MultiMedia PC Opinions Wanted

[tRaptor]

I'm in the process of putting together a multimedia PC, right now we use my roomates, but I am going to need my own after this year.

My first idea was to use my secondary system, this is what it would be:

CPU: Athlon 1.4 Ghz (have)
Mobo: ABIT KT7A (have)
HD: 60 GB (have) 60 GB just to start
RAM: 256-512 MB PC133 (have)
VIDEO: AIW 7500 (have)
DVD: Slot Loading (have, on way from newegg)
NIC: Anything 10/100 (have)
Case: ??? (Need to buy)
PSU: Have (have)
Sound: Sound Fortissimo (have)
ATI Remote

But I've been thinking i rather like having that system around. So I'm looking into the possibility of using my old gateway, this system would be:

CPU: Pentium 3, 650 Mhz (have)
Mobo: Gateway (have)
HD: 60 GB (have) 60 GB just to start
RAM: 384mb PC100 (have)
VIDEO: ATI AIW 7500 (have)
DVD: Slot Loading (have, on way from newegg)
NIC: Anything 10/100 (have)
Case: Gateway (have)
PSU: Have (have)
ATI Remote

What i'm wondering is if the Gateway would be a reliable enough system. Of course it would need to play DVD's, divx, all of this would be controled by ATI's multimedia software. So far i have it set up with: 40X cdrom, 128 mb RAM, and a Rage 128 (16mb). It seems to be doing pretty good playing some divx from the cdrom. Of course I'm going to do a test run (with what the final system would be) and see how it is, but i just wanted to get any opinions from you guys what you think. If i end up deciding to go with the ABIT 1.4 Ghz system it wouldent be the end of the world, i could throw together a similar system pretty cheap.

OK guys, what do you think?

 

[MDE]

If you want to play DivX files, you'll need the Athlon's extra muscle. You could always throw the PIII system together as a websurfing\email machine to use while you're watching a movie.

 

[tRaptor]

Originally posted by: MonkeyDriveExpress
If you want to play DivX files, you'll need the Athlon's extra muscle. You could always throw the PIII system together as a websurfing\email machine to use while you're watching a movie.

Possibly, but divx playback only requires a PII 450, and besides, its not running to bad with the current setup. More RAM, and also optimizing Windows XP a bit should helps things out there.

 

[FrustratedUser]

The PIII 650 will work just fine. I used to watch DivX on a Celeron 500 with no problems. I am converting it into a MP3/DivX player now. Just ordered a Video card with S-Video out to connect it to the TV.