[Iallwork]

hey guys,
i'm new to this forum and i'm trying to build a computer just to hook up my tv to the internet to watch tv shows, movies and videos. no games. i do not mind using older parts and used parts or parts i can find for free like maybe an old atx case (which is what i have now for my desktop computer that i use every day). my family has three computers which we run off dsl a modem and wireless router with 4 ports.I can't see any of us giving up our computer so someone can watch a show or move my desk top in the tv room and back several times. I don't mind running a cable from my router to the tv room to eliminate wireless costs. I think a low cost mobo combo should do the job. i know i will need a video card. but do not know which one will be good enough. maybe i could get a used one. i just don't know what parts are a high risk to buy used.
here is a list of some parts i should need;
1. tv with internet connection (have a 46" with vga and hdmi and audio)
2. atx case
3. mobo combo (with rj45 jack)
4. power supply
5. video card
6. operating system (probably xp)
7. hard drive
8. cdrom (have a used one, ide)
9. ram ( have 2- 256 mb - 184 pin, pc2700 )
10. keyboard
11. 50 - 75 ft ethernet cable

Would it be cheaper to just buy a cheap lap top from wal mart. i just don't think a low priced lap top would be good enough. plus it would have to run on my G router not N i heard its better to run cable than wireless. personally it would be fun to build this instead of just buying a plug and play device.
Tell me what you guys think.

 

[loda117]

I think it would make more sense to buy a used computer in good working order from craigslist
One it would be cheap
Will have everything on it that you need (OS installed)
All you will have to do is to connect it to your TV using either VGA or HDMI (if option for HDMI on the computer is available)

 

[Tyree]

Look over the $500 AMD build: http://www.techsupportforum.com/for...evised-2012-and-updated-regularly-448272.html

 

[Iallwork]

thanks guys. i'm researching these things

 

[sobeit]

I purchased an emachine for $298. from walmart for my tv last February. It is nothing fancy and it works great. I did have to purchase a wireless keyboard and mouse separately. Nothing like watching a movie and checking emails (or tsf) during the slow parts from the recliner.

 

[Iallwork]

now we're getting there. i see some computers on ebay for cheap. but the os are linux. from what i read linux is like a free os. i like that. anyone use or know anything about that? is it like windows?

 

[sobeit]

now we're getting there. i see some computers on ebay for cheap. but the os are linux. from what i read linux is like a free os. i like that. anyone use or know anything about that? is it like windows?

I have linux on my tv computer and mostly use it. Unfortunately you still need microsoft windows if you want to use netflix so I dual boot. Linux works like windows and is very easy to learn. It is free software and I highly recommend it since you do not need any type of antivirus or antispyware software.

if you want to check out linux, you can download it, burn the iso onto a cd or dvd and boot to it. It will not make any changes on your computer because you can run it from a cd. play with it, get online with it, check out the different programs that comes with it. You will be surprised as to how easy it is to use.

check out linux mint Download - Linux Mint

 

[loda117]

If you are going to get a used computer and if you never used Linux before my suggestion will be to get one with some kind of windows loaded on it already (xp, vista, 7)

 

[Iallwork]

I have linux on my tv computer and mostly use it. Unfortunately you still need microsoft windows if you want to use netflix so I dual boot. Linux works like windows and is very easy to learn. It is free software and I highly recommend it since you do not need any type of antivirus or antispyware software.

if you want to check out linux, you can download it, burn the iso onto a cd or dvd and boot to it. It will not make any changes on your computer because you can run it from a cd. play with it, get online with it, check out the different programs that comes with it. You will be surprised as to how easy it is to use.

check out linux mint Download - Linux Mint

i can't seem to get it to down load. but it looks great

 

[sobeit]

download link works. just tried it. click on my link, click on dvd or cd version, click on the country link.

you can try the following direct link for a 32 bit dvd version

http://linuxfreedom.com/linuxmint/stable/12/linuxmint-12-gnome-dvd-32bit.iso

 

[Iallwork]

turns out it's downloading, thanks

 

[Iallwork]

so i will have to burn that to a dvd then restart my computer and boot from a the cdrom, correct?

 

[emosun]

I think for your situation a 200-300$ netbook would be good. They usually come with windows already loaded.

ASUS Eee PC 1005PE-PU17-BK Refurbished Netbook - Intel Atom N450 1.66GHz, 1GB DDR2, 250GB HDD, 10.1 WSVGA, Windows 7 Starter, 6-Cell, Black at TigerDirect.com

Lot more simple then linux, plus it's portable so it's not always stuck at home.

