Home » General Discussions » General Discussion » Some Help From the Computer Guru's, Please?
| Some Help From the Computer Guru's, Please? [message #293156] |
Sat, 27 October 2007 12:27  |
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nikki6ixx
Messages: 2545
Registered: August 2007
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General (2 Stars) |
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So here's what I'm thinking...
I want to build up a small Media Center PC for my TV room, because I'm getting sick of missing good documentaries because I'm at work, and I'd also like to be able to stream stuff from a small media storage hard-drive over a wireless network.
Preferably, the OS on it would be a Windows system, but I'm conflicted as to whether it should be Windows Vista, or the XP-based Media Center. Apparently, some people have complained that the Vista version has been hacked up worse than Joan Rivers, but then again, the Vista version is the most up-to-date. User friendliness is a factor too, because the older folks will be toying around with this too.
Space is a concern, and the computer has to fit in a width of 6 inches, so if the case is 5.5 inches, that'd be great. Height, and length are of no real concern, just the width.
The system has to be reasonably quiet; I'm not a stickler for silence, so I'm willing to have some fan sound if necessary.
It also has to be pretty fast, in order to run Vista, and to be able to record at a decent speed, and to wirelessly (sp?) stream anything from mp3's to DivX avi's, or other large formats. Although it won't be used for gaming, it'll need a decent graphics card that will be able to pipe out good picture to a large TV; so S-Video is going to be OK... but if possible, a Component-video output (or similar) would be much better, and bonus points if it can output in HD.
Hard Drive space of about 250 GB or more should be fine, and it doesn't have to be the fastest HD around, but the quieter, the better.
As for the recording card, it'd be great if I could get a dual-tuner set-up, but I'll easily settle for a single tuner.
Now, I also need help selecting a processor, and motherboard, among other things. I'm pretty green at computer's, and I can only do basic work on them, but I'm willing to learn. So, if you have some spare time, and would like to help me out, it would be much appreciated. 
Since I'm in Canada, I cannot use NewEgg, but I've been directed towards this website, http://www.tigerdirect.ca/ , so if you find anything that matches, or closely resembles what you think the computer should have in it, you can find it on here.
Thanks for your help, and I'll check up every so often, and answer any questions you may have. 
Renegade:
| Aircraftkiller wrote on Fri, 10 January 2014 16:56 |
The only game where everyone competes to be an e-janitor.
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| Re: Some Help From the Computer Guru's, Please? [message #293190 is a reply to message #293156] |
Sat, 27 October 2007 15:04  |
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sadukar09
Messages: 2812
Registered: May 2007
Location: Ottawa,Canada
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General (2 Stars) |
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Well you get less space to upgrade. And you have to put the case sideways, which isn't good for the CD/DVDs.
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[19:16:48] <APBBR> @ryan3k: THE ENFIELD DEFIES THE LAWS OF PHYSICS BECAUSE THE BULLETS INSTANTLY HIT THEIR TARGETS LOL
[19:16:52] <APBBR> @ryan3k: CHRONO TECHNOLOGY IN TEH BULLETS
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[22:48]<APBBR> @V0LK0V: AOL COMING UR WAI K
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| Re: Some Help From the Computer Guru's, Please? [message #309937 is a reply to message #293156] |
Fri, 11 January 2008 15:33 |
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nikki6ixx
Messages: 2545
Registered: August 2007
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General (2 Stars) |
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Bit of a major bump, but I finally got the beast built, and running. It not only fits the bill, but is actually way overpowered for what I intended it to do. But I brought it in for cheap, and that's what matters.
Processor
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=247058 7&CatId=2328
Mainboard
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=325097 5&CatId=2839
RAM (2 GB)
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=308987 5&CatId=2368
Graphics Card (only without the big plastic cooling case-thinger)
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=324419 9&CatId=1826
HD
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=330614 8&CatId=2458
Case (Blue Lighting)
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=333181 7&CatId=1859
It also has a TV-Tuner for recording, etc, and is hooked to a Wireless adapter. Took me a while to get it all together, but it runs like a dream on XP Media Center 2005.
It's now hooked up to a Marantz sound system receiver which was almost as expensive, and the HD contains about 200 CD's so far, with plenty more on the way, as well as some vinyl's, and cassettes on the way.
So now I can listen to music or DVD's in 14 rooms... 14 rooms of Van Halen! 
So thanks for your guys' help. Maybe when I pick up a plasma or LCD TV, I can play some good games on it too.
