The recommendations I saw looked more expensive than I want. I was hoping to keep this under $300. Don't need a fast computer for DVR. Could I accomplish my goals of having an inexpensive, slim (fit on shelf) computer with HDMI out and wireless keyboard/mouse with an older computer? Maybe a Dell GX P4 2.8Ghz? My main concern with older computers this is the power supply for the HDMI card.

I appreciate your thoughts on this.

Jim

The problems I see are that the cheap, compact P4-based systems don't support PCI-Express, and the newer Atom and Nano platforms are crap. If you can find the video card you need in PCI, I guess the old Dell might be a great idea.

But let me repeat the part about the Atom and Nano being crap: Everyone says "DVR doesn't need much power", or the same thing about media players in general. That might be true, but I use Windows. Atom and Nano do an aweful job of supporting Windows 7. Were I to go back to Windows XP, that might not be a problem.

 

[mosox]

Here's an idea:

ASUS M4A785-M AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131595
AMD Sempron 140 Sargas 2.7GHz 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM3 45W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103698
Crucial 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148166
ASUS Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181
APEVIA Black / Silver SECC Steel / Aluminum X-MASTER-AL/500 ATX Media Center
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144230

$265.94

That onboard video card is more than enough for HD videos and even some light gaming. You have HDMI.

 

[jereece]

mosox - I like your suggestion. I might just do this. Thank you very much.

Jim

 

[jereece]

Best answer selected by jereece.