 

[toothman]

here's where i think the new AMD Llano APUs shine. check this out:

cpu/gpu
Newegg.com - AMD A4-3300 Llano 2.5GHz Socket FM1 65W Dual-Core Desktop APU with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 6410D AD3300OJGXBOX

case/psu
Newegg.com - Rosewill R103A Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with 350W 20+4 pin connector Power Supply

mobo
Newegg.com - ASRock A55M-HVS FM1 AMD A55 (Hudson D2) HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

4gb ddr3-1333 RAM
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL8D-4GBHK

DVDRW
Newegg.com - ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - CD / DVD Burners

hdd
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

total cost in cart with shipping: $307.65

feel free to find a cheaper hard drive or anything on craigslist

That's a pretty boss HTPC right there. You actually could get away with a little gaming if you wanted. One important thing to note is that any netbook is going to have trouble with 1080p video. Probably unwatchable. You're going to want, at least, Intel HD 2000 for your GPU. The AMD Llanos are the most cost-efficient here. You can't beat $65 for what's essentially a good dual-core athlon and a free hd video card combined into one low-power chip.

As for the OS, well tbh I've never paid for an OS but I'll say no more on that subject lol. I'm sure you can find a solution; one very legal solution for you is if you or someone in your home is attending college, especially a tech class of any kind, the student is usually allowed to use the college's mass-use serial number for home Windows installations.

 

[sobeit]

so i will have to burn that to a dvd then restart my computer and boot from a the cdrom, correct?

that is all you have to do. make sure you burn as an iso file.

 

[emosun]

here's where i think the new AMD Llano APUs shine. check this out:

cpu/gpu
Newegg.com - AMD A4-3300 Llano 2.5GHz Socket FM1 65W Dual-Core Desktop APU with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 6410D AD3300OJGXBOX

case/psu
Newegg.com - Rosewill R103A Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with 350W 20+4 pin connector Power Supply

mobo
Newegg.com - ASRock A55M-HVS FM1 AMD A55 (Hudson D2) HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

4gb ddr3-1333 RAM
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL8D-4GBHK

DVDRW
Newegg.com - ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - CD / DVD Burners

hdd
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

total cost in cart with shipping: $307.65

feel free to find a cheaper hard drive or anything on craigslist

That's a pretty boss HTPC right there. You actually could get away with a little gaming if you wanted. One important thing to note is that any netbook is going to have trouble with 1080p video. Probably unwatchable. You're going to want, at least, Intel HD 2000 for your GPU. The AMD Llanos are the most cost-efficient here. You can't beat $65 for what's essentially a good dual-core athlon and a free hd video card combined into one low-power chip.

As for the OS, well tbh I've never paid for an OS but I'll say no more on that subject lol. I'm sure you can find a solution; one very legal solution for you is if you or someone in your home is attending college, especially a tech class of any kind, the student is usually allowed to use the college's mass-use serial number for home Windows installations.

If your going to build something like this stick with the 500$ amd build in our sticky , that asrock board and case/psu combo are not very good at all.

 

[toothman]

If your going to build something like this stick with the 500$ amd build in our sticky , that asrock board and case/psu combo are not very good at all.

not any good for demanding tasks like gaming, but for htpc and web surfing it's all you need

i would never recommend something like that for a serious rig

regardless, you can spend an extra $40 for a 300w seasonic and still come out way under the $500

Newegg.com - SeaSonic SS-300ES Bronze 300W ATX12V V2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

and a $40 case by itself w/o psu
Newegg.com - Rosewill Blackbone Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

 

[Iallwork]

that looks like a great build. I like the cpu/gpu package. is the cpu seperate and the gpu a card that goes into the AGP slot or epci slot? If it's one piece, what do you put in the cpu socket or vice-vesa?
I have an asrock board in my desktop but i don,t use it for games. I don't really care what the case looks like(my desk top case i got for free). i will just hide it in a cabinet or closet. lol I have a 400 watt psu I bought new for like 12 bucks so i think i might be able to get one of those for cheap. do I need that big of hdd. I don't mind buying used parts and replacing them if they go bad with better parts. i think i would really want to get that new mobo and cpu/gpu though. I really enjoy messing with the hardware.

 

[sobeit]

if all you are doing is streaming, you will not need that big of a harddrive. Personally, I have all of my computers networked so I can watch movies that is stored on another computer.

 

[Iallwork]

I haven't figure out how to network my home computers yet. i tried crossover cable between two computers but that didn't work for me.