My Grand Idea: Recipe Computer for the Kitchen

[nitrusoxide]

Hello,

I'm undertaking a home project for my wife. My idea is to put together
a small, barebones type of computer and couple it with a touch screen
monitor for use in the kitchen. I want to put the actual computer in a
cabinet and just have the monitor on the counter, so she can store all
of her recipes and maybe do some basic web surfing.


I did a little Tiger Direct research and came up with the following
set of parts:


Case - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1800612&sku=ULT33117
Motherboard - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2749264&sku=S458-1260
CPU - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3391332&sku=CP1-AM2-3200A
CPU Fan - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2541425&sku=C283-2026
RAM - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1071038&sku=ULT31690
Power - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2222639&sku=GEN-2001
Monitor - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2668390&sku=P610-1581
Wireless - http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3350605&sku=D145-1004


Would all of these parts be compatible with each other and am I
missing anything? My only concern was the size of the CPU fan and the
size of the case might be an issue.


What do you think?

[blue60007]

First I'd suggest using a different vendor. Tigerdirect hasn't had the greatest reputation...

Anyhow, I know this is a budget build, but ECS isn't a great reputation motherboard maker. A few more bucks for this... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131183 I'm not up on what's good or not in the AMD world, but that looks OK to me. Also, I found a better CPU w/fan on Newegg for less: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819104317

Also, I'd rather see a memory brand such as Corsair and the dual channel kit as well. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145568

Also the power supply...that's literally a no-name generic PSU. That's just asking for trouble... I'm also not real up on what's good in low power PSU's, but this Antec looks decent (I'd like to hear other suggestions though).
EDIT: Should post the link I suppose lol http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371013 A little skimpy on the connectors, but shouldn't need too much. Speaking of which... I assume you've got a hard drive and optical handy you want to use.

[Lespaul20]

Don't forget an OS.

[nitrusoxide]

Thanks for the links. Now that I'm thinking about it, it does make a lot more sense to spend a little extra on some quality, branded products, especially because this PC is going to be jammed into a cabinet somewhere. I'd rather this PC be one that I put together and forget about (fat chance, huh).

I have some extra hard drives and cd-roms lying around that I can put in the PC. I'm not planning on making this into a media PC at all, but if needed, I can add a DVD drive and some speakers down the road.

Thanks again blue60007. Lespaul20, I have a copy of XP SP2 that I can put on it, but thanks for the reminder.


EDIT: I just created my NewEgg cart full of goodies. It has all of the items blue60007 listed, plus this case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811108062. Now all I need to find is a cheap touch screen monitor. Looks like it's going to cost me ~$375 at least.

[rjfvillarosa]

I have had to work on many machines in restaurants and kitchens and in a very short time the keyboard becomes disgusting, you are probably thinking the keyboard won't be used much...:rolleyes: think again.
Have a look at these they are very good at what they do.
http://www.cyberguys.com/templates/SearchDetail.asp?productID=488

[Katreat]

The CD is so you can load up your software. Even the simplist computer should have a CD at minimum just to make life easier when setting it up. You can get away with shoving a low power system in a cabinet, just make sure it still has good air-flow. You will need to provide some venting in the door or back of the enclosure so it has a supply of cold air.

Kat

[Lespaul20]

I think if you buy decent components and be mindful of the ventilation you probably won't have wrench on it all the time or possibly at all. Touchscreens are expensive in general and you might have to look outside of newegg to find a cheaper monitor.

[blue60007]

You'd need a CD drive to install XP, but I suppose you don't have to leave it in if you had to borrow it from another PC.

[nitrusoxide]

My plan was to put in a CD-ROM from a different computer, but skip the DVD-ROM for now. If I need to convert it to a media center as well, I can always add it in later.

Does anyone have any suggestions for the touch screen itself? I'd rather not pay $400 for one, but I don't know if I'm going to have to anyway.

[InfiniteGrim]

Tigerdirect has always been good to me. I got a 19" westinghouse 1440x900 HDTV with all types of connections out there for $234 with a 1year warranty and shipping. I also got a Apnasonic plasma TH -42PX600U was $1800 at the time, got it from them for $1200, they then made it $1150 and gave me $50 credit which i thhen got a 320Gb external usb harddrive for $40 after the $50 credit. and i didn't have a single problem