Convert to a media center

i_dragonx_i

i_dragonx_i

i_dragonx_i

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Joined
20 Feb 2004
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158
Location
Nottingham
hi,

I'm thinking about converting my ~18 month old PC into a media centre. I use it for logging in remotely with my Eee 1000 to run larger applications, occasional gaming and watching movies/music. It's running Vista Ultimate 64bit. The hardware in it atm is:

Intel® Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe with stock cooler
OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 800MHz 4GB (2x2048) Kit Vista Performance RAM
2x 36GB Raptors in RAID 0 + 80GB backup drive (probably convert to larger external)
MSI GeForce 8600 GTS Overclock 256MB
EVGA nForce 650i Ultra Socket 775 1333MHz DDR2-800 ATX Motherboard

I want to turn it into a (very) quiet living room media centre. Right now I'm using antec 120mm thermal sensing fans... but for some reason they're incredibly noisy until the system warms up (backwards? they run the quickest at lowest temp.). Even then they're not even nearly silent. I want to do this without spending too much... but I do want quality. If I need to spend more to get the whole system to auto regulate fan speeds and clock speeds as needed by system demand/temperature I will.

So far what I was thinking was:

Antec Micro Fusion Remote 350 HTPC Case - Black/Silver (350W PSU Included) £99.99
(£114.99)

Asus P5E-VM HDMI Intel G35 Micro-ATX (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £84.99
(£97.74)

LG GGC-H20L Blu-Ray Reader & HD-DVD ROM Serial ATA Drive - Retail £56.99
(£65.54)

I haven't been on top of hardware for a while so please tell me your suggestions!
 
i_dragonx_i said:
Antec Micro Fusion Remote 350 HTPC Case - Black/Silver (350W PSU Included) £99.99
(£114.99)
Click to expand...

I take it you wouldn't want to be using you're current video card then? as this case is low profile.

Apart from that it looks good but as Helmutcheese said ditch the raptors, far too noisy for the living room.
 
Well... I find the Raptors are only noisy when the system is under load. When this is the case there's usually something loud enough playing through the speakers. The main thing is getting the system to be quiet while under relatively low load. Using Word or browsing the web for example...

I'd like to have a system which can switch between the on-board graphic chipset and a dedicated graphic card when needed. Is this possible? If not I may have to compromise on the gaming ability as it's the least I use it for. I also like that motherboard as it has build in HDMI which'll tie in nicely with the blueray drive and my tv :)
 
Raptor X has window and my PC case has one too, drives make a noise 24/7 spinning (Whirrrrrr) never mind the SEEK.

VelicoRaptors are night and day quieter but you do not need any of these for a Media PC, get a bigger/less power hungry/quieter/cooler HDD which are cheap as chips today HDD. ;)
 
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