Spec Cheap Media Center PC

[Trancer]

Hi guys,

Can you please give me some advice on creating a cheap media center PC. I want something I can play HD content to my 1080p LCD TV. I would want to connect it via the HDMI port on the TV.

I dont want to play games on it, I would want to install windows media center, and play HD movies from it. Im not even interested in being able to record TV programs to the TV, I just want to output HD Content to the TV.

Budget would be cheap as possible, hopefully like £200 - £300!

Any advice welcome.

 

[glenimp617]

I doubt you'd get anything that cheap

AMD64 3800+ Orleans £75
Corsair 1gb DDR2 £100
ASRock mATX Motherboard £50
Antec NSK1300 Case £60
Samsung SATA HDD £50
Samsung SATA DVD-RW £20
Zalman Low Profile Cooler £20
Windows MCE £60

£375

However, why not look at an off the shelf solution? Check out the Kiss DP-600 which should be pretty much do what you want for under £300

 

[Trancer]

I doubt you'd get anything that cheap

AMD64 3800+ Orleans £75
Corsair 1gb DDR2 £100
ASRock mATX Motherboard £50
Antec NSK1300 Case £60
Samsung SATA HDD £50
Samsung SATA DVD-RW £20
Zalman Low Profile Cooler £20
Windows MCE £60

£375

However, why not look at an off the shelf solution? Check out the Kiss DP-600 which should be pretty much do what you want for under £300

Thanks for the suggestion, I've looked into getting similar devices as this, and a Helios X3000. However, these devices become out of date with new file types and media formats like H264 which you can always play on a PC with the right software.

Does anyone reckon they could build one cheaper than the above?