want to make a really CHEAP cinema pc

[pc-gamer-dude]

i have a huge stack of movies (xvid and divx) all burnt to cds, and i wanna make a really cheap pc to hook up to my tv in my room so i can watch my movies. i want a pc tho NOT a divx/xvid player. so i would like some suggestions for motherboard and processor and all that. as long as it will play my movies without lag ill be happy.
heres wut all i need for suggestions:

motherboard (with onboard audio)
case and psu
processor
memory
video card (S-VIDEO OUT required)
hard drive

the rest i already know wut im gettin:

16x/48x dvd-rom/cd-rom
logitech keyboard
microsoft mouse

im gonna be using my stereo for my speakers for it and my tv for my moniter


thanks for all help and suggestions!

please keep the whole thing as cheap as possible!! (under $300 if possible, $400 MAX)

[ahctlucabbuS]

Can I ask why you prefer a pc over a DVD player that handles divx/Xvid?

[muchspl2]

yea no doubt, 70 phillips can't loose, but I run movies on a 500mmz laptop so you really don't need anything much faster

[Storm]

Can I ask why you prefer a pc over a DVD player that handles divx/Xvid?

codec upgrades........


@ pgd:

video card (S-VIDEO OUT required): something cheap like the 9200 SE (preferably the one with only VGA/TV out, not DVI, cause that costs 6 bucks extra)
hard drive: doesnt really matter....... if you want the movies on the disk, then a big one, else 40 GiB is MORE than enough (you could do with 10GiB)

the mobo, CPU and RAM are really dependant on the OS you will be running on it.........

windows requires more than linux, XP more than 2k/98...........

[pc-gamer-dude]

codec upgrades........
I want windows xp pro on it (no need to purchase it tho... hehe)

i was thinkin this setup:
some cheap amd mobo with oboard audio
athlon xp1700
256mb of cheap ram
9200se video card
40gb western digital (the 20gb is more expensive)

I'm using www.newegg.com btw

[Storm]

I want windows xp pro on it (no need to purchase it tho... hehe)

bad boy ;)


i was thinkin this setup:
some cheap amd mobo with oboard audio
athlon xp1700
256mb of cheap ram
9200se video card
40gb western digital (the 20gb is more expensive)
sounds good..........
except you'll prolly need more RAM to make it run smoothly....... XP is a real memory hog, so you prolly will need 512 MB to make it all run without any hickups........

do you want 5.1 sound with that? if so it will make it more costly as wel...... and do you want a monitor to go with that thing??? you prolly will only need one to set it up, then afterwards you can run it off your TV.........


40gb western digital (the 20gb is more expensive)
weird huh?

[pc-gamer-dude]

no 5.1, and ill use the moniter i have now to set it up so everything works. Im about 90% sure i wont need more ram because im gonna turn off the themes and all that other shit off in windows xp off. on my current pc right after start up all the windows services and junk are only using about 70mbs of memory. so 256 should be plenty. and nope, 5.1 sound aint gonna happen. my steroeo that im gonna use doesnt have 5.1. only 2 channel. i dont need 5.1 anyways. so no worries there.

heres the system ive come up with:

case/psu-
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=11-144-072&depa=0&manufactory=BROWSE

cd/dvd drive-
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=27-131-116&depa=0&manufactory=BROWSE

hard drive-
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=22-140-133&depa=0&manufactory=BROWSE

keyboard/mouse combo-
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=23-126-141&depa=0&manufactory=BROWSE

system ram-
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=20-141-302&depa=0&manufactory=BROWSE

motherboard-
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-185-010&depa=0&manufactory=BROWSE

processor-
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-334&depa=0&manufactory=BROWSE

video card-
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-231&depa=0&manufactory=BROWSE


Any suggestion to change? If not I'll be gettin that in about a month (I'm broke!)

[tesco]

128mb ram.
atleast p3 450mhz.
any video card with tv out (mx440's work great).
isntall windows 98se or windows 2000 with klite codec pack and you've got a working system.
I'd also put in a dvd drive so i could watch dvds and since you will need to read cds anyway.

oh and any size hard drive you want.

edit: the parts you chose above are way more powerful than you need, seems like a big waste of money imo. (except the video card)

[twister]

I run movies on a 500mmz laptop so you really don't need anything much faster
same here my laptop: 550mhz pIII 64mb ram 6 gb hd windows 2000, its all you need for movies on the go!:cool: :01:

[Storm]

id try second hand btw..........

it shouldnt be to hard 2 get a 500+ mHz PC for a couple of bucks.........

you might have to upgrade some stuff, but it will definitly save ya alot of cash.........

[pc-gamer-dude]

a lot better then my plan actually.. thanks dudes. ill keep an eye out for old pcs.

[Peerzy]

Something along the lines of a 1Ghz Duron, 365mb Ram, 16mb Graphics Card (yes this matters)

I had a 600Mhz Celeron and i slapped a 32mb graphics card (7000 i thin) and it plays all the movies now.

I brought the 600mhz second hand for like £40 and then a £22 graphics card and it was all set.
Also you have an Xbox right? You knwo your Xbox can play all Xvid, Divx,vcd,svcd,kvcd,skvcd and all of them.

[pc-gamer-dude]

i dont have any consoles (there a waste of money IMHO, im a pc gamer). now I just got to find an old pc for around $50 -$100 max

[Peerzy]

i dont have any consoles (there a waste of money IMHO, im a pc gamer). now I just got to find an old pc for around $50 -$100 max
Waste of money? Not when u dont pay for the games.

Computer - $100

Chipped Xbox that plays all you need, plug emulates very well and will play Downloaded Xbox Games - $120

Gash darnit.... i forgot what i was trying to get at again:rolleyes:

[{I}{K}{E}]

Why not a DVD player that supports Xvid/Divx and that has a 40/80 GB HD?

[pc-gamer-dude]

becuz theres other things i wanna do it that a divx/xvid player cant do, also i found out a couple things, only about half of my movies are xvid or divx. a nice amount of them are quicktime movies also and im pretty sure that aint xvid or divx encoded. theres also a couple programs that i wanna be able to use (Modplug Tracker and the like).

[pc-gamer-dude]

actually u know wut.. fuk it. i will get a standalone divx/xvid player. so much cheaper and more portable. im gonna post a new thread so somebody please close/delete this one for me.

thanks!

[Storm]

i dont have any consoles (there a waste of money IMHO, im a pc gamer). now I just got to find an old pc for around $50 -$100 max

game console: 100-200 bucks (ok, lets say 400), game computer: OVER 900 (and thats running cheap)


actually u know wut.. fuk it. i will get a standalone divx/xvid player. so much cheaper and more portable. im gonna post a new thread so somebody please close/delete this one for me.

thanks!

well if you can get a second hand pc the pc will prolly only be a lil more expensive, and it does give you more fexibility......... and it will allow you to upgrade easier......

[muchspl2]

this thread was answerd in the secound post :lol: