Less than a Ton!

[Pepp77]

I am trying to piece together the necessary parts to put together a media streaming PC that can connect to the spare TV using ethernet for streaming SD and 720p media from the local home server.

I want to try and do this for less than £100 otherwise I might as well just get a WD Live.

I currently have a HDD and an ODD I can use (and a 775 heatsink/fan if needbe). I also have a copy of XP I can use with KMPlayer for playback.

I would therefore need

Case+PSU (Preferably Media style to go under a TV)
Mobo
CPU
RAM - Would 1gig be enough or should I be looking at 2gig

Ive looked at the Atom (https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/Gladiator+Atom+BareBones+PC+%2B+180w+PSU+?productI d=39606) on Aria, but would need to change the case and I reckon I can get a E6300 (or equivalent) CPU to do the job for £10-£20 second hand (oh yeah second hand isnt an issue) and I know I can get a mobo (http://motherboards-reviews.com/ASUS/socket_775/P5G41-M/ASUS_P5G41-M_review.html)(socket 775) to handle the graphics for under £40 brand new - and this would also allow HDMI connection rather than VGA.

So people please give me some ideas of CPU/Mobos I could be looking for, or any other alternative ideas.

My current best pricing is £120 for E6300 (second hand if the auction stays low), the mobo above, 2gb ddr2 ram, and a value media centre case with PSU, but this leaves me with just a mouse to control it - so might have to also look into spending a tenner or so on a remote control.

Thanks

[El Wayneo]

1GB will be fine, i ran my HTPC with Win7 on 1GB for ages.

Might struggle with integrated graphics sharing it though, but you can pickup an 8400GS for less than £10.

Any old Pentium Dual Core (E2160) or an old Core2Duo is plenty.

Bundles normally go real cheap on fleabay.

£50 for mobo,cpu, ram on some of them.

[Pepp77]

Hhhm - I might just have to grab the V2 of this - http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Sound+and+Vision/Media+Players/Sumvision+Cyclone+MKV+1080P+HD+Media+Player+?produ ctId=38324 - as a competitor has it for £70

Then I can move it around easily if I need to.

[tystar]

Hhhm - I might just have to grab the V2 of this - http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Sound+and+Vision/Media+Players/Sumvision+Cyclone+MKV+1080P+HD+Media+Player+?produ ctId=38324 - as a competitor has it for £70

Then I can move it around easily if I need to.

Hmm tempted with those myself. Gonna have a bit more of a look at that.
got 2 hard drives that will be ideal with that too.

[Pepp77]

Right circumstances have changed a little bit as I should hopefully have a bit more money due to an ebay sale (£150 extra :)) and have thought I would use

Asus P5G41-M motherboard (http://motherboards-reviews.com/ASUS/socket_775/P5G41-M/ASUS_P5G41-M_review.html)

and an

Intel E3300 (http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/CPUs+/+Processors/Intel/Celeron+Socket+775/Intel+Celeron+E3300+SKT775+-+Retail+?productId=37981)

in an

Antec Micro Fusion Veris Case (http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/11081-antec-veris-microfusion-remote-350-htpc-case-review.html)

with

the cheapest 2GB stick of DDR2 I can find and the DVDRW and HDD I already have.

So costs should be £150 all in. Thoughts.

Edit - oh and Win 7 is really out of budget so its either XP home or Vista Ultimate

[wonderlust]

G41 will not do HD playback.

Get a G31 and something like a passive 4670.

[Pepp77]

G41 will not do HD playback.

Get a G31 and something like a passive 4670.

According to this it will be fine - http://www.intel.com/technology/graphics/gma.htm

But if you are concerned about it can you spec a motherboard/CPU for £75 or under that will do the job without the need for a seperate GPU.

[wonderlust]

Well I maent full HD playback :redface:

It's only partcial support.

[El Wayneo]

I got a 9500GT for £20 on here and its perfect for HTPC.

Or my Motherboard has Ati 3200 integrated graphics which handles blu-ray and some 1080p mkv fine, but i find the picture is lacking colour compared to an add in GPU.

Edit: Just had a quick look on fleabay, lots and lots of Core2Duo E4400 For £30 delivered.

I don't think that this sold, i've used this motherboard a few times with an 8400GS, works well.

http://forums.aria.co.uk/showthread.php?t=26333

YOu should be able to pick up an 8400GS for £10 on fleabay.

[KickButt]

Hhhm - I might just have to grab the V2 of this - http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Sound+and+Vision/Media+Players/Sumvision+Cyclone+MKV+1080P+HD+Media+Player+?produ ctId=38324 - as a competitor has it for £70

Then I can move it around easily if I need to.

we stock these at my work, are brilliant little things and wickedly priced :)