Media PC Take Two

**HeavyG** · 11-04-07, 01:01 AM

So I transformed my old PC into a Media PC or Home Theater PC. I had a couple problems with the initial setup and started seeking affordable alternatives. I was running a P4 chip that ran hotter than hell. My X850XT video card also sounded like a hair dryer at startup.

I ordered some new parts and the MediaPC is finally finished. Here is what I purchased in order to make an affordable MediaPC:

CPU: AMD Athalon 64 X2 3600+ - $48.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16819103222

Motherboard: ASUS A8V-XE - $59.99
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...061&CatId=1803

Video Card - Gigabyte 8400GS (fanless) - $52.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16814125069

Optical Drive - Lite On CD/DVD Burner - $35.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16827106045

Case: nMediaPC 500BA - $139.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16811204023

NIC: Gigabyte Wireless G - $15.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16839121008

Sound Card: M-Audio Revolution 5.1 - $59.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...%2bAudio%2b5.1

Memory: 2 GB (4x512MB) OCZ Gold (left over from old PC) - $0.00

Hard Drive: 320GB, 120GB, 40GB (all IDE, left over from old PC) - $0.00

Power Supply: Antec 500w (left over from old PC) - $0.00

Total Price: $413.93

Not bad seeing how the case was more than 33% of the total cost. I needed a black case so it would match the rest of my home theater. The case I chose has some nice features, such as a brushed black aluminum front, and an led display that I can program to tell what movie/song is playing, what the system specs (temps, voltage, CPU usage, etc), or just have a Dolby Digital or some other custom display.

Anyways, here is the final product:

[img width=700 height=466]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/GNovak83/IMG_1028.jpg[/img]

[img width=700 height=466]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/GNovak83/IMG_1027.jpg[/img]

[img width=700 height=466]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/GNovak83/IMG_1029.jpg[/img]

These are all before I installed it in the Entertainment Center. I will get some more pics soon. So there you have it. A completely kick ass MediaPC for less than $450, using some old hard drives. The video capture card will come down the line. I am waiting for all of the bugs for capping digital TV signals to be ironed out before I drop some cash. This PC was a lot of fun to build because I wasnt looking for something that performed, but I was looking for something practical and good quality.

**Blue_Thunder27** · 11-04-07, 02:27 AM

Whats on top of your vid card?

Now all you need is a Blue-Ray HDD!

**HeavyG** · 11-04-07, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by Blue_Thunder27

Whats on top of your vid card?

Now all you need is a Blue-Ray HDD!

That is the heatsink. It is fanless, so the heatsink is all funky and spread out all over the card. I plan on getting an HD DVD drive as soon as they drop in price.

**ZombieCookie** · 11-10-09, 03:58 PM

Okay guys, I haven't posted in a while but I still search the forums daily and read the stuff most of you guys post.

Anywho I have a fun thread(Atleast I think its fun) and I would like to see what Ideas all of you guys have.

This is going to be purely for fun, I'm not really asking for anything to be added to the game just pure fun.

Okay so the end is here, and lets say the infection spreaded all over the globe its been a year already with the infection around.

Now you get to pick to be a survivor or special infected.

If

Survivor write down the weapons you have(It can be anything you want even the deadly spork) and where are you staying at.

Special Infected write down which infected are you, and if you have imagination even make up your own with your own special ability.(If not just choose between Hunter, Boomer so-on..)

I would most definitely be The Zombie Cookie!(lol lame)
I'm a SI whose completely obsessed with cookies rather than humans.
My special ability is to jump on a survivor and force them to eat my deadly Zombie cookies which carry all sorts of worms and putrid liquid, when finished I cut them down in cookie shaped circles and baked them :] YES IM A SI THAT COOKS! =D

So yeah there you go, what about you guys?

(Narrator voice)
What would you be!?

Pookie:cc: