Mini Home entertainment - Config help!

[ankushkool]

1. What is the purpose of the computer?
A: Planning a Mini Home entertainment for my room. will be mostly used for TV/Movies and sometimes gaming n browsing.

So my main priority is that it should be running cool and having low noise, plus low on power consumption

2. Are you open to alternate ideas/products giving similar better performance but offering more VFM/ sellers? If not- why?
A: yes sure i am

3. What is your MAX budget?
A: 35 max 40k

4. Planning to overclock?
A: No

5. Which OS are you planning to use?
A: Windows

6. How much hard drive space is needed?
A: 1tb

7. What resolution will the screen run at & whats the size of the screen you want? If you already want have one and want to use it, mention its resolution and size.
A:Want a 23-24" good quality screen with good viewing angle

8. How would you rate your hardware knowledge from the count of 1-10? (1 being the lowest, 5 being you are somewhat in sync with the current performers and 10 being the highest)
A:7

9. Have you ever built a desktop before or will this be done by an assembler?
A:Build a few some time back for friends

10. When are you planning to buy the system?
A: In a week or two

11. Are you one of the types looking out for "future proof" configurations?
A: Not as such should be able to do basic things like play HD video

12. Are there going to be any components that you don't want to include in this new rig? If yes, do mention.
A:Speaker

13. Which city do you live in and are you open to buying from shops from other city/states?
A: Delhi

14. Mention any other points if deemed necessary
A: As mentioned earlier it should be running cool and having low noise, plus low on power consumption

Also want a good screen and wireless keyboard n mouse!

and if possible horizontal cabinet type

 

[Jaskanwar Singh]

if the system is for low power consumption + 1080p playback i suggest getting a Gigabyte GA-E350N-USB3 for 8900. its based on zacate platform. now get 1333mhz ddr3 ram, wdc 1tb green.

 

[SlashDK]

I'd suggest waiting so that e350 based mobos from other manufacturers can come into the Indian market and the prices drop. 8.9k is seriously overpriced. In US they cost 100-125$

 

[ankushkool]

Damn not de waiting game what bout the processor n de gfx card n PSU n Monitor?

---------- Post added at 10:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:37 PM ----------

P.S. I just noticed u both have almost the same config

---------- Post added at 10:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:38 PM ----------

And wouldn't a normal Mobo provide better cooling over Mini-ITX mobo?

 

[vickybat]

Yup zacate is overpriced. Better components can be bought at that price.

 

[ankushkool]

More suggestions please!

 

[skeletor]

You need to completely decide upon what you want to get.

You want to get a decent "computer" config which you'll be using in the living room - well capable of doing everything like gaming etc.

OR a small good-enough-silent and not power-hungry machine which you'll be solely using in the living room for home entertainment. Nothing else. [HTPC = Home Theatre PC]

Point is, most of the people don't know what they actually need. Some will get a HTPC and then feel it is not powerful enough whereas some will use a full-fledged PC for Home Theatre and then wonder they don't really need that additional power.

Clarify what you need and then I'll post a config.

---------- Post added at 05:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:39 PM ----------

1. What is the purpose of the computer?
A: Planning a Mini Home entertainment for my room. will be mostly used for TV/Movies and sometimes gaming n browsing.

So my main priority is that it should be running cool and having low noise, plus low on power consumption

You mean you'll not force your machine to do other "demanding" things?

 

[ankushkool]

Ok i want a decent "computer" config which you'll be using in the living room... was just confirming if going for all the 'green' products will make much of a difference!

also why i said it should run cool as it wud be in a cupboard and dont want heating to cause any problems!

Thanks

---------- Post added at 05:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:49 PM ----------

Yes... 90% would be TV n HD movies!

 

[skeletor]

Have a look at these: ZOTAC Launches New Mini-PC Series > News on Branded PCs & Laptops > Tech2.com India

They lack a DVD drive though.

For DVD drive there is, Zotac AD03 series which actually has a Blue ray read + DVD-RW drive. This thing should be available for ~30k.

Else we can always put an E-350 board in a mini-ITX case. I'll also post about this soon.

 

[Zangetsu]

PS3 is the best Bet here....

 

[skeletor]

Gigabyte GA-E350N-USB3 - 8900 (street price should be much lesser)
CM Elite 100 mini-ITX cabinet with PSU - 2500
2GB DDR3 1333Mhz RAM - 1100
1TB Seagate 7200.12 HDD - 2700
SATA Slim DVD Writer - 2000 (no idea about the price) (depending upon the cabinet)

 

[ankushkool]

Will PS3 give me occasional work on Word/PPT and image editing and lot other stuff

and thanks ico... also please suggest a good monitor as per above details! one more thing i wanted to ask is can i get a horizontal cabinet (which can be used under monitor) to save space! just asking ;P

---------- Post added at 06:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:24 PM ----------

ico does Gigabyte GA-E350N-USB3 include all those things! processor, Gfx, sound card etc for less than 9k!!! thats good

 

[saswat23]

Dont think PS3 can do such..

 

[skeletor]

I'm trying to find some other mini-ITX cabinet for you - because you won't be able to make use of your PCIe slot in that motherboard if you go for CM Elite 100.

 

[ankushkool]

Thanks a lot! one last ques... will i be able to install a dedicated gfx card on this mobo! just asking

 

[skeletor]

Thanks a lot! one last ques... will i be able to install a dedicated gfx card on this mobo! just asking

yes, but not in the cabinet which I mentioned which is the reason why I'm looking for some other cabinet.

For the note, PCIe slot is running at X4 not X16.

 

[ankushkool]

what about this one? Theitdepot - Cooler Master Elite 360 Black Mid Tower ATX Cabinet (RC-360-KKN1-GP)

 

[skeletor]

Silverstone LC10BE HTPC cabinet - 6500 + tax

---------- Post added at 06:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:52 PM ----------

what about this one? Theitdepot - Cooler Master Elite 360 Black Mid Tower ATX Cabinet (RC-360-KKN1-GP)

This will also do. But I was looking out for horizontal.

 

[ankushkool]

6000 for de cabinet :O isnt it too much... plus will it be available in Delhi?

n i thought above one 4m CM cud be user horizontally too!

 

[skeletor]

6000 for de cabinet :O isnt it too much... plus will it be available in Delhi?

n i thought above one 4m CM cud be user horizontally too!

yup, it can be used horizontally. It'd also allow you to use a decent 3rd party power supply too. Nothing wrong, but it's not meant to be.

---------- Post added at 07:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:02 PM ----------

Thanks a lot! one last ques... will i be able to install a dedicated gfx card on this mobo! just asking

see, you can go ahead and install a dedicated graphic card. But you should also not forget that the CPU of this motherboard will be a bottleneck for games. Like I mentioned in my first post in this thread. The requirements of a user varies. You'll be actually better off getting Athlon II X2 + 760G motherboard and install a graphic card.

It'll actually turn out to be cheaper than this fusion thing, faster but would take more power. (but still very less if we look broadly)