Media PC for basic TV and lounge use - Spec check?

[andymac]

I am looking for a small PC to live in my lounge. It is going to live in a cabinet below my TV, a space currently taken by a VCR.

I am looking at using it to store MP3s, a bit of internet browsing and displaying photos and videos both from its internal Hard Drive and from DVDs. (Would eventually replace the supplied DVD drive with a Blu Ray drive when they become reasonable in slot in design)

I was toying with a shuttle which would just fit, but I have found this. A Hiper case which could potentially be much neater and tidier. I have never built a SFF size PC before but I have built more than my fair share of full size PCs, so I am looking for a bit of advice. My spec sheet is still missing memory and an operating system. I'm thinking 4Gb of stock 800MHz RAM and Vista 64 Premium.

I think I'll also need a TV tuner as I may use it as a PVR also.

Any thoughts, ideas etc.


Hiper Media Case HMC-2K53A-A3 -
(£246.74)
Samsung SpinPoint F1 1TB SATA-II 32MB Cache - OEM (HD103UJ)
(£79.89)
Keysonic Wireless Keyboard/Touchpad ACK-540RF
(£29.36)
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4200+ 2.20GHz (Socket AM2)
(£29.36)

Many Thanks

Andy

 

[andymac]

Hi, it will be connected through HDMI to a SONY 32" LCD TV. The unit is a barebones job so it has the motherboard in it that it has. It is an MSI number I believe.

I will mainly be using it as a fancy DVD player with the ability to play saved pics and videos also. It will also be used for basic internet access, stuff like using the BBC iplayer, and the ITV, CH4 and Sky equivalents. It isn't going to need an additional video card as it comes with HDMI capability built into the motherboard.

It is looking very tempting.

My other option is to go down the Zalman 160 route, lots more space and power available, but huge in comparison. I am really looking for a DVD player size unit. Not fussed on power as it will only do basic things.