Recommend me a Media Center PC spec

[DanceswithUnix]

You did mention Linux use earlier in the thread, in which case ATI drivers will suck even more arse!

As for game playing, at that resolution you could probably get away with a 7300, so almost anything would be good enough. I would be tempted by a 7600GS as passive (ie no fan so silent) single slot cards are readily available pretty cheap.

You might want to check out this review of silent graphics cards. A bit old but gives an idea of how low end you can get away with at 800x600.

[aidanjt]

You did mention Linux use earlier in the thread, in which case ATI drivers will suck even more arse!

No kidding, if you think nVidia Vista drivers are faulty (which seems to be random in nature), try ATi's X.org drivers, you'll never complain about driver problems again.

[dangel]

Fair point on the linux thang.. Tricky, huh? Gaming & linux tho? Or are we talking dual booty baby?

[DanceswithUnix]

My Linux HTPC runs World of Warcraft thanks to Wine, which is all I ask The integrated 6150 dues chug a bit though in cities.

On a more serious note, he mentioned Linux so I figured he might want the option of dual boot or straight conversion to Linux if he gets a games playing workstation in the future.

[kungpo]

With the price of 8400/8500 being so low, with the resolutions in questions, it's not a big spend AND you get HD capabilities when you need.

[mediapc]

thanks for all your replies guys...Linux idea has been ditched due to the amount of problems i had setting it up. Vista MCE is the o/s i'm tempted with, although if it means a slow pc, then XP MCE is what i might stick to instead.

As for graphics cards...well i'm being torn between a 8500GT or a 8600GT...you guys decide...just bear in mind that i have only £70 set aside for the gfx card. Also if possible i would be grateful if you could make me a system from this site:- http://www.cclonline.com, as this place is close to home and i can pick it up straight away.

Thank U

[kungpo]

Mate, after all this time, buy it from Scan or some other online e-tailer. You can wait a day or two. Save the money and get the right kit.

[mediapc]

ok mate..i have used ebuyer, but didn't like their customer service...what are scan like and if something went wrong then do they pick up the parts or do i have to post them at my expense?

Also what card shall i go for 8500GT or 8600GT?

thanks

[schmunk]

If you live near CCL, buy from CCL. They're a decent enough shop (and my local PC retailer when I lived with my parents), and even if they're a little more expensive than someone else you can find on the web (and I'm not saying that they necessarily are...), it will be worth it for saved effort if anything needs to be RMA'd.

[kungpo]

Which ever one you can affrd. the 8500 will be good enough I'm sure.

[mediapc]

@ schmunk - your right mate. One of the problems with places like ebuyer is that if something is not working, you have to contact them to arrange a pickup. Then the pickup might be a day or two later. Then you have to waste a whole day, waiting for the courier. When the item gets there, they will take another 24-48hrs to look at the faulty part. After countless calls, they will then tell you if the part is faulty or not and then you have to wait once again for the replacement part to arrive...PHEW!

Rather than go with the above process, i can simply take it to my local shop, who will have a look at the item within 2hrs and i can eithier wait in the tea room or i can come back..its upto me. Even though they are a little expensive, I'd rather stick to CCL than to take the above headache.

@ Kungpo - thats great m8..i will stick to a 8500GT..THANKS!. Would you be able to help me build a system with CCL instead then?

thank you

[kungpo]

CCL don't seem to offer Gigabyte or much ASUS kit...

As I have the Gigabyte board, I know it's quite good and suits the Media Center role quite well. I can't really say about any of the other micro ATX boards CCL offer. And they don't have any at the price point we are interested in.

[DanceswithUnix]

I have known people buy mail order from shops that are a short drive away because:
1/ The price was the same
2/ Distance selling directive gave them better consumer protection.

Funny old world eh

I have had quite a few returns with Scan now, and whilst they will never be as fast as a local shop should be, things have been back within days (or refunded if that is what I asked for).