Help with my first HTPC build

[saysomething]

Hello,

I'm planning on converting my current pc into an htpc but need some help on what components need to be upgraded and what are worth keeping. Please tell me what needs to go and suggest replacements.

I should also mention that I'm about to start a new build to replace the aforementioned PC (info in a thread I started about a month ago); taking into consideration the age of my current PC (~7-8 yrs), is there anything worth xfering to my new build (doubt it, but thought i'd ask)?

Here are the current specs:
Case - Antec P180
Thermaltake 650W psu
Chip - AMD nForce2 Athlon dual-core ca. 2002
Mobo - Asus N4xx compatible with above ca. 2002
RAM - 2Gb OCZ
GPU - Asus GeForce 256 Mb
Wireless Ethernet card
USB 2.0 IDE card
Sound card - none
Optical - LG dvd-writer
O/S - XP

Another thing I should mention is that my pc will occasionally re-boot itself; the only fix I've tried is blowing out the dust with compressed air throughout the entire case (not specifically the psu), and nothing's really changed; is it time to put my psu to rest?

Thanks, Don

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by saysomething Hello, I'm planning on converting my current pc into an htpc but need some help on what components need to be upgraded and what are worth keeping. Please tell me what needs to go and suggest replacements. I should also mention that I'm about to start a new build to replace the aforementioned PC (info in a thread I started about a month ago); taking into consideration the age of my current PC (~7-8 yrs), is there anything worth xfering to my new build (doubt it, but thought i'd ask)? Here are the current specs: Case - Antec P180 Thermaltake 650W psu Chip - AMD nForce2 Athlon dual-core ca. 2002 Mobo - Asus N4xx compatible with above ca. 2002 RAM - 2Gb OCZ GPU - Asus GeForce 256 Mb Wireless Ethernet card USB 2.0 IDE card Sound card - none Optical - LG dvd-writer O/S - XP Another thing I should mention is that my pc will occasionally re-boot itself; the only fix I've tried is blowing out the dust with compressed air throughout the entire case (not specifically the psu), and nothing's really changed; is it time to put my psu to rest? Thanks, Don

I would not put any money into something that old. Your reboots could be many things and since it is clean, check the ram. My experience usually has been faulty ram. You could run memtest 86+ for about 16 hours to see if you get any errors. It might not even take that long if you have bad ram. DDR2 667 Kingston value ram costs around $35.00 for 2GB (2x1).

Not sure on your video card, not descriptive enough. I assume the board is an ASUS N4L-VM DH Digital Home Series board. A newer graphics card would help especially with the newer T.V.s

[saysomething]

Originally Posted by jdeb I would not put any money into something that old. Your reboots could be many things and since it is clean, check the ram. My experience usually has been faulty ram. You could run memtest 86+ for about 16 hours to see if you get any errors. It might not even take that long if you have bad ram. DDR2 667 Kingston value ram costs around $35.00 for 2GB (2x1). Not sure on your video card, not descriptive enough. I assume the board is an ASUS N4L-VM DH Digital Home Series board. A newer graphics card would help especially with the newer T.V.s

Hi jdeb, I'll check the ram tonight; is memtest 3rd party or an xp utility?

Also, when you say you wouldn't put in any money, does that mean just use it as is an HTPC? or pretty much everything has to go?

Thanks again.