Renegade:
| Aircraftkiller wrote on Fri, 10 January 2014 16:56 |
The only game where everyone competes to be an e-janitor.
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| Re: Some Help From the Computer Guru's, Please? [message #309948 is a reply to message #293156] |
Fri, 11 January 2008 16:20 |
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sadukar09
Messages: 2812
Registered: May 2007
Location: Ottawa,Canada
Karma: 0
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General (2 Stars) |
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You should've spent a couple bucks more for a 6000+, whatever though, not bad machine. (I think you should put the Video Card cooler back on...it's much better)
| Quote: |
[19:16:48] <APBBR> @ryan3k: THE ENFIELD DEFIES THE LAWS OF PHYSICS BECAUSE THE BULLETS INSTANTLY HIT THEIR TARGETS LOL
[19:16:52] <APBBR> @ryan3k: CHRONO TECHNOLOGY IN TEH BULLETS
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| Quote: |
[22:48]<APBBR> @V0LK0V: AOL COMING UR WAI K
[22:48] <APBBR> Host: Quitting due to Westwood Online connection loss.
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| Re: Some Help From the Computer Guru's, Please? [message #309992 is a reply to message #293162] |
Fri, 11 January 2008 17:57 |
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Ryu
Messages: 2833
Registered: September 2006
Location: Liverpool, England.
Karma: 0
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General (2 Stars) |
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nVidia is for gaming dude, Keep that in mind.
ATi is the choice here,
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=322437 0&CatId=1560
This is something I found while looking, Tigerdirect has the worst system for displaying shit, Very unorganized, anyway, You want something that can handle HDTV, I've never hooked up a card to a tv to record stuff so I assume you'll need to buy extra wires and download some software.
But remember, as I shit you not, even if you HATE ATi with a rage, They kick nVidia's ass with video quality for movies.
Presence is a curious thing, if you think you need to prove it... you probably never had it in the first place.
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| Re: Some Help From the Computer Guru's, Please? [message #310101 is a reply to message #309992] |
Sat, 12 January 2008 01:47 |
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nikki6ixx
Messages: 2545
Registered: August 2007
Karma: 0
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General (2 Stars) |
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| Ethenal wrote on Fri, 11 January 2008 17:37 |
Why the hell would you remove the cooler? That's not exactly a good idea. 
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| sadukar09 wrote on Fri, 11 January 2008 17:20 |
You should've spent a couple bucks more for a 6000+, whatever though, not bad machine. (I think you should put the Video Card cooler back on...it's much better)
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My bad... It's a similar card, but it didn't come with that plastic stuff. It did however, come with a fan, and is 512MB. As for not getting a 6000, I figured that'd be way too much power for my needs, and even a 5200+ is still way too much.
Remember, it's being mainly used for recording TV, streaming HD, and non-HD video, and as a jukebox, so raw power wasn't my goal.
| Ryu wrote on Fri, 11 January 2008 18:57 |
nVidia is for gaming dude, Keep that in mind.
ATi is the choice here,
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=322437 0&CatId=1560
This is something I found while looking, Tigerdirect has the worst system for displaying shit, Very unorganized, anyway, You want something that can handle HDTV, I've never hooked up a card to a tv to record stuff so I assume you'll need to buy extra wires and download some software.
But remember, as I shit you not, even if you HATE ATi with a rage, They kick nVidia's ass with video quality for movies.
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I already built my system, but don't worry, an ATI is powering my TV picture. (Only mine is 512MB, and had a nice rebate ) Right now, it mostly does work on a Standard-Def 'tube' TV, but I've hooked it up to an LCD and my jaw detached from my skull because the picture was just beautiful. Plus, I'd have likely gone with an ATI because they are Canadian, and I have an old Radeon 7000 PCI in my old IBM, and the picture is just great.
Renegade:
| Aircraftkiller wrote on Fri, 10 January 2014 16:56 |
The only game where everyone competes to be an e-janitor.
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| Re: Some Help From the Computer Guru's, Please? [message #310175 is a reply to message #293162] |
Sat, 12 January 2008 11:15 |
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Creed3020
Messages: 1438
Registered: February 2003
Location: Toronto, Canada
Karma: 0
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General (1 Star) |
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The request was a for Media Center PC not a "bling bling", bells and whistles gaming rig.
BTW Tigerdirect is a great way to go.
That processor + mobo combination is also not available anymore so go a different route.
To save a little just go with a slightly lower powered Core2Duo. No need to pick the E6750.
For HDD go Western Digital or Seagate. I find Seagate's are costing less lately, agressive pricing IMHO.
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