Please recommend parts for my HTPC

[TechnoPro]

I built a functional HTPC out of salvaged parts all housed in a gorgeous Silverstone case. Trouble is, the system is too slow and not stable.

It is a crappy Syntax motherboard (I had never heard of this brand before), an Athlon 1200 MHz, and 256 MB of cheapo RAM.

I need reccomendations, please, for a repalcement CPU, Motherbaord, and RAM - the rest I have.

My criteria:

* A processor that doesn't run too hot so I can use quiet cooling solutions
* No Celerons
* Relatively inexpensive - don't need bleeding edge
* Full size ATX since my case supports it
* Motherbaord should support AGP since I already have a good enough GPU. If this is silly, than I can be flexible on that.

I need stability first and foremost. Then performance.

Thanks for any ideas!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

What isn't it fast enough for?

You might be able to get by with just some more ram if you're trying to run XP on 256.

 

[TechnoPro]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
What isn't it fast enough for?

You might be able to get by with just some more ram if you're trying to run XP on 256.

Even navigating the front end of Media Portal is slow. Loading pictures from the slideshow is slow... And stability is VERY low.

Not interested in upping the RAM; I want to rebuild from the ground up.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Do you think an Athlon XP would be good enough for you or are you doing enough computation extensive stuff that an A64 would be needed?

Could you give a dollar amount for "relatively inexpensive"?

 

[TechnoPro]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Do you think an Athlon XP would be good enough for you or are you doing enough computation extensive stuff that an A64 would be needed?

Could you give a dollar amount for "relatively inexpensive"?

Athlon XP would be sufficient.

Haha, you got me about the "relatively inexpensive" part. I got out of the loop when it comes to pricing... Would $300 buy me anything decent?

 

[IVB]

$300 is way too much $$ for a CPU & mobo. I use a SocketA, AMD2500 in one that isn't HDTV, AMD3200 for the HDTV one.

I have a complete shopping list of my low/mid-end HTPC on my personal website, linked to below.

Here's the direct link for the shopping list page. It's got prices as of 12/1, and links to newegg.

http://www.myhometheaterpc.com/shopping_list.html

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: TechnoPro

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Do you think an Athlon XP would be good enough for you or are you doing enough computation extensive stuff that an A64 would be needed?

Could you give a dollar amount for "relatively inexpensive"?

Athlon XP would be sufficient.

Haha, you got me about the "relatively inexpensive" part. I got out of the loop when it comes to pricing... Would $300 buy me anything decent?

$300 would be plenty.

With that much you could get an A64, a gig of ram, and then pretty much any 754 AGP board you wanted.

For $230 you could do something like
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103485 A64 754 2800+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820231036 1 gig pc3200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813138247 biostar NF3 board

You could certainly go cheaper if you don't think you need that much.