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View Full Version : Very Cheap Media Centre PC



N!ck
27-12-2008, 06:28 PM
Basically, i'm looking at buying a cheap PC purely for the purpose of being connected to a TV. It will be used for playing media and a little web browsing. No gaming (unless you count the odd flash browser game lol). I'm looking at spending around £250.

Preferably all the parts will come from www.aria.co.uk since i can go to them and pick the stuff up, avoiding postage. Can be from eBuyer etc. as well though.

What i have so far:

http://uploadpicz.com/images/8ASVHCJ.png

Jordy
27-12-2008, 07:36 PM
Nice stuff so far, I tried to build a media centre on that budget recently and it just wasn't possible as I needed to include an OS.

The power-supply is an over-kill, you don't need 600W, more like 400W and usually an media PC includes a TV Card. Not to mention the power-supply will also blow your components within no time as it's generic.

Edit: http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Power+Supplies/200w+to+449w/Corsair+400W+CX+Power+Supply+?productId=34003

Try that instead (it's a very good deal) :)

scottish
27-12-2008, 08:30 PM
nice joke on the psu (?)

on ebuyer;

faster + better CPU and better PSU.

The mobo comes with inbuilt gfx which you can just disable so.

http://uploadpicz.com/images/TF2UYIS.bmp

N!ck
28-12-2008, 10:56 AM
Yeah, things like a TV card i will get at a later date when i have the money.

I've changed the PSU. The Coolermaster case is bigger than what i'd like, so that's why i've not chosen that bundle deal on eBuyer.

Case and CPU from Aria and the rest from eBuyer.

http://uploadpicz.com/images/3SBTJAX.png
http://uploadpicz.com/images/F2N5PJ7.png

I may go and get the case and CPU from Aria later today if this ends up as my final decision.

N!ck
28-12-2008, 11:14 AM
Just remembered the CPU is OEM. Need a cheapish heatsink and fan.

scottish
28-12-2008, 11:38 AM
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/150277

looks good, but it might not support graphcios cards cause its slimline so i aint sure.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/126790 - heatsink if you wanna stay with basically stock or

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131148 - if you want a cheap and better heatsink.

Jordy
28-12-2008, 01:14 PM
Nice PC you have there, not sure about your graphics card though, you could probably save a tenner and go to a 7300 GS for similar performance. Good choice of PSU I got that recently and it's very quiet which is ideal for a media PC.

You gonna torrent Vista HP or something?

N!ck
28-12-2008, 01:30 PM
Would only save £5 dropping down to a 7300GS so i may as well leave it. It will be running Vista Home Premium.

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