I am building another rig. My current rig is based on an ECS K7S5A with an Athlon 2100+ and 512MB PC2100 crucial. I use this computer for internet, email, word processing and some gaming, mainly RTS's. I want to build another rig to get a network setup to play with. SInce I will already be building a computer I figure why not go ahead and make it an HTPC/PVR.
So I need a feature rich, stable board. I was thinking of putting a mobile XP in it for its lower heat output, but not sure if thats worth it, not sure how much cooler they run really. But I suppose I could always put that CPU in my main rig, and the 2100+ in the server. If I do it that way I will likely get an Abit NF7-S or an Asus A7N8X. Those two boards seem to be highly reccomended around here.
If I go that route, do you thinkt he ECS board would be good enough to put in the other computer? I have never had any problems with it really, but its getting a little old and it was one of the first revisions of it, so it is lacking some thinsg that the later revisions had I think.
I was originally thinking of using an ANtec ARia and mATX baord, but I am nto sure if 3 PCI slot would be enough for a multi tuner PVR. SO now I am thinking of using the Sonata and that can handle a full ATX board. SO any suggestions?
Oh yeah I almost forgot, do you think the new Nforce 2 chipset is worth waiting for? I don't currently have any SATA drives, but I coudl get one for this new rig, maybe even 2. The PATA/SATA raid is nice, the hardware firewall is pretty cool. Not sure if I will be able to use the gigabit ethernet, it would come in handy transfering recorded shows if needed, but I had planned to go wireless. The extra USB ports won't make much differant to me, so I am not sure if its worth waiting for or not.
So I need a feature rich, stable board. I was thinking of putting a mobile XP in it for its lower heat output, but not sure if thats worth it, not sure how much cooler they run really. But I suppose I could always put that CPU in my main rig, and the 2100+ in the server. If I do it that way I will likely get an Abit NF7-S or an Asus A7N8X. Those two boards seem to be highly reccomended around here.
If I go that route, do you thinkt he ECS board would be good enough to put in the other computer? I have never had any problems with it really, but its getting a little old and it was one of the first revisions of it, so it is lacking some thinsg that the later revisions had I think.
I was originally thinking of using an ANtec ARia and mATX baord, but I am nto sure if 3 PCI slot would be enough for a multi tuner PVR. SO now I am thinking of using the Sonata and that can handle a full ATX board. SO any suggestions?
Oh yeah I almost forgot, do you think the new Nforce 2 chipset is worth waiting for? I don't currently have any SATA drives, but I coudl get one for this new rig, maybe even 2. The PATA/SATA raid is nice, the hardware firewall is pretty cool. Not sure if I will be able to use the gigabit ethernet, it would come in handy transfering recorded shows if needed, but I had planned to go wireless. The extra USB ports won't make much differant to me, so I am not sure if its worth waiting for or not.
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