New Shuttle Advice Please!

[planetgong]

Hi guys

I'm thinking of getting a shuttle to sit next to my tv and play dvds and music and maybe stream some stuff off t'internet!

Was wondering what you recommend. Obviously I don't need something too powerful, as I won't be playing games on it. And it was to be as quiet as possible.

Also, I have broadband currently. Would I need to get a router to set up the 2 pcs?(one by tv downstairs, one upstairs)

Thanks for the help in advance!

[Hottentot]

I have gone the same route you are planning and so far this is what I have come up with

Shuttle SN41G2 Silent X (n force2)
Mobile XP 2500 (can run from 1 - 2.4Ghz as required)
Hauppage USB 2 PVR (for recording video)
DVD ROM (no idea what make)
Samsung HDD 80Gb (more is better ie 160Gb+)

And the big one is the vid card which outputs to my Sony TV via S-video
I have tried :-
Onboard GF4 (average)
GF4 TI 4600 (poor)
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (better)
Asus 9200SE (best so far which is what I use now)

Getting the quality of the TV out to an acceptable level has definitely being the biggest challenge. Next on my list is a decent size LCD TV I can connect to directly via DVI.

Oh and the broadband , I would get a router with a hardware firewall. I'm on cable and use the Asus WL-500G.

[planetgong]

Cheers for that matey. Interesting that the 9200 is better than the 9800pro!! Would it be worth going for an all in wonder card i wonder(no pun intended!!)

[ekundo]

hottentot, whats the writing like on the screen, when i just hook mine up its all but impossible to read. is it just my tv or are you using anything special?

[Hottentot]

I use XP and large icons and fonts.
The resolution is 800x600 on a 25" screen.
For viewing web pages I have to use the increase text size command on my browser.
Some web sites don't support this function so you can't read the text.
[H]OCP and Anadtech and the Inquirer do so they are the sites I visit most.
(Hexus as well of course)
You can use a commercial frontend for a HTPC (eg Showshifter etc) but I prefer Win XP and a wireless mouse.

[ekundo]

ok, thanks, movie day for me tomorrow then

[planetgong]

So how much RAM would you recommend sticking in one of these as well?

[Hottentot]

So how much RAM would you recommend sticking in one of these as well?

256 Mb is enough but 2 x 256 Mb is a better.

[Jimmy Little]

yeah 512 is the the way to go.