Might be time for a new computer.....

[audtatious]

Well, I'm thinking about it. My current "home" system I use is about 4 years old now. Probably time to do something else with it. So, that means getting a new one as a replacement first. So, I want a dualCore system with 2-3GB memory and multiple internal drives (may get a RAID array instead). Any thoughts as to good deals? I don't want to build my own.

Now, the old system. It's a HP Pavilion that has simply been a great box (I've had no problems out of it at all). 2.53GHz P4 with 1.5GB memory, dual internal drives (400GB space total) and dual DVD burners. My plan for this system is to install a wireless card and move it over to my home entertainment system. I will need some form of multimedia card installed for connectivity and some additional software. My question is, what card should I get for external connections and what software is out there to make this system easier to deal with from a multimedia standpoint? I do not plan on installing Vista

Hmmmmmm........ Thoughts?

[Beancooker]

You know way more about PC's than most of us. I'll still keep an eye peeled and let ya know what I see.

[Beancooker]

Well Matt, after looking around this is what I see.

Gateway $779.99GT5414E AMD LIVE! Smarter Digital Entertainment; AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 dual-core processor 4600+; 2GB DDR2 SDRAM; DL DVD±RW/CD-RW drive; 320GB hard drive; Windows Vista Home Premium

It's the same as what I have upgraded mine to, except that has a 4600+ processor, and mine is a 3800+

But like I posted earlier, You search faster than I do, and know volumes more that I do so....

[audtatious]

Hmmm...

I was looking at some Intel dual-core quad systems earlier. I've just had such good luck with Intel I'm not sure if I want to swap to AMD or not.

[Beancooker]

Then you have this option:

$929.99

Gateway - E6300 Desktop GM5420 Intel® Core™2 Duo desktop processor E6300; Intel® Viiv™ technology; 2GB DDR2 memory; DL DVD±RW/CD-RW drive; 320GB hard drive; Windows Vista Home Premium with TV tuner

[redtop91]

G'luck finding a prebuilt with RAIDed storage.

[audtatious]

G'luck finding a prebuilt with RAIDed storage.

No, I would get my own. Something like a used SUN StorEdge T3 fibre array. With this unit, I can throw in a FC switch and share the storage between the two servers plus my Linux box.

I can get Qlogic cards and cables for free anyway.

[danielekfuj]

wanna donate your old comp to me or the mount prospect youth commission? either will gladly take it; i have an 8 year old dell and its falling apart

[audtatious]

wanna donate your old comp to me or the mount prospect youth commission? either will gladly take it; i have an 8 year old dell and its falling apart

Sorry, my wife wants it donated to the daughter. It's not going there either. I am going to make it a full milti-media system and move it over to my home entertainment system. This is a few months out tho.

[brisknfade]

For the moment, look for a system with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Intel is just kicking AMD's *** when it comes to processor power lately.

Look around Fry's website.http://shop2.outpost.com/searc...to=24

They usually have good deals. I managed to snag a Maxtor 320 gig HD for my xbox from them for 50 bucks shipped! This was Thanksgiving though But they usually have good deals on pre-made systems.

Oh, and what do you mean by the multi-media system thing? Like install a graphic card with video out and then use window's media center?

[audtatious]

I prefer Intel anyway. Just not sure I want to dish out $1600 for a C2D 6700 system.

As far as multimedia, I'm looking around for cards that support a minimum 5.1 output and getting a converter for VGA. Right now, I am just starting to look into options with what I can do to play avi's and such off the PC on the TV through my home system with full surround and such.

[brisknfade]

TVEdia for the media center software. http://www.8dim.com/products/

Cheap 20 dollar 5.1 Diamond soundcard.http://shop2.outpost.com/produ...LT_PG

Soundblaster Audigy 7.1 Sound card for 30 bucks.http://shop2.outpost.com/produ...LT_PG

Then a VGA converter, add them all together and you have a decent media center experience. Add a capture card and you can have a PVR as well.

[audtatious]

Thanks for the links....

I may skip the VGA use and go straight for a HDMI card. I'm looking at a new Denon AV system that has HDMI inputs for the PC. That should work pretty nicely.

[GEO]

Matt get an Audigy 2 card witht eh external connection, 32 bit audio and an HDTV all in wonder card. You might want to pick up the windows media center remote and IR thing off ebay for like $25 .. I just did this

[audtatious]

Good deal

I'm still looking and waiting. Would be nice if the 6700 chip prices would start falling.

[SOHCSE]

Get yourself a quad or eight core Mac Pro and throw windows on it. They are high priced as far as amateur users go, but try to price a dell with the same power and you will pay thousands more.

[240Knightrider]

we can build you one, 3-year warranty.

Win XP Multimedia Edition would be the best platform for what you want. There are so many types of cards, just depends on what you want.

Do you want Surround sound connections, Dolby 5.1, 7.1 etcDo you need a subwoofer port (I wouldnt recommend this, found better results running sound straight to an amp or sub then to speakers)

Also, video how many outputs and what kind, DVI? AGP?

What kind of budget are you looking at? Even if you dont want one from us ill help you find what you want.

[audtatious]

Finally, upgraded my laptop. Still going to do the desktop at some point tho.

New: Dell Precision M65, Core 2duo T6600, 2GB memory, 15.4" widescreen, NVIDIA Quadro® FX 350M, bluetooth, etc.

Nice laptop so far...

[szh]

Good!

Z