does this look like a good setup...

[tsiguy96]

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811133147 74.99

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153023 39.99

Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131538 114

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116198 171.00

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148100 103.00

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141210 84.77

Pri Optical: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827151118 54.99

Sec Optical: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106992 28.99

Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102636 124.00

OS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832102357 114.95

Extras: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815116620 62.99

its mostly for watching tv, basic computer use, i need the video card with HD and svideo out...does it look like a good budget media center computer?

[blue60007]

Power supply is a bit weak, expect to pay more than $30. I'd look at one of Antec's in the 400-450W range.

Get an SATA drive. Western Digital has some 16MB cache drives (the SE16). I think they cost a few bucks more, however the gained speed will be worth it, especially for a media PC.

I'd rather see some Cosair Value Select. You can also just get DDR2 533, the 667 won't get you any added speed. Don't get Samsung drives, they aren't known for reliability. Either another LITE-ON or an NEC would work.

[tsiguy96]

damn i was pushing the price as it was :/

i might have to go with a refurbed dell or hp on ebay

ill see though

[blue60007]

Well, the Cosair VS (DDR2 533) is a bit cheaper, and an NEC or LITE-ON DVD-RW will be $15 cheaper (unless you need LightScribe). And actually, the hard drive I was talking about is $10 cheaper.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144701

Here's (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104954) a good power supply that's $10 more and much better. You might still be able to get in under budget.

[tsiguy96]

how much does every other assorted cable and assembly item cost?

[blue60007]

I'm sorry, but I'm not sure what you are referring too. You mean the different odds and ends, like data or power cables and things? The motherboard should have all the SATA, IDE, etc cables you need. I don't think you'll need anything more.

[tsiguy96]

really? thats nice to know, ive never built one (as if thats not completely obvious) so i wasnt sure what else i would need...

ok what about little fun stuff thats nice to add that costs like at most 30 bucks?

[tsiguy96]

and one last thing...whats a good video card with DVI and svideo out thats cheap? mines a little on the expensive side for me and if i can get a little cheaper one thatd be nice...

[kram 2.0]

and one last thing...whats a good video card with DVI and svideo out thats cheap? mines a little on the expensive side for me and if i can get a little cheaper one thatd be nice...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814121537

If you intend to game, don't expect much out of this though. It will get the job done for basic work. Note - you also need a TV Tuner card in order to watch TV on your system.

You're set with fans and cooling - Thermaltake has decent stock cooling.

kram

[tsiguy96]

the extras part of my list has a hauppage PVR 150 tv tuner :)

id like something in between what i picked and what you linked to...i have some PC games that i have played on occasion (like rome: total war, though im horrible) so id rather get something that can atleast semi handle it

like this one possibly? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814127176

or this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102691

[blue60007]

Yeah, that should do decent gaming. Besides, it's got a MIR going now, so not a bad deal.

[kram 2.0]

like this one possibly? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814127176
That is a very good card for the price.

kram

[Staren]

I would go with this TV tuner http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815117802 It uses the PCI-E x1 slot, and has a better quality picture. Just don't use the stock software (though, no one does that with any TV tuner anyway). You want something like GB-PVR.

[tsiguy96]

doesnt MCE have a built in TV watching program?

[kram 2.0]

doesnt MCE have a built in TV watching program?
Yes it does.

kram

[tsiguy96]

thought so, his post had me second guessing

i think im gonna just use the hauppage for now and upgrade when a better PCI-E card comes out (and when i have more money, id like to have a second tuner later on)

im still working on cutting prices whereever i can on my list. am i missing ANYTHING at all?

like if i place this order tonight, will i be able to assemble the whole computer without going to the store when it gets here? (i dont have an electronics store at school, where i will be assembling this, so i need to order everything)

[kram 2.0]

If you need to, downgrade to the Intel Pentium-D 805 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116001). On a different note, you are a bit shorthanded on the power - you're walking on the line with that PSU. Look at something like the X-Clio 450W PSU (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817189003) to power your system.

kram

[tsiguy96]

you mean the one blue linked to? oh well yours is cheaper so ill get that

im ordering today...need final suggestions

[Staren]

I would go with standard Win XP Home, and use a freeware program like GB-PVR for watching TV. MCE just isn't worth the money, I don't think. If you use a stand alone program, then you can shut it down and out of the way when you want to use it just as a computer. If you want to read in more detail why I would go this way, check out www.byopvr.com

[tsiguy96]

its not just for that, i like the categorizing of movies and all the other media options taht MCE has built into it that make it nice and its not much more expensive then XP

[glc]

If you buy a Hauppauge tuner, get the MCE edition if you are going to use XP-MCE. I would not downgrade to the 805 processor, it's 533 FSB.

[blue60007]

you mean the one blue linked to? oh well yours is cheaper so ill get that

im ordering today...need final suggestions

Either one should work.

[tsiguy96]

what about the 2.8ghz dual core processor that alot of media computers use? i could only find a little information but isnt it good for doing 2 different things at once, like burning a dvd and watching a movie at the same time so each program uses a different core

if so, id rather get that. however if i can overclock the 3.0 that blue pointed out, that should work out just fine as well too correct

heres the dual core: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116213

this one is 100 bucks cheaper at 2.66ghz DC... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116001

(btw sorry if im making too big a deal out of this..just trying to explore all my options and get the best items i can for what im doing at a good price)

[hmsatropos]

I hate to discourage anyone from doing a build, but...
Put this into your search function -- "PC Club Enpower SLI".

[Alaron]

__Moderator Note__

hmsatropos, tsiguy96 has already decided to build his own computer. Please respect that.

[hmsatropos]

I apologize, tsiguy96, for my phrasing. It was not my intent to disparage you in any way.
I mentioned the Enpower because I almost bought one myself.

damn i was pushing the price as it was :/

i might have to go with a refurbed dell or hp on ebay

ill see though

[glc]

The 2.66 is a 533 FSB, that's why its so much cheaper.

[tsiguy96]

FSB=front side bus?
ill jsut stick with the 3.0 and maybe overclock someday, if i learn hwo to do it :)

that should be just fine for what im doing

[kram 2.0]

My angle is that you won't be needing a whole lot of processing power for basic use and for a budget multimedia computer. Up to you though.

kram

[tsiguy96]

good point

im ready to order, will i be needing ANYTHING else to complete the build

and by anything, i mean absolutely anything that i might need to assemble it

[kram 2.0]

Do you have a screwdriver?

kram

[tsiguy96]

hehe
yea i do

the only problem i can think of now is i do not own a wired keyboard and mouse, only a wireless one, which is going to make it impossible to install my keyboard stuff

[Staren]

You should be alright. The basic keys should work. If you want to feel safe though, just add a cheap wired keyboard to your older. Not a bad idea to have one in the back of your closet just in case you need to check something anyway. A cheap one would only be between $5 and $10.