Final System Design

[ThePrez]

right after sometime, ive been contemplating this for sometime, i have finally come up with the final build and will order all the parts next week.

Im about to enter into a stage where im also building a Home Theater Room in the house im building and will be auditioning several HT set ups so want to have the sytem up and working so that i can audition these systems with the HTPC that i will actually be using with it.

Here is the final build, any critiscims are comments are greatly appreciated.

Motherboard GIGABYTE GA-G1975-C LGA775 P4 I975 Silent Motherboard with On-board 8 Channel Audio, Lan $357.50
CPU Intel Pentium 4 930 Boxed (Dual Core 3.0GHz LGA775 2x2Mb Cache) $272.80
CPU Cooler Zalman CNPS9500 AT Ultra Quiet Copper CPU Cooler for Intel LGA 775 $77.00
RAM 1 x Corsair DDR2 1GB PC-5300 Value Select RAM (VS1GB667D2) $128.70
Monitor Viewsonic VX2025WM 20IN W/ S LCD, 8MS, 1680x1050, 800:1, 300NITS, 176/ 176, DVI, SPK $530.20
Graphics Card Gigabyte NX76T256D-RH GEF7600GT, 256MB, DDRIII, PCIEx16, Dual-Link DVI, Silent-Pipe II High End Graphics Card $259.00
TV Decoder Card Divico FusionHDTV DVB-T Dual Digital TV Tuner PCI Card $198.00
Hard Drive1 1 x Western Digital 120GB SATA-II 7,200rpm 4MB Cache Hard Drive - Programs, Games & Downloads $99.00
Hard Drive 2 & 3 2 x Western Digital 250GB SATA-II 7,200rpm 4MB Cache Hard Drive - 500GB for Recorded TV $244.20
DVD Drive LiteON 16X DVD Reader $35.00
DVD Writer LiteON DVD ReWriter SHW-160P6S (16x/8x Dual Layer Black) $60.00
Case Silverstone SST-LC17 Black Aluminium Front Desktop Case $154.00
Power Supply Zalman ZM460-APS Noise-free 460W PSU $131.70
Remote Logitech Harmony 880 High End "Learning" Remote $285.00
Software Microsoft Windows Media Centre 2005 OS $187.30
$3,019.40

[simbot82]

ok

TV Decoder Card Divico FusionHDTV DVB-T Dual Digital TV Tuner PCI Card $198.00 - Get rid of this, it is one PCI tuner and one USB and I wouldn't recommend it. Get the Nova T 500 MCE Dual tuner PCI card. True dual PCI tuner card, no extra cords needed.

I'd also say that this is overkill in terms of components but if you are happy to spend then it is lovely. If you are hoping to use this PC as both an office pc and MCE pc then be prepared for many a heartache as the two functions do not play nice.

Good luck

[ThePrez]

you sure about that?

The card looks to have two decoders on it, wasnt aware of it having a USB thing - if that is indeed true then i will certainly change the card to the one you suggest.

With regards to the "high" specs.

wont be using it as a Office Applications at all

but occasionaly i may play some games on it - thats why ive lent to the higher spec machine - could do it cheaper but like i said, occasionaly i will play games on it so i want it to be okay for that.

But its role will primarily be a HTPC

[amilwain]

very similar to my system, you will love it

[ThePrez]

awesome work

hope it works as i hope.

at the moment considering getting a system builder to put it all together for me as well.

if i can get the system for 3K assembled and all parts as i have stated i will be rapted.

[vbap]

To clarify simbot's comments:

The DVICO does have 2 tuners - 1 is a PCI tuner, the other is a USB tuner. The USB tuner needs to be connected to a USB port (either internal or external, but most people find external is more reliable).

The NovaT 500 also has 2 tuners - both of them are actually USB tuners, but all the wiring is on the board istelf, and it uses the PCI bus for communications/power. The card's drivers will actually install a USB controller, plus 2 USB devices.

[glee88]

I'm starting to build my first one too and just eyeballing the prices, you're able to get 10 - 20 bucks off here and there on many of those components....I've seen that motherboard for $310...check out staticice....what I did was decided which parts to get, then check out online sites MSY, TEG, ITEstate....and of course staticice......got all the best prices and then went to 1 dealer and said I'll get all of this if you match these prices....if they can't match the prices, then you've gotta weigh up if the savings gained is better than your time spend travelling around

Another point, if you're running a dual core CPU, I was recommended to use 2 sticks of 512....when installing, the mobo installation guide also suggested this...only problem is that it takes up that slot.

...also, I looked at TX Computers in Auburn (if you're sydney guy) and the guy I spoke to will install for 30 bucks...only warranty is on the parts though....so I'm 99% sure you'll be able to get under 3k...and enough change left over for ham and cheese sandwhich.

[simbot82]

Before you take list to match prices, make sure they are not internet based prices. Rarely will stores match internet as they don't include postage and they dont have overheads.

[ThePrez]

im not much for haggling

im happy to pay a price i think is fair and reasonably for something.

3k for that system, fully built and im happy