Considering a MediaCenter PC

[imported_Scavenger]

Here's the build:
Case - SILVERSTONE SST-LC11S HTPC CASE SILVER
Mobo - ASUS A8N-VM/CSM mATX S939
CPU - AMD Athlon 64 3200+
RAM - Corsair Value Select PC3200 1GB 2X512MB (not 100% on these, figured they were a decent price)
Tuner - HAUPPAUGE WIN TV PVR 500
HHD - Maxtor DiamondMax 10 250GB SATA
OTHERS: MC Remote, BenQ X-TOUCH 805 Wireless Keyboard , LG DVD Writer

Cost: $1050 (Candian Dollar before tax + shipping)

So guys throw in some input please. Is the AMD a better why to go them a p4 with HT for a HTPC? I figured maybe it would keep temps lower. And how about the ram, good enough? It will need to be shared between the onboard GPU which would be used for some basic games which might be fun to play on the tv with company. Other then that I hope to use it for all the features a HTPC handles. Oh and does the cost seem reasonable for the parts?

Feel free to post some encouraging thoughts about your mediacenter PC and how you would never let yourself be seperated from it

 

[ShadowBlade]

corsair ram is the best value ram, just ordered another 512MB for my comp

maxtors are kind of loud and hot, if you can afford it go for seagate, or meet in the middle with WD

 

[SilentZero]

Ok the first change I would make is the HD. I have seen more Maxtors die than I can count, and would go with either WD or seagate. Also you might want to pick up more than 1, because 250gb goes VERY fast if your recording lots of shows (each show at the highest quality can take up between 2-4gb). I would suggest having at least two 250gb drives for your media if you plan on recording a large amount of shows.

Secondly, why the Hauppauge PVR 500? Why not the 150 or 250? I own the PVR 150 card w/ sage TV and it works great for my needs. Since your needs aren't stated I would consider this fact before the purchase.

The RAM is decent, Corsair is a good brand and haven't seen many issues with their value select ram. The AMD is a good proc, but why not go dual core? An AMD64 X2 can be had at a resonable price, and would be my choice (I have two systems running the X2 at the moment, and love them).

Finally..what OS are you planning on running? XP Pro?

 

[xanis]

The main thing that I would change is the case. I would get an Antec Overture II, which is cheaper and comes with a TruePower 420W PSU. Another thing that I would change is the HDD. Maxtors are known to be noisy among other things, so I would get either a Seagate or Western Digital. When you get the HDD, I would suggest getting two 250GB drives, only because TV shows take up a ton of space real quick. Everything else on the list looks alright to me.

 

[raildogg]

Originally posted by: Xanis
The main thing that I would change is the case. I would get an Antec Overture II, which is cheaper and comes with a TruePower 420W PSU. Another thing that I would change is the HDD. Maxtors are known to be noisy among other things, so I would get either a Seagate or Western Digital. When you get the HDD, I would suggest getting two 250GB drives, only because TV shows take up a ton of space real quick. Everything else on the list looks alright to me.

When did you last read this? The current Maxtors are among the most quietest, coolest, efficient, fastest drives out there.

 

[pkme2]

I've used Maxtors, WDs, Hitachis, Samsungs, Toshibas, and Fujitsu. I like Maxtors and WDs on my PCs and Hitachis on my laptops. I've never had any problems like replacement due to drive failure from natural causes. It only occurred when I did something stupid, like improper shutdown or dropping the harddrive etc, etc, etc.
I go with the hdds that have given me good service over the years. I've stayed with the affordable and avoided what people recommended.
They are too many recommended by everybody and then some.
I remember the HDDs sold at Costco to be second rated and undependable. Maybe that's where we hear all the bad happenings on brand name HDDs. You get what you pay for. Luckily online buying has been good for me and others in my group.

 

[SilentZero]

Originally posted by: raildogg

Originally posted by: Xanis
The main thing that I would change is the case. I would get an Antec Overture II, which is cheaper and comes with a TruePower 420W PSU. Another thing that I would change is the HDD. Maxtors are known to be noisy among other things, so I would get either a Seagate or Western Digital. When you get the HDD, I would suggest getting two 250GB drives, only because TV shows take up a ton of space real quick. Everything else on the list looks alright to me.

When did you last read this? The current Maxtors are among the most quietest, coolest, efficient, fastest drives out there.

Sure, the only problem is they aren't reliable.

 

[imported_Scavenger]

I'm considering the Hauppauge PVR 500 because it has 2 inputs so I can record a show while watching another one, or record 2.. its just one of those things, I dont watch alot of TV but I figure that those times I miss a program because I'm watching something else is exactly what I need this HTPC for.

OS will be Media Center 2005.

As for the X2s I would love them but entry is double the price of the 3200+ and up so it's a bit too expensive for a HTPC imo.

The HDD choice I made was because I have the same maxtor in my main pc and so far so good (tho it has only been a few months). Its not loud at all, only time I heard it is when it spins up after sitting idle for a while.. then it goes quite again.

 

[DelD]

Personnally I would go with the cheapest, quietest hard drive you can buy, if it fails so what you missed a couple of shows and you have to reload the OS.

If this was a computer used for business or personal needs then I would be concerned about the HDD manufacture. I personnaly have had 2 Maxtor drives fail over the years (I have owned 5), I have only had 1 WD drive fail and I have owned well over a dozen.

I would increase the size of the drives or add another, doesnt take long to fill up 250Gig especially if you are like me and forget to delete the shows. P

Take care,

Del D