Ongoing I'll toss this one in for comment. (1 Viewer)

[2BitSculptor]

Large, but unobtrusive... no flashy flashy. Might become a server at a later date.

Case: SilverstoneLC17B
PSU: Thermaltake 420W
MOBO: MSI P6N SLI-FI nvidia nforce 650i
CPU: Core 2 Duo 3.0 G
Mem: MWave 2 GB DDR2 667
Video: EVGA 256-P2-N412-LR GeForce 7100GS PCIe (VGA-DVI-TVout)
Audio: onboard S/PDIF or use my Ext. Soundblaster 24 Live S/PDIF
System HDD: 20GB WD EIDE (already had)
Data HDD 1 (for now): 500GB WD SATA2
Tuner 1: HD HomeRun
Tuner 2: WinTV PVR-350 (to be added later for archiving my Beta and VHS collections)
Remote: ONE-for-All 6 device IR remote/Liebtech RS232 IR receiver
Keyboard/mouse: MS wireless (allready had)
OS: XP sp2 (already had)
misc: Router and DSL connection

I'm presently still using an analog SD TV but an HD is in the future.

I have not purchased the MOBO/CPU/Mem or Video card yet, there's still time to change my mind.

Chuck

 

[Darre]

links/pictures please

 

[Spragleknas]

Case: Silverstone LC17B
- I like the fact that they use 80mm fans in the LC17. Many Silverstone cases only uses 60mm

PSU: Thermaltake 420W
- Not my first choice, but...

MOBO: MSI P6N SLI-FI nvidia nforce 650i
CPU: Core 2 Duo 3.0 G
- Can't comment anything except that CPU is quite hefty compared tu gfx.

Mem: MWave 2 GB DDR2 667

Video: EVGA 256-P2-N412-LR GeForce 7100GS PCIe (VGA-DVI-TVout)
- There are many better options here! The 7100 is actually a 6200 if I remember correct. New nVidia series on its way, but if you don't want to wait, I'd recommend the 8500GT (or new 3xxx-ATi-series -since you do not live in PAL-land)

Audio: onboard S/PDIF or use my Ext. Soundblaster 24 Live S/PDIF

System HDD: 20GB WD EIDE (already had)
- Do you really want the extra heat etc. for 20GB?

Data HDD 1 (for now): 500GB WD SATA2
- The AAKAS-series is quite good, according to SPCR

Tuner 1: HD HomeRun

Tuner 2: WinTV PVR-350 (to be added later for archiving my Beta and VHS collections)
- If you allreadyt have this, then OK. I'd go for the 150 to save some bucks (no difference)

Remote: All-for-ONE 6 device IR remote/Liebtech RS232 IR receiver

(...)
End of comments

 

[2BitSculptor]

OKay... you sold me on the 8500gt...

I do have a 60 MB laptop drive sitting around... I could throw that one in for the system and app drive. Would need to get an adapter cable for it.

I will probably take your advice in the PVR-150 as well.

Currently, I'm running an older PC... that has been struck at least once by lightening! For now, it has been reasonable for just playing music into my surround receiver. It would not hold up to video... not even SD ... and I don't expect it to live much longer. Since the US is dropping analog broadcast next year, I thought that upgrading to an HTPC now is in order. We also have grandkids... so I will need to build a kid-friendly client in the playroom eventually.

I am by nature, a minimalist, and if I can 'get by' with the absolute minimum, I will try... but this new system is going to have to last a while, and be flexible enough to adapt to future changing conditions. I'm not a gamer, and at my age am not inspired to do a lot of work to get things up and running (alright... I am inspired enough to build my own PC). The wife is much more practical than I am.. things should work as advertised "out of the box" ... so the WAF rating needs to be kept high.

Chuck

 

[2BitSculptor]

I made some adjustments to my system... I've already ordered nearly all the components (should be arriving toward the end of the week).

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Case: SilverstoneLC17B

PSU: Thermaltake 420W

MOBO: Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H (seems to be a popular board with an affordable price)

CPU: AMD Athlon 3.0 GHz (Figured I'd go with a heftier CPU since this is a Client/Server box)

Mem: MWave 2 GB DDR2 667

Video: onboard 780G chipset (HD is in the future, I'm presently still using an 32" analog CRT TV and I will be converting the VGA out to S-Video with an external PCtoVideo device.)

Audio: onboard S/PDIF or use my Ext. Soundblaster 24 Live S/PDIF

System HDD: 60GB WD EIDE (already had)

Time-shifting HDD: 160GB WD SATA2

Music HDD: 160GB WD SATA2

Movies HDD 1 (for now): 500GB WD SATA2

DVD: a "still usable" Sony DVD combo drive (I don't plan on doing any DVD recording anyway)

Tuner 1: HD HomeRun

Tuner 2: WinTV PVR-350

Remote: ONE-for-All 6 device IR remote/MS MCE IR receiver (I'll be blasting to a Radio Shack Wireless Remote Control Extender to control my TV, VCR/DVD combo, and JVC surround system receiver)

Keyboard/mouse: MS RF wireless (allready had)

OS: XP MCE update 2

misc: Linksys 10/100 Router and SpeedStream DSL modem

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(Hope I can get it all to work)

Chuck