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Wanting new Machine for Multimedia.. Help?

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theprophet:
Size is really not the issue on this one, neither is the noise of it. I know fans can get noisy on a computer.

I would like something with all internal drives that I can run things off. I have external drives right now and im concerned something might happen to them. So I want a machine that I can just leave next to my TV and run when I need it instead of using my laptop when I wanna watch something like I do now. Kinda sucks when watching can't use the laptop for messaging or anything.

Basically gonna use the externals as backups and this machine to play my vids on whenever. don't plan on playing any games with it, or even net browsing just for watching movies.. possibly playing some music from too. Just need one HDMI output really nothing else.

Price: I would like to keep the machine around $500 at the moment. I know that won't get me all the space I want on it at the moment, but it will be enough to get me started and then upgrade with more drives as I get the money.

fohfoh:
If that's the case, any decent C2D should function fine for you. Quad core is nice, but not really necessary. (But might as well, right?) Chasing the i-series from intel doesn't seem like a good use of money IMO, so the phasing out of the quad core and even AMD might be a good look.


Choose your proc
Then go for your mobo

Consider whether you want a raid array (which I highly doubt is useful in a tower just for movies such as this... but you never know) and go from there.

There's a lot of other threads on building PCs in the forums if you want to wander over there and get a general idea before asking specific questions about this and that.

DeadSpaceX:
Current media system is a dual core amd, 2gb ddr2 @800 and a 9500gt 512mb card gddr2 w/hdmi out, 500w psu, total price (already had spare hdd/optical drive and case) was a little under $300 (including am3 mobo w/PCI-E 2.0 x16). networked to file server.

video card was kind of overkill for just playing vids, but lowest priced cards were around $30, so $20 more wasn't that big of a difference. Most complete systems around that price were integrated graphics(6000 series), single core, and intel atoms.

Adding a case, hdd, optical drive...though i'd discount hdd and optical, both are reusable ;) would only bring it up to around $400, with still more capability then oem.

vuzedome:
95oo? dual-core amd?
you serious?
Get those Core i3s or i5s, 2gb ddr3, 450W psw,  go internal with GMA HD.
Now most people would argue with me about GMA, if you actually go through the effort of getting DXVA to work properly, just as you would do the same with an ATi or nVidia card, it has unnoticed potential.

kureshii:

--- Quote from: DeadSpaceX on February 22, 2010, 11:53:59 AM ---Current media system is a dual core amd, 2gb ddr2 @800 and a 9500gt 512mb card gddr2 w/hdmi out, 500w psu, total price (already had spare hdd/optical drive and case) was a little under $300 (including am3 mobo w/PCI-E 2.0 x16). networked to file server.

--- End quote ---
That's a good budget build (Assuming that's an Athlon II X2 you have), stick with it. No point shelling out for a system you don't need just yet.

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