I ordered the PC listed below. It is refurbed or $350. I plan to use it for HTPC. If it won't work I should be able to cancel it in the am, but it seems to meet all the HD minimum system req.. A HTPC site mentions the MSI card below for HTPC, but others recommend 512 memory. Is this card limited and how? Can anyone recommend a good valued card, if this one is not adequate. I want to be able to play hd content. I will add either Blu-ray or HD DVD also at some point. I don't game at all and don't do much editing of video. I do photography though. MSI NX8500GT-MTD256EH GeForce 8500GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready Silent Heatsink Video Card Below is the computer. Features/Specifications: Compaq SR5050NX Pentium D 3.0 GHz System Vista Home Premium General Features: Microsoft Windows Vista Premium Basic pre-installed with COA Intel Pentium D 925 3.0 GHz processor 1024 MB RAM installed (supports up to 4 GB PC2-4200) 250 GB SATA hard disk drive 16x DVD±RW drive with LightScribe Integrated video Realtek ALC 888 chipset integrated High Definition audio Integrated 10/100 Base-T Ethernet adapter 56K data/fax PCI modem Built-in memory card reader/writer Card Reader Support: Compact Flash I Compact Flash II IBM Microdrive Secure Digital (SD) mini-SD MultiMediaCard (MMC) Reduced size MultiMediaCard (RS-MMC) MultiMediaCard Plus (MMC plus) MultiMediaCard Mobile (MMC mobile) Memory Stick Memory Stick Pro Memory Stick Duo Memory Stick Pro Duo SmartMedia xD Picture Card Motherboard Features: One (1) PCI Express x 16 slot Three (3) PCI slots (one occupied) Front I/O Ports: Two (2) USB 2.0 ports Line-in jack Microphone jack Headphone jack Rear I/O Ports: One (1) 15-pin standard VGA connector One (1) PS/2 mouse port One (1) PS/2 keyboard port Four (4) USB 2.0 ports One (1) IEEE 1394 6-pin FireWire port One (1) RJ-45 Ethernet jack One (1) RJ-11 phone jack One (1) SPDIF out (coaxial) One (1) 3.5 mm line-in jack One (1) 3.5 mm line-out jack One (1) 3.5 mm side speaker out jack One (1) 3.5 mm rear speaker out jack One (1) 3.5 mm center/sub speaker out jack One (1) 3.5 mm microphone jack Case Features: Two (2) 5.25-inch external drive bays (one occupied) Three (3) 3.5-inch internal drive bays (one occupied) Unit Dimensions: 15 x 6.75 x 17-inches (H x W x D, approximate) Regulatory Approvals: FCC Package Includes: Compaq SR5050NX Pentium D 3.0 GHz System Microsoft Vista Home Premium pre-installed with COA PS/2 keyboard PS/2 mouse Power cord RJ-11 phone cord Set up poster Additional Information: Product Requirements: Available power outlet
It sounds good. For a HTPC I can see some upgrades that your going to want to do. RAM you'd probably want a minimum of 2 GB rather than 1. Also if you plan on having a collection of content on the hard drive you'll probably want to get more drive space. It is limited for tv output if that is something your interested in. The only video output listed is VGA. They don't mention including a remote control for the Media Centre part of the OS. Those are handy to have if your going to watch a lot of media. You can buy the remotes so it doesn't really matter. There isn't any mention of any type of video input or tv capture card.
For the price, it Looks good to me. I would definately up the RAM though, especially if you plan on running VISTA Media Center. Does this mobo support s1 and s2 standby mode? If so great! That means you can boot and hybernate your system relatively easily by just pressing the power button. Only a little bit of power would be given the system so when it boots, it will do so rapidly. Its a lot more detailed but I just wanted to add that evocre8r
For the price, it Looks good to me. I would definately up the RAM though, especially if you plan on running VISTA Media Center. Does this mobo support s1 and s2 standby mode? If so great! That means you can boot and hybernate your system relatively easily by just pressing the power button. Only a little bit of power would be given the system so when it boots, it will do so rapidly. Its a lot more detailed but I just wanted to add that evocre8r
