HTPC related question-server and client?

[fray_bentos]

I've currently got an old machine (p4 2.53, 512 ram, x800pro agp, and all the other bits - good bits when they were bought as it was put together by someone who knew what they were doing). All it really gets used for is recording TV and streaming using Orb. It's noisey and needs a bit of an update as it struggles to do everything at once.

I would like to have a machine which stays on, records the TV I want and holds all my files for access remotely. I was looking at moving all my stuff from the big coolermaster case its in to a smaller box and putting it under my TV. Then getting the HP for £188 in the bargain forum, setting that up to record tv and be a file server and putting it somewhere out of sight.

What I wanted some feedback on was whether this seemed like a reasonable setup or whether I just seemed to be keeping hold of old parts becasue they cost me quite a bit several years ago. The HP seems great value, but could I have bought a similar setup myself, as I am going to have to buy a new small case anyway. Bit of a ramble but some suggestions would be appreciated.

[arthurleung]

First you need to think what is actually struggling.
From the look of it, the P4 is plenty fast, just need may be another 512MB of ram and it will run what you want at decent speed. Or may be the harddrive is too slow? Try defragging, and/or add another harddrive just for recording?

[usxhe190]

where is the noise coming from?

[fray_bentos]

When i costed getting a new 250gb drive and another gig of ram it was about ~£90, so for another £90 i get a whole new computer.

The noise is coming from the northbridge fan, i've got a zalman zm-nbf47 which i need to modifiy to fit as its too big, according to someone on here its relatively soft metal so easy to bent the few bits that will collide with other things out of the way -that's if the mouniting loops are in the right place which i am beginning to doubt.