Need a cheap media center computer

B

bobstone

Limp Gawd
Joined
Aug 3, 2005
Messages
361
Hey all

I am looking to get a sub $500 computer

it needs to be able to play 1080p mkv files and have a hdmi output and a seprate optical out .

Also it needs to be a Dell. Don't ask why but it does :)

my question is will a intel integrated video card handle that video play back and what is the cheapest CPU I can get that can handle it also

thanks for any info

Bob stone
 
At the very least, an E5300 and X4500HD integrated, if going with Dell. Many models only have coax spdif, though. Yes, the X4500HD will handle video playback just fine. For the AMD side, 780G integrated and an Athlon2 X2. Are 1080p mkv files your only source?

For pre-builts, you want the computers and gadgets subforum. ;) Or you could have chosen the HTPC subforum as well.
 
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since you looking at dell, i would start with dell outlets to save some bucks.

found 2 systems might work for you. For hdmi, just get a dvi to hdmi converter. for optical, get a 10 dollar sound card from newegg with optical out.

number 1 = definitely overkill for what you need, but should last you for a while.
Inspiron 537s
(System Identifier: 09C9AX16)

* Inspiron Desktop 537s SlimTower
* Genuine Windows XP Pro with Vista Business License

System Price : $599.00

Operating System
Genuine Windows XP Pro with Vista Business LicenseMemory
4 GB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz (2 DIMMs)Hard Disk Drive
500 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM) w/DataBurst CacheVideo
512MB ATI Radeon HD 4350Processor
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q8200 (2.33GHz, 4M, L2Cache, 1333FSB) 65WCertified Refurbished
Certified RefurbishedBase
Inspiron Desktop 537s SlimTowerMedia Bay
16X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capabilitySoftware Upgrade
Windows Live
Microsoft Works 9.0
32BIT Operating System CD
32BIT Operating System CDHardware Upgrade
Dell USB Entry Keyboard
Dell 19 in 1 Media Card Reader
125V Power Cord
Optical 2-Button Mouse
No ModemSystem Color
Piano BlackChassis Type
Slim TowerNetwork Interface Card
Dell 1505 WLAN PCIe card with11n mini-Card & external antenna
Click to expand...

number 1 = slightly cheaper the opt1 but still 4 core cpu
Inspiron 546
(System Identifier: EP04PD8V)

* Inspiron Desktop 546 MiniTower
* Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium

System Price : $469.00

Operating System
Genuine Windows Vista Home PremiumMemory
6 GB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz (4 DIMMs)Hard Disk Drive
500 GB SATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM) w/DataBurst CacheVideo
512MB ATI Radeon HD 4350Scratch & Dent
Scratch & DentMedia Bay
16X DVD ROM Drive
16X DVD +/- RW w/dbl layer write capabilityBase
Inspiron Desktop 546 MiniTowerHardware Upgrade
Dell USB Entry Keyboard
125V Power Cord
No Floppy Drive
Thermal Module Heatsink,95W
Optical 2-Button Mouse
No ModemProcessor
Processor: AMD Phenom X4 Quad Core 9750 Processor (2.4GHz, 4MB)System Color
Piano BlackSoftware Upgrade
Windows Live
64BIT Operating System DVD
Microsoft Works 9.0
64BIT Operating System CDChassis Type
Mini Tower
Click to expand...
 
Enginurd.

would a E5400 with a X4500 (non HD) work or do i really want to get the HD version?
or a AMD cpu with a HD3200


Marcoi.

I haven't updated my sig for a while but I will after this post, but I got plenty of computing power in my house :) this computer will only be used for media, no games, no nothing but media which is going to be streamed from my desktop ( I have about 2 TB of media )... and also web browsing, and rdp'ing to my desktop.

so all I need is the absolute basic needed to play hd in MKV Containers (As of right now my understanding is that the x264 codec used in them is one of the hardest to play back for hardware reasons) I also use Itunes.

however you comment about the outlet is a good idea, I will look that over.

also mod or any one can you move this to an appropriate subforum ?
 
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well if you decided you wanted to build your own system.. heres an example..

SILVERSTONE Black Aluminum / Steel LC13B-E ATX Media Center / HTPC Case - Retail has a 20 dollar rebate on this as well..
GIGABYTE GA-MA785GM-US2H AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Antec earthwatts EA430 430W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.0 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
AMD Athlon X2 5000+ 2.2GHz Socket AM2+ 65W Dual-Core Processor Model AD5000ODGIBOX - Retail
Crucial 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model CT2KIT12864AA800 - Retail
2x Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EADS 1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
total price not including shipping $514.94 - 20= $494.94
now if you didnt want to store anything on the system.. you could instead go with a WD 640GB which is 74.99 or a WD 320GB for 49.99.. honestly for 24.99 more the 640's a better choice..

or if you have a spare drive laying around you could use that which would then give you enough money to buy a bluray drive for the system
LG Black 8X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM 40X CD-ROM SATA Internal Combo LG Blu-ray Reader & 16X LightScribe DVD±R DVD Burner - Retail

which would then save you from having to spend 200 or more dollars for a bluray player..

take out the hard drives and add the bluray drive would make the total: 494.94 - 169.98 + 129.99 = 454.95
 
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If you do build, the Samsung F3 single platter 500GB would be a good choice, and is only $55.
 
Well I ended up getting the studio slim for 360 after tax
has a e5200 CPU
x4500hd vid
500gb hdd
vista 64bit home and eligable for hue windows 7 free upgrade
4 gb ram
1 year at home service


I priced out the same stuff on newegg and it came out to 480 ish before tax.

And I have read up on the studio slim a bit and it actully has an ASus mb in it( Dell rebranded one)

thanks for all the help also

bob stone
 
Also looked at the popcorn hour. That is pritty nifty. But I am not a fan of integrated codec support. I used something like that a few years ago and it lost it's usability with the advent of new codec styles.

And I already got a ps3 for blu Ray play back
 
enginurd
ya at newegg the 480 price tag included a full os. so i feel pretty good about the deal i found.

marcoi
ya got it from the dell outlet, man you really got to search that site, they have odd prices cause some of the computers come with stupid little things like 19 in 1 card readers and 100$ dell wireless keyboard combos, you reayy got to dig thru to get the good deals.

any ways I also picked up a wmp600n card for wireless on it, any of you got any ideas on it, my main router is a wrt610n.

also i will update ya all on the computer when it shows up, let ya know how well it handles HD, cpu load and all that fun stuff.
 
wow, ordered it on the 21st and got it today. that was with the free 3-5 day shipping.

will update when i get it all working,

unfortunately the wifi card i ordered hasn't arrived yet so i had to use my old router as a client to get it to connect to my router. that took a bit.

any ways running nicely right now
 
ok got it running good. still on vista, got to get them to ship me the win 7 upgrade, however

thru a wifi G connection I can play a 1080 11gb files with no slow down at all, using 30% - 50% cpu.

that is also using WMP 11 with sharky's codec pack

with WMPC 6.4.9.0 i sit at about 20-30%

any ways this worked perfectly for what i need
 
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