Media Centre / Gaming Build - Advice

[mcrustk2]

Hi.

Just after some general advice for a new build Media Center / Gaming pc.

I have just bought a LG 42" 7000 LCD TV and im also looking to complete a media center / gaming build to accompany this. Here are the specs im looking at:

CPU 6600 O/C 3G.
MB Asus p45 or equ (DFI)
Case Thermaltake Desktop Media Center Case 101
HD 1TB WB Cavier
PSU Corsair 650 Wt
Mem 4GB Corsair Dominator DDR2
Graphics 4850 X2
Optical Blue Ray Reader (any from oc)
Scythe Infinity CPU Cooler
TV Card Compro VideoMate Dual Tuner
Vista MCE
MCE Remote

I realise to run a decent gaming rig, 42" display is prob not the best. However, but do you think I can get some middle ground with this setup? I am hoping to run Crysis, Fallout 3 etc. Maybe reduce the actual game screen size on the big screen to run windowed, smaller!? Im just trying to get the best of both worlds with this, given the setup im looking at I think I can somethings working which would be acceptable.

Aims for this build:

Gaming - as mentioned (Crysis, Farcry2, Fallout)
MCE - Music Browsing, Video
MCE - Freeview Recording (EPG) via Tv Card

The TV is in the front room on a stand and the new build I am expecting to sit on on of the stands shelfs.

Any thoughts on silencing, or other input appreciated.

Cheers.

J.

 

[SGWills]

wouldnt use the thermaltake cases as they use to (most probably still do) dont compare to silverstone/lian li type quality.

i recently ordered my parts for my htpc build and i had a q6600 + 520w corsair psu (already got) 1tb drive, blu ray/hd drive, silverstone LC16b MR case, 4 gig of ram and a 512mb 4850 card as it has the dual slot cooling, from what i read the ATI cards dont run quiet so im thinking of getting a thermalright T-rad which i hope will keep the card cool and quiet

 

[goujon945]

+1 for a Silverstone case. Ive gotta LC17 and very happy with it. Maybe go for a 4870 insted of the 4850x2, don't have to worry about scaling etc then. WIth any high ish end specs your case will get hot mind you, maybe look at a micro ATX board to give yourself some 'breathing space'

EDIT: A modular PSU like the Corsair HX5/620 will help with airflow too