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[any_contingency]

So, does anyone have any suggestions on what I should use as a good platform for building a computer that'll mostly see use online and with multimedia. I aim to my entertainment center through it, so that's the focus. What should I go with for tower, motherboard, processor, et cetera? Upgradeability is also quite key. Thanks!

Comments

[mrpet]

If you want to run your entertainment center through it I would get a 19" 2U enclosure and just jam everything into it. That way you can have one stack of equipment all the same width.

Since this solution is so wide you can pretty much use what ever MB is cheapest. Unless you are going for crazy performance games the onboard video card is probably going to be fine, some even have TV tuners built in. If you get a video card on a AGP card you could get a right angle adaptor so that ehn you plug the card in it doesn't stick up so high. You can even heatsink it to the top of the chassis.

Onboard audio always sucks. I would get something from M-Audio, 24bit ADCs and 96kbit/sec. I actually will have a USB-2 based external soundcard (M-Audio Transit USB) available after the end of the year that you could use.

[sailor_red]

Before I give you any advice, I need more info. There's a difference in between needing a computer to just play multimedia or needing the computer to be able to edit media smoothly. Also, by wanting to run your entertainment system through it, are you talking about hooking your computer to a TV and/or speakers - surround sound or otherwise? Also, are you planning to build this computer from the ground up, or are you planning on purchasing a base model and building from there? Details, details, David. ^^ I'm going to school for this shit after all, so I'd better be able to help. ^^

[sailor_red]

Okay, the deal is, from the ground up, and hooked to it will be a 42" widescreen HD lcd monitor auxiliary monitor, a standard 15" lcd, and an Onkyo Dolby 5.1 surround audio receiver. I have no need for editing, just large amounts of storage, and power sufficient to play a movie from memory on the widescreen and still go online with the main monitor and not suffer any noticeable issues with either. I'd eventually like to move up to 7.1 surround, so ideally it should handle both. The goal is to have all cds, and dvds stored out of sight, and have them copied on the computer. So, yeah, a Lot of memory.

[sailor_red]

Okay, one less use of the word "monitor". I'm blaming this one on the phone, too.

[esp10nage]

I can spec one really specifically for you after the 21st when I have time - if you are so inclined. I do this sort of thing all the time, although it seems you have no shortage of help. It depends highly on your budget

[sailor_red]

That esp10age person has some pretty good advice, so I'm just going to add on to what's written there. The dual processor is pretty key if you want things to run smoothly. As far as the OS goes, I'm going to have to disagree. I'd go for the Windows XP Media Center Edition - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/default.mspx... )