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digiology2 · 11:57 AM

Hi, I've decided to build a cheap pc for playing movies and music in my tv room. Im having trouble:
a) finding a decent website for parts that will deliver to Ireland and
b)knowing what power supplies, and fans work with what motherboards and will be sure to fit in the case.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

I was thinking about a sempron processor and a graphics card with tv in and out(maybe an ati all-in-wonder). Have not chosen any specific parts so Im open to tips!

Cheers

waxcrash · May 9, 2005, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by digiology2

Any thoughts or suggestions?

My suggestion is you search the forums on this subject as it has been covered a million times.

goMac · May 9, 2005, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by digiology2

Hi, I've decided to build a cheap pc for playing movies and music in my tv room. Im having trouble:
a) finding a decent website for parts that will deliver to Ireland and
b)knowing what power supplies, and fans work with what motherboards and will be sure to fit in the case.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

I was thinking about a sempron processor and a graphics card with tv in and out(maybe an ati all-in-wonder). Have not chosen any specific parts so Im open to tips!

Cheers

Power supplies have been pretty much standardized, I'd use a 350 watt one for the system you're describing.

Fans are also pretty standardized. I have a 3.6 ghz Pentium 4 and haven't needed any more fans beyond what came on the case and what came with the processor (thats not to say the machine isn't a noisy space heater).

ghporter · May 9, 2005, 03:39 PM

Power supplies are usually presented as "ATX" or "mini-ATX" or whatever. That shows you what form-factor motherboards they'll work with. Get more than enough capacity so it will run cooler.

If you don't mind a "PC case" in your entertainment center, then go with a mini-ATX motherboard and case. That gives you a fairly small platform, but still can offer a number of PCI card slots.

I can't help you on sites that will ship to Ireland. Sorry.

olePigeon · May 9, 2005, 04:32 PM

If you pay for my plane ticket, I'll be your delivery boy.

I wanna go to Ireland.

digiology2 · May 9, 2005, 05:12 PM

why would you wanna go to ireland? : ) Thanks for the replys, so your saying I can buy any standard fans and power supply and it'll fit in my case connect up and keep it cool enough?
Im just afraid of buying lots of parts and never figuring out how to put it together (let alot install windows!)

B Gallagher · May 9, 2005, 11:47 PM

Could you not just pick up a second hand PC from somewhere in your town/city, save having to get it BTO and shipped? :S

I don't know.. getting a PC BTO when all you want it for is music and video seems a bit OTO.. BTO's tend to be normally for more high-end users.

Albert Pujols · May 10, 2005, 12:00 AM

You should defnitely get a Shuttle. They're great...small not that ugly and they don't make too much noise.

effgee · May 10, 2005, 04:20 AM

Originally Posted by Albert Pujols

You should defnitely get a Shuttle. They're great...small not that ugly and they don't make too much noise.

seconded.

ghporter · May 10, 2005, 08:17 AM

The only problem with the Shuttle extremely small boxes is that they are not a widely adopted standard size and take special motherboards. There aren't a lot of sources for parts, so you won't be able to take advantage of price competition as you can with more common standard sized PC parts.

With that said, I'm considering two Shuttle barebones systems; one for a flexible NAS box and another for a DVR/PVR project. They ARE extremely quiet and cool running, and Shuttle has apparently committed to providing ample power to these boxes, even with the tiny power supply form factor required.