Will this work for a PC?
April 22nd, 2014
I’m not looking to spend too much and was wondering if this is all what is needed and if all are the right parts?
Here are the parts:
Case: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6363215&CatId=3428
Harddrive: http://cgi.ebay.com/New-500GB-5400RPM-8MB-2-5-SATA-Notebook-Hard-Drive-PS3-/130442561835?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e5efb892b
Ram: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B001AZV2WY/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&qid=1311564023&sr=8-13&condition=new
Motherboard/CPU Combo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157228
It will do. I have a far far worse PC that I use as HTPC for just movies and music. Works great.
If this is just for media use, then you are fine.
I would recommend a soundcard though. Many onboard are quite limited as to what they can output (frequencies ect).
That RAM is 204-pin SODIMM and the mobo wants 240pin DDR3.
The HDD is rather small for a media center! Do you have a NAS you will be using?
There is no internal DVD/BR driver, it would have to be external!
You should also buy a remote to control it with.
Also, I don’t know anything about the Zacate processors, but I know the Lano’s have enough graphics power for HD video. Hopefully an AMD guy will comment on this; I don’t know much about AMD or media centers.
ooppee replied: It will do.
Sigh, apparently didn’t even look at the Motherboard or RAM (but knows it will work fine).
Good eye there SmAsHeDr. I missed that about the RAM!
Always keep a eye out on what your mobo uses. I think we all have at one point had a piece of hardware incompatible with our boards.
500gb is good for a start. Bigger would be better, however there’s upgrade options. Plus with that external sata port on the motherboard – he has the option to later get a large external drive which he could easily take PC to PC.
ooppee replied: Good eye there SmAsHeDr. I missed that about the RAM!
Always keep a eye out on what your mobo uses. I think we all have at one point had a piece of hardware incompatible with our boards.
The difference in someone who builds computers for a living, and who does not.
ooppee replied: 500gb is good for a start. Bigger would be better, however there's upgrade options. Plus with that external sata port on the motherboard - he has the option to later get a large external drive which he could easily take PC to PC.
That is why you use a NAS, so you don’t have to take it from PC to PC, its accessible from all your PC’s on the network at all times and can be made accessible via the WAN. This does require a router that supports NAS however.
There are a few other things wrong here:
1. The CPU is not a good choice,You shouldn’t settle for any less than an X2 255,And it’d cost about the same with
a compatible motherboard.
2. The hard drive is 2.5″ and is originally made for laptops,Desktop/HTPC cases use the 3.5″ form factor for these,You can’t
fit it in there without a special adapter,But there’s really no need to get either,Just get a 1TB 3.5″ for $60,Would be a much
better choice.
3. This has already been pointed out but An HTPC should definitely have an optical drive,Better add one.
4. The PSU is generic and no good,You should really invest in a quality one from the likes of Antec/OCZ/Corsair,Unless you want
your PC fried some day.
5. Why buy each from a different store? It’d make much more sense to get em all from one place,Newegg would be best IMO.
ooppee replied: I would recommend a soundcard though. Many onboard are quite limited as to what they can output (frequencies ect).
An onboard is good enough for most ppl,Only audiophiles need a high end card/speakers.
SmAsHeDr replied: That is why you use a NAS, so you don't have to take it from PC to PC, its accessible from all your PC's on the network at all times and can be made accessible via the WAN. This does require a router that supports NAS however.
Incorrect,A router that supports USB NAS is not essential,There are two other ways to do this:
1. A standalone NAS (In most cases,The HDD/s have to be purchased in separate)
2. An external HDD with integrated NAS capability.
In both cases,It’d connect to the router via Ethernet.
The HDD for this Mini ITX case should be 2.5″. 3.5″ spinpoint F3 will not fit.
You will also need a notebook optical drive. (dvd/bluray)
jock_juffalo replied: The HDD for this Mini ITX case should be 2.5". 3.5" spinpoint F3 will not fit.
You will also need a notebook optical drive. (dvd/bluray)
Yep,My bad,Should’ve noticed but I’m just a bit tired,But this IMO is a total deal breaker,2.5″ HDD+Optical drive (or an external one)
would make it much more expensive,He should just go for another case that takes 3.5″ HDDs & 5.25″ Opticals.
I would get more than a 500gb harddrive as that isnt many films. I would have atleast 2TB harddrive just for films!
I would say that a micro tower would be best…Allows for 2 x 3.5″ hard drives and a normal optical drive..
I shoved an old Pentium 4 Dell Optiplex with 1.5Gigs ram. I have a PCIe graphics card outputting DVI to my HDMI tv input. Sound from motherboard to 5.1 surround stereo. I use logmein to administer the movies to me.
In otherwords, as long as the parts are compatible, anything better than what I have will make a sweet setup.