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OK, I AM going to build this PC over the summer, but I'm trying to get an idea for components and budget now.
It's going to be a fairly low spec PC to sit in the lounge and act as a PVR and a media server storing all our music and connected to a TV and speaker system. I'll also run Apache on it as a web server.
It needs to meet a few criteria:
1) Must be silent or as close as possible,
2) Must be discrete and not look like a computer,
3) Must be as cheap as possible,
4) Must be stable and not run too hot as we want it on 24/7.
I've found one case so far, but I'm sure there must be better ones: [URL]http://www.antec.com/uk/productDetails.php?ProdID=08729[/URL]
In theory, I can't see any reason why there need to be any fans in the system at all. I intend to get an Athlon Mobile or Celeron M processor so it has very low heat output - must be able to passively cool this. It will run onboard graphics and sound, and will just run one hard drive, one DVD drive and probably 512MB of RAM. Most of the time, the processor won't be under load - only when recording programs.
Also, I can't decide whether to use Linux or Windows. I have plenty of experience with Windows, and know of software that does what I want and can be controlled by a remote. However, Windows is expensive. Linux is free, and a program MythTV can supposedly do what I want, but I have no experience of using it or Linux in general.
All ideas welcomed.
It's going to be a fairly low spec PC to sit in the lounge and act as a PVR and a media server storing all our music and connected to a TV and speaker system. I'll also run Apache on it as a web server.
It needs to meet a few criteria:
1) Must be silent or as close as possible,
2) Must be discrete and not look like a computer,
3) Must be as cheap as possible,
4) Must be stable and not run too hot as we want it on 24/7.
I've found one case so far, but I'm sure there must be better ones: [URL]http://www.antec.com/uk/productDetails.php?ProdID=08729[/URL]
In theory, I can't see any reason why there need to be any fans in the system at all. I intend to get an Athlon Mobile or Celeron M processor so it has very low heat output - must be able to passively cool this. It will run onboard graphics and sound, and will just run one hard drive, one DVD drive and probably 512MB of RAM. Most of the time, the processor won't be under load - only when recording programs.
Also, I can't decide whether to use Linux or Windows. I have plenty of experience with Windows, and know of software that does what I want and can be controlled by a remote. However, Windows is expensive. Linux is free, and a program MythTV can supposedly do what I want, but I have no experience of using it or Linux in general.
All ideas welcomed.
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Also, wouldn't it be better (sorry guys) to go Intel on this one?
AMD is by far the better for games, but as I assume you won't be using your Media Center for games, go Intel. Faster at DVD reading / burning and other aplications in this category (unfortunately - damn Intel. Wish AMD were better all the way round, but the sorry truth is they ain't.)
AMD is by far the better for games, but as I assume you won't be using your Media Center for games, go Intel. Faster at DVD reading / burning and other aplications in this category (unfortunately - damn Intel. Wish AMD were better all the way round, but the sorry truth is they ain't.)
M's are socket A right?
I came across that case on another review site earlier. Only thing it lacks is the LCD screen thingy - though that's not a biggy. Interesting advice on MicroATX motherboards.
Bases on the reviews of the LC10, I think I would replace all the case fans with silent ones from Thermalright or something. Also, what does anyone know about passively cooling an Athlon M 2600+ ??
Bases on the reviews of the LC10, I think I would replace all the case fans with silent ones from Thermalright or something. Also, what does anyone know about passively cooling an Athlon M 2600+ ??
Nimco wrote:
> I like the look of MicroATX. Found a nice, small, and silent case, and
> some reasonable motherboards. I'm just having a bit of trouble
> finding a motherboard with TV-out on it.
Don't go Micro, whatever you do!
Seriously - Micro never has enough PCI slots for a Media computer. And it's only real advantage is that it's small, which is great, but then you have to buy heatsinks etc to fit.
And if you're building a "silent" Media PC, then definately DON'T GO MICRO. You'll have to buy a micro PSU, which, no matter how much you shell on it, will never be silent.
A better option is this case, the Silverstone LC10 case - [URL ]http://www.ap0calypse.com/showthread.php?t=1558 [/URL].
It has enough room to fit, a snuggly large form PSU, as well as more than enough expansions to fit a TV-out, Hi-Fi out, as well as GFX card and whatever else you want.
It also looks cool.
Windows Media Center is coming out - you won't be able to use it as a normal PC, but it's damn good option for a media center, if a pricey one at that. If you can get that Linux to do it, then give me a heads up, please!
I'm thinking about building one too, now that my PC's been upgraded, I have a bunch of spares, and a bit of cash left. Might as well put it to use on eBay, get some nice RAM, crappy CPU and the other odds 'n' ends.
Should be good.
> I like the look of MicroATX. Found a nice, small, and silent case, and
> some reasonable motherboards. I'm just having a bit of trouble
> finding a motherboard with TV-out on it.
Don't go Micro, whatever you do!
Seriously - Micro never has enough PCI slots for a Media computer. And it's only real advantage is that it's small, which is great, but then you have to buy heatsinks etc to fit.
And if you're building a "silent" Media PC, then definately DON'T GO MICRO. You'll have to buy a micro PSU, which, no matter how much you shell on it, will never be silent.
