Well I've finished the media PC build I've been working on over christmas - nice :)
Think this is the right place to put this :confused: If not please move :Oops:
Project AIMS:
The aim of the project was set out initially in this thread. I have changed my mind a few times but here's basically what I wanted to do:
Have a Media PC that ran on the main TV in the flat for browsing, DVD-Revording, DVD-Playing, Music playing and recording Sky. This has to look good below a TV, be reasonably quiet and be easy to use.
Project Specs
These have changed somewhat, as I was intially going to do P4 + Win XP 64. I changed this due to some cheap hardware and P4's being so hot you can cook eggs ;)
Specs are as follows:
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 Venice 3000+
Motherboard: Optronix OP-k9M200G-MLF - s939 + ATI express x300 onboard
Cooling: Stock Cooler from an AMD X2 4400+
RAM 1gb OCZ Plat Rev 2 TCCD
HDD: WD 250gb SATA 7200rpm
DVD-RW: Sony DVD-RW
TV Card: Hauppague WinTV PVR 150 MCE MediaCenter
Graphics: Onboard x300
Sound: Onboard 6ch
Wireless Network Card: Belkin 6001 Wireless network card
PSU: Silverstone 300w
Case: Silverstone SST-LC11 Silver Case
Keyboard/Input Device: Widows MCE IR Keyboard + Remote
OS: windows MCE + Ubuntu Linux 5.10 (installing soon)
Pics:
Work in Progress Shot:
I had to do a lot of work to get the damn thing up and running so my gaming rig was turned into a mini test-lab :D
http://upload.rubbishrubbishrubbishr...66 (Large).JPG
Internals:
http://upload.rubbishrubbishrubbishr...3/DSCF0157.JPG
http://upload.rubbishrubbishrubbishr...3/DSCF0159.JPG
http://upload.rubbishrubbishrubbishr...3/DSCF0161.JPG
This project was very hard to build in and required several crude (only a knife to cut metal with ;)) mods to it.
The main problem I had was that the case was designed to AGP specs and so the PCI cards didn't fit in the external slots too well. I had to strip down the hauppage card with no backplate, and mod the case and the wireless cards backplate to fit. I would take pics but its all tucked neatly away now ;)
The money shots:
http://upload.rubbishrubbishrubbishr...%20(Large).JPG
During this project my parents bought a 40" LCD TV and so I managed to get given their 32" Panasonic TV. w00t!! :worship:
http://upload.rubbishrubbishrubbishr...71 (Large).JPG
Its all up and running and fairly quiet for a PC below your TV. Once the 5.1 surround is on you don't hear it at all - unlike my gaming rig ;)
So what dya all think? :D