My dad is looking to upgrade his computer (Dell - Optiplex GX1)
It is just taking so long to load something up.
Specs:
PentiumIII 498MHz
384Mb pc133 SD-Ram
7.14Gb HDD (as reported in Windows Xp, My Computer)
all other integrated on board. (graphics, sound etc.)
20in CRT Monitor
I tried upgrading the memory, but it is a very fussy motherboard to get memory to work with it.
I've been thinking about this a bit.
I have decided to upgrade the media computer instead, and my dad would get the left-over media computer innards.
My reasons for upgrading the media computer are:
The media computer occasionally locks up and requires a reboot. (press reboot)
I would like to be able to run an extender (my pc or my xbox360).
It currently does not have enough juice to run extenders. (although it will successfully detect each device on the network.) the whole network is wired.
The current specs of the media computer are:
Motherboard: Gigabyte-GA8IDMNF (ex Packard Bell production board) socket 478
Processor: Pentium4 1.7GHz
Memory: 1GB(2x512) PC133 SDRAM
Graphics: Sparkle - nVidia GeForce FX5200 (analogue outputs only)
Sound - Integrated on board.
2 x BlackGold freeview (DVB UK) TV tuner cards.
nVidia PureVideo decoder software.
I will put some money towards upgrading the media computer, as it's for all of us to use in the house.
My dad would get the media computer parts left over (mobo, memory, graphics and processor)
There's an article on Tom's Hardware:
"We Build Four HDMI-Based HTPCs"
http://tomshardware.co.uk/2007/05/04/we_build_4_diy_hdmi_uk/
They build them completely for Hi-def.
I have come up with possibly a better spec from what they have done.
This is all from Micro Direct (my usual first place due to them being local to me)
- Intel CPU Core 2 Duo E4300 1.8GHz 800FSB LGA775 2MB cache Retail inc.Fan (3yr Manufacturers Warranty)
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=16265
- Asus Extreme 7600GT 256MB DDR3, PCI-E, Dual DVI, HDMI, HDTV Out, Retail
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=17398
- Kingston Value Ram 1GB 533MHz DDR2 PC4200 memory
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=14890
- 250GB Samsung SP2504C SATA II 300 7200rpm 8MB cache HDD Hard Disk Drive oem
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=12209
- Asus P5B Skt 775 Intel P965 Core2 Extreme / Core2 Duo 1066FSB PCI-E x16 SATA Giga LAN 8 ch. Audio ATX Motherboard
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=14561
Total: £311.19
I chose the motherboard due to the fact it has a really good selection of expansion ports:
1x PCI-E x16 (for the graphics card)
3x PCI-E x1 (for future upgardes (hi def tv tuner?))
3x PCI 2.2 (Will put the 2 Black Gold DVB Tuner cards in 2 of these)
It also has an interal S/PDIF audio connection, which can be connected to the graphics card. the graphics card combiles the audio so one cable only needs to go to the TV (HDMI)
What do you think?
It is just taking so long to load something up.
Specs:
PentiumIII 498MHz
384Mb pc133 SD-Ram
7.14Gb HDD (as reported in Windows Xp, My Computer)
all other integrated on board. (graphics, sound etc.)
20in CRT Monitor
I tried upgrading the memory, but it is a very fussy motherboard to get memory to work with it.
I've been thinking about this a bit.
I have decided to upgrade the media computer instead, and my dad would get the left-over media computer innards.
My reasons for upgrading the media computer are:
The media computer occasionally locks up and requires a reboot. (press reboot)
I would like to be able to run an extender (my pc or my xbox360).
It currently does not have enough juice to run extenders. (although it will successfully detect each device on the network.) the whole network is wired.
The current specs of the media computer are:
Motherboard: Gigabyte-GA8IDMNF (ex Packard Bell production board) socket 478
Processor: Pentium4 1.7GHz
Memory: 1GB(2x512) PC133 SDRAM
Graphics: Sparkle - nVidia GeForce FX5200 (analogue outputs only)
Sound - Integrated on board.
2 x BlackGold freeview (DVB UK) TV tuner cards.
nVidia PureVideo decoder software.
I will put some money towards upgrading the media computer, as it's for all of us to use in the house.
My dad would get the media computer parts left over (mobo, memory, graphics and processor)
There's an article on Tom's Hardware:
"We Build Four HDMI-Based HTPCs"
http://tomshardware.co.uk/2007/05/04/we_build_4_diy_hdmi_uk/
They build them completely for Hi-def.
I have come up with possibly a better spec from what they have done.
This is all from Micro Direct (my usual first place due to them being local to me)
- Intel CPU Core 2 Duo E4300 1.8GHz 800FSB LGA775 2MB cache Retail inc.Fan (3yr Manufacturers Warranty)
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=16265
- Asus Extreme 7600GT 256MB DDR3, PCI-E, Dual DVI, HDMI, HDTV Out, Retail
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=17398
- Kingston Value Ram 1GB 533MHz DDR2 PC4200 memory
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=14890
- 250GB Samsung SP2504C SATA II 300 7200rpm 8MB cache HDD Hard Disk Drive oem
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=12209
- Asus P5B Skt 775 Intel P965 Core2 Extreme / Core2 Duo 1066FSB PCI-E x16 SATA Giga LAN 8 ch. Audio ATX Motherboard
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=14561
Total: £311.19
I chose the motherboard due to the fact it has a really good selection of expansion ports:
1x PCI-E x16 (for the graphics card)
3x PCI-E x1 (for future upgardes (hi def tv tuner?))
3x PCI 2.2 (Will put the 2 Black Gold DVB Tuner cards in 2 of these)
It also has an interal S/PDIF audio connection, which can be connected to the graphics card. the graphics card combiles the audio so one cable only needs to go to the TV (HDMI)
What do you think?