A better option is this case, the Silverstone LC10 case - [URL ]http://www.ap0calypse.com/showthread.php?t=1558 [/URL].
It has enough room to fit, a snuggly large form PSU, as well as more than enough expansions to fit a TV-out, Hi-Fi out, as well as GFX card and whatever else you want.
It also looks cool.
Windows Media Center is coming out - you won't be able to use it as a normal PC, but it's damn good option for a media center, if a pricey one at that. If you can get that Linux to do it, then give me a heads up, please!
I'm thinking about building one too, now that my PC's been upgraded, I have a bunch of spares, and a bit of cash left. Might as well put it to use on eBay, get some nice RAM, crappy CPU and the other odds 'n' ends.
Should be good.
A laptop is a possibility, but it's cheaper to build, and I'd quite like to be able to add the little extras like a front panel LCD. Also, even "cheap" laptops aren't that cheap.
I've found a really nice case, but it's very expensive and shipped to the US only :(
I've found a really nice case, but it's very expensive and shipped to the US only :(
Surely it would be good to get some silent fans to make sure it keeps cool.
What about a cheap laptop? Get a new harddrive for it, it's small, can fit into places, and has everything you need for media stuff.
What about a cheap laptop? Get a new harddrive for it, it's small, can fit into places, and has everything you need for media stuff.
Nimco wrote:
> Also, I can't decide whether to use Linux or Windows. I have plenty
> of experience with Windows, and know of software that does what I
> want and can be controlled by a remote. However, Windows is
> expensive. Linux is free, and a program MythTV can supposedly do what
> I want, but I have no experience of using it or Linux in general.
Linux.
Not trying to sound like some zealot, but for this kind of job, Linux'd be of great use, especially as it is free.
Linux for desktop use: Not quite
Server use: Perfect
Installing apache on Linux is simple and yes, there is MythTV.
Never used it mind .
> Also, I can't decide whether to use Linux or Windows. I have plenty
> of experience with Windows, and know of software that does what I
> want and can be controlled by a remote. However, Windows is
> expensive. Linux is free, and a program MythTV can supposedly do what
> I want, but I have no experience of using it or Linux in general.
Linux.
Not trying to sound like some zealot, but for this kind of job, Linux'd be of great use, especially as it is free.
Linux for desktop use: Not quite
Server use: Perfect
Installing apache on Linux is simple and yes, there is MythTV.
Never used it mind .
I like the look of MicroATX. Found a nice, small, and silent case, and some reasonable motherboards. I'm just having a bit of trouble finding a motherboard with TV-out on it.
[URL]http://ultim8pc.co.uk/[/URL]
I bought loads of stuff there in the past, and the owner (Nigel I think) was really helpful.
I bought loads of stuff there in the past, and the owner (Nigel I think) was really helpful.
OK, I AM going to build this PC over the summer, but I'm trying to get an idea for components and budget now.
It's going to be a fairly low spec PC to sit in the lounge and act as a PVR and a media server storing all our music and connected to a TV and speaker system. I'll also run Apache on it as a web server.
It needs to meet a few criteria:
1) Must be silent or as close as possible,
2) Must be discrete and not look like a computer,
3) Must be as cheap as possible,
4) Must be stable and not run too hot as we want it on 24/7.
I've found one case so far, but I'm sure there must be better ones: [URL]http://www.antec.com/uk/productDetails.php?ProdID=08729[/URL]
In theory, I can't see any reason why there need to be any fans in the system at all. I intend to get an Athlon Mobile or Celeron M processor so it has very low heat output - must be able to passively cool this. It will run onboard graphics and sound, and will just run one hard drive, one DVD drive and probably 512MB of RAM. Most of the time, the processor won't be under load - only when recording programs.
Also, I can't decide whether to use Linux or Windows. I have plenty of experience with Windows, and know of software that does what I want and can be controlled by a remote. However, Windows is expensive. Linux is free, and a program MythTV can supposedly do what I want, but I have no experience of using it or Linux in general.
All ideas welcomed.
It's going to be a fairly low spec PC to sit in the lounge and act as a PVR and a media server storing all our music and connected to a TV and speaker system. I'll also run Apache on it as a web server.
It needs to meet a few criteria:
1) Must be silent or as close as possible,
2) Must be discrete and not look like a computer,
3) Must be as cheap as possible,
4) Must be stable and not run too hot as we want it on 24/7.
I've found one case so far, but I'm sure there must be better ones: [URL]http://www.antec.com/uk/productDetails.php?ProdID=08729[/URL]
In theory, I can't see any reason why there need to be any fans in the system at all. I intend to get an Athlon Mobile or Celeron M processor so it has very low heat output - must be able to passively cool this. It will run onboard graphics and sound, and will just run one hard drive, one DVD drive and probably 512MB of RAM. Most of the time, the processor won't be under load - only when recording programs.
Also, I can't decide whether to use Linux or Windows. I have plenty of experience with Windows, and know of software that does what I want and can be controlled by a remote. However, Windows is expensive. Linux is free, and a program MythTV can supposedly do what I want, but I have no experience of using it or Linux in general.
All ideas welcomed.
Page: