Suggestions/Help for My Build

[maximus2688]

I am about to start buying new parts to build a computer for my uncle. Here are some things that i decided to buy:

Motherboard/CPU combo - $300
http://shop3.outpost.com/product/469...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

RAM – 2GB Kingston (533) **(the mobo says DDR400, but im getting the same mobo for the same price that will support 533 dual channel.
http://shop3.outpost.com/product/429...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Case/PSU – Antec - $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129150

HDD – Seagate 200GB
http://shop3.outpost.com/product/400...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Questions:
- should i use the retail psu (antec 350W) or get a bigger one (same brand)?
- my uncle wants to hook up cable and watch tv through his PC. Please suggest some vid. cards that will help do this (maybe w/ a remote control...w/e). I can find some, but idk what's best.
- i am also looking for a good deal on a DVD-RW (preferably black - to go w/the case)
- he wants a fairly quiet PC. Do u guys know whether or not that case is good?

that's about it 4 now. Thanks in advance...!

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by maximus2688 Questions: - should i use the retail psu (antec 350W) or get a bigger one (same brand)?

You're going to need a bigger power supply for that computer...350 watts just isn't enough, especially if you put in a pretty potent video card.

Originally Posted by maximus2688 - my uncle wants to hook up cable and watch tv through his PC. Please suggest some vid. cards that will help do this (maybe w/ a remote control...w/e). I can find some, but idk what's best.

Look at the ATi All-In-Wonder video cards.

Originally Posted by maximus2688 - i am also looking for a good deal on a DVD-RW (preferably black - to go w/the case)

Lite-On is a good brand to go with and they are available in black.

Originally Posted by maximus2688 - he wants a fairly quiet PC. Do u guys know whether or not that case is good?

I've used that case for a few builds and thought it was a good case. But for noise you're going to notice the Intel LGA775 heatsink fan is pretty loud. You may want to look at one of the Zalman LGA775 heatsinks.

Cricket

[Dark Nova]

if you want to watch and record TV on your pc, you can just buy a TV tuner or like Cricket suggested a ATI AIW. make sure you chose an PCI-E video card.

Antecs make really good PSU, so yes you will need a bigger PSU, but you can surely keep the same brand.

LG, Lite-ON and plextor are the best companies to go with for the DVD burners

ive work with the case lots of time, its a really good case, if you want a quiet fan, i suggest a Cooler master fan for your CPU

[THEoBZ]

Agreed, xclio also makes a very good 450watt psu for 50.00$$$, the case well its a case that looks good and does what you want it to do. And you may want to go with dual core processor so it will be up-to-date for a long long time. For a video card that works with tv's i believe the 9800 AIW is a good one i used to have that, or i think ati came out with a x800 AIW.

[jayb1234]

Hard drive: take a look at the Seagate or Western Digital SATA models with 16Mb caches.

TV: Either one of the All-in-wonder cards or a regular card and a pci tuner card. The Hauppage PVR cards are pretty good and remotes are available with them.

OS: The OEM version of XP or XP Pro will save you about $100 bucks compared to the retail one, but no tech support from Microsoft.

Heatsink/Fan: Keep in mind that changing to an aftermarket heatsink and fan will void the warranty on the processor.

You might need a floppy drive at some point in the setup, and they are still usefull for diagnostics, bios upgrades, system recovery etc..