Advice needed - 400-600$ Pc for multimedia

[mythson]

Hi everyone, I need your advice for the computer I want to build, here some info.


APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Just after Christmas Hollydays BUDGET RANGE: Aroud 400-600$

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: watching movies true LCD TV, housing mp3, movies and files for other laptops around (via wireless), internet, a bit of gaming

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: O/S, keyboard, mouse, monitor, dvd

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: http://www.ordigros.com/liste_prix_categories.php (sorry it's in french, but don't stick to the price or availability, I'll check it myself) COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Québec , Canada

PARTS PREFERENCES: no parts preference

OVERCLOCKING: No SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 900x1440 and samsung 40 in lcd tv

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

1--what i am looking for is a computer that will houses all my media. I will be using it to watch movies through my LCD tv, so I need a video card with HDMI output (or DVI with HDMI adaptor with sound ).

2---Also, I plan to use it as a '' server'' (Not sure if it's the good word, english not my first language). I mean I want to store on it all my musics et some files, so my roommates and I will be able to listen to that music and accessinf thoses files on our laptops via wireless.

3--- Il Will conect it to my sound system in the linving room (so it's really a multimedia purpose)

4---I'll be conecting my printer on this one too.

As you can see, the purpose of this computer is really to manage all my media. It'might be a good idea to get a wireless motherboard? I have no preference over intel or Amd, I don't know that stuff enough. It will be vista or 7 on it , don't know yet

I allready have a 600G external HD, so maybe 300G or so would be ok for the internal one


Please feel free to give me some advices, or if you allready use a computer like this (multimedia sharing center), give me your thoughts.

Thanks mythson

 

[rockyjohn]

I am not going to attempt to wade through the French - I took a quick look at the front page and could not even tell which buttons went to some of the components. Instead I will just share with you the US$461 budget build I did a few weeks ago based on prices at newegg. Perhaps you can find the same or comparable parts.

091123 Multipurpose $461

CPU
AMD Athlon II X4 620 Propus 2.6GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor – Retail - $99 and free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103706

Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard – Retail - $70 AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128392

Memory
OCZ Gold 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G10664GK – Timings 7-7-7-18 - Retail - $73
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227346

Graphics Card
ASUS EAH4670/DI/1GD3/V2 Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail $60 AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121328

Case
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case – Retail - $40 AR and free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

PSU
OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7 -– Retail $40 AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341016&cm_re=ocz_power_supply-_-17-341-016-_-Product

Hard Drive
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - $55 and free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395

DVD RW
Pioneer Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 40X CD-R 32X CD-RW 2MB Cache SATA CD/DVD Burner LabelFlash Support - OEM - $35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129045

Total Cost - $472 - AR and before OS, shipping – where applicable, and taxes

Note that you could get buy with a few cuts if this turns out to be too expensive - although none of which I recommend as they will affect performance:
- The video card provides good mainstream (as compared to enthusiast) performance on video games - you could drop down to an nVidia GT 220 or 240 for basic media functions, but very limited game play
-You could cut the memory in half and get two 1 GB sticks, again should not affect media but will affect some game play - which can be minimized by not multi-tasking - but still will have an affect - more significant on some games than others
- The case is an excellent case on sale for a low price, you might have to replace it to get the same cost for a case
-The power unit also was on sale and so was a good buy. With only a basic video card, like the one above or less, you could cut to 400w. Make sure you get a decent brand though like Antec or OCZ.
-One caveat, I don't have experience connecting large TV monitors. The 4670 and GT220 will support resolutions up to 2560 x 1600 but I don't know if there is a size limit.