Re: Sub-$1000 MCE Systems?

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From: Craig (mapsliame2004-craig_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 11/15/04 

Date: Sun, 14 Nov 2004 20:50:50 -0800

Andy,

Sorry for the delay, here's what I would recommend for hardware:

Case: SilverStone LC03 (black or silver)

Power Supply: Allied 400W

Mobo: MSI K8N-FSR

CPU: AMD 64 3000+

Ram: 512 MB Kingston

Hard Drive: Western Digital 120 GB SATA

Video Card: ATI Radeon 9600SE

Capture Card: ATI eHome Wonder

Disc Drive: DVD Burner

Wireless: Netgear WG311T PCI Card (subtract $60 if not wireless isn't
needed)

OS: Media Center Edition 2005

DVD Software Decoder: Nvidia

This list of products equals a cost of $1,048.18. If you really want to
stay below the thousand dollar mark, I would recommend either a standard PC
case and power supply, the two listed above equal $158 of the cost, you
could go with a standard black case with power for around $60 - $80. The
other options would be to get a different hard drive, like a Maxtor which
may be less expensive, I am just really partial to Western Digital because
of how few problems I have had with them. All the cost were according to
www.mwave.com, which is where I buy most of my parts.

Let me know if you have any other questions

Craig

"Craig" <mapsliame2004-craig@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ulwTi0gyEHA.2540@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>I wouldn't recommend Gateway, especially refurb.
>
> As for the configuration I would recommend, I only have a minute right
> now, so check back tomorrow and I will post something.
>
> Craig
>
> "Andy" <magnetism87@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:b0603a2b.0411131302.62dcb1aa@posting.google.com...
>> Craig, thanks for your advice. So what kind of configuration would you
>> recommend in building my own system, if I do not wish to go over a
>> $1000?
>>
>> Also, I've been seeing the Gateway 901x (refurbished) on Ebay for less
>> then a $1000? Is it worth considering?
>>
>>
>> Andy
>>
>>
>> "Craig" <mapsliame2004-craig@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:<usoa6fTyEHA.1260@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl>...
>>> I don't know of any that are built from the manufacturers, but I know
>>> that
>>> one could be built in that range. I have built a number of these
>>> systems
>>> for various customers that have, starting a hair below $1,000 on up from
>>> there. The common range is between $1500 and $2000. The great thing
>>> about
>>> doing it this way instead of buying one off the shelf is that there are
>>> a
>>> number of cases out today that do make the units look like home audio
>>> equipment. For the bigger systems I build, I prefer SilverStone cases,
>>> they
>>> are very well made and accommodate two hard drives and two CD/DVD drives
>>> if
>>> you what that. Some home audio style cases really make things cramped
>>> as
>>> they try to limit the overall size and shape and multiple hard drives
>>> then
>>> is a problem. If you do find a sub $1000 system prebuilt from a major
>>> manufacture, I would question the quality of the parts used and overall
>>> flexibility, not to mention the ability to upgrade down the road if you
>>> choose to.
>>>
>>> Best of luck, feel free to contact me if I can answer any other
>>> questions
>>> you have directly.
>>>
>>> Craig
>>>
>>>
>>> "Andy" <magnetism87@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>> news:b0603a2b.0411121255.23b69454@posting.google.com...
>>> > Are there any sub-$1000 MCE 2005 systems in the pipeline for the
>>> > holiday season? I am specifically looking not at the desktop form
>>> > factor, but at an HTPC that can go into the living room.
>
>

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