My first build: silent, cool, media-only...

[brazil]

Hello all!

Well, I'm ready to try to build my first compu, but need a little help
getting started. I'd really appreciate any guidance!

I'd like to build a quiet, slim computer, with the form factor of a
piece of home theater equipment like a DVD player. I'm planning on
having it in the entertainment center under the TV, ONLY for use as a
media player - Photos, Music, Videos, and possibly DVDs. I already
have a TiVo so I wouldn't be doing any PVR stuff with it. I'd consider putting a DVD drive in it if it didn't cost too much, but already have a DVD player so it isn't entirely necessary.

I'm determined to build this thing for less than $400, since it really
is just a media server which will plug into my TV.

Here are some ideas I have:
Antec Minuet case
EPIA ME6000 - 600Mhz Fanless Eden CPU
80gb 7200 RPM hard drive
Video card with TV-out
No optical drive (or possibly DVD drive if cost effective)

... that kind of idea

Can anyone help me with this kind of setup? Any hardware suggestions would really be appreciated, as well as, of course, advice on any books that could help me build something like
this - most books seem to cover building full size PCs for everyday
use.. not media pc things like what I suggest.


Thanks for anything and everything!

[Ralf Hutter]

brazil - WELCOME TO SPCR!!!

The answers to all your questions can be found by applying the princples and ideas that are laid out in this post.

[brazil]

Thanks for the welcome!

After looking around on the boards, and other internet sites, I'm thinking of going with an ASUS Pundit system. Someone recommended putting a Celeron chip in it as an economical solution with enough power for my meager needs.

Thoughts?

[Rusty075]

Moved to the fancy new System Advice forum.

(not your fault brazil, the forum was jsut made today)