Music & Movie Box: Please review the rig

[winzip]

Hi,
First of all I do not game.

I want to build this rig for music and movies (not really a HTPC). Also it will be used for some programming staff including highly resource hungry portal server. The budget is <50k and I have prepared the following list:

Processor: Athlon II 550

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA785GMT-UD2H (not willing to go for Biostar mobos)

RAM: Transcend 2 * 2GB DDR3 1333MHz

HDD: WD Cavier Green 500GB

Cabinet: Please suggest the most VFM
Coolermaster Elite-330
Gigabyte GZ-X3
Zebronics Bijli

PSU: Please suggest the most VFM
Coolermaster eXtreme Power Plus 460W
Gigabyte Superb 460
Zebronics pro 500W

Monitor: DELL S2409W

Speaker: Altec Lansing MX5021 (this is for the time being. Later I will go for high-end AV receivers)

Sound Card: Asus Xonar DX

Not sure whether I need a low-end graphics card for HD movies.

I have heard from some of my friends that MX5021 makes a hissing sound on dust accumulation. Please comment.

 

[Cilus]

Your rig is not at all optimized. Please find below the optimized configuration according to me
AMD Athlon II X4 620 (2.66 GHz Quad core) @ 5k
MSI 785G-E53 @ 5.5k (with 128 MB DDR3 sideport memory & ATI HD 4200 Gfx)
2 GB Kingston DDR3 1333 MHz Ram @ 2.5k
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB @ 4k
Zebronics Bizli @ 1.4k
Gigabyte 80 Plus Active PFC 460W @ 2.2k or Zebronics 550W Pro @ 2.8k
Monitor: BenQ 24" G2420 FULL HD LCD Monitor @ 11.3k

Other choices are good. But can also try the low-mid range Altec Lansing VS2421 2.1 @ 2.6k, if you want to upgrade Audio componet later.

Reason: While deraling with multitasking applications, HD video decode, Quad core is the way to go.
Suggestion for the mobo: because of its good on-board Graphics solution is very good for the type of aaplication u mentioned. Alternatively you can buy the low end MSI 785GM-E51 @ 4.6k (missing the 128 MB dedicated sideport memory for Graphics) and a low-end Gfx card like XFX HD4650 512MB DDR2 @ 3k .

 

[saqib_khan]

^^ Yeah...this one seems better. For GPU go for 4650 or 4670, as your budget is already much more than needed.

 

[Anubis]

PhenomII X4 955 - 7.9k
Gigabyte 785GMT-UD2H - 5.9k ( Onboard HD 4200 is a very good IGP. Plays HD with eaze and directX 10.1 complaint)
Transcend 2x2gb DDR3 1333 - 5.2k
Seagate 500GB 7200.12 - 2.3k
CM Elite 334 - 2.2k
Gigabyte superb 460w - 2.2k
Dell S2409W - 12.6k
Asus Xonar DX - 4.5k
Logitech x540 - 5.2k / Altec Lansing MX 5021e - 6.6k

Total - 48.4k / 49.5k

 

[Cilus]

PhenomII X4 955 - 7.9k
Gigabyte 785GMT-UD2H - 5.9k ( Onboard HD 4200 is a very good IGP. Plays HD with eaze and directX 10.1 complaint)
Transcend 2x2gb DDR3 1333 - 5.2k
Seagate 500GB 7200.12 - 2.3k
CM Elite 334 - 2.2k
Gigabyte superb 460w - 2.2k
Dell S2409W - 12.6k
Asus Xonar DX - 4.5k
Logitech x540 - 5.2k / Altec Lansing MX 5021e - 6.6k

The config u provide is good for a gaming PC if a Graphics card added, not for a Movie Box. There is no need for a high-end CPU, or high-end overclockable Mobo or 4 GB RAM for playing movies or music.
Athlon II X4 and MSI 785G-E53 Mobo is enough for it. The extra money saved, can be used for a lower end Gfx card, because today's most of the multimedia softwares is becoming GPU optimized. And other point is even casual gaming is not possible with the Onboard GPu in a 24" monitor. So better opt for ATI HD 4650 card. It is great for HD movie decoding and encoding (from ur DVD toDivx, H264 etc) .
So better go for a dedicated GPU, instead buying a costly mobo with onboard GPU.

 

[winzip]

For processor point of view I completely agree with Cilus. But I am a bit skeptical about that low-end motherboard from MSI. So stretching the budget to add a graphics card.

AMD Athlon II X4 620: 5000
Gigabyte GA-MA785GMT-UD2H: 5900
Transcend 2 * 2GB DDR3 1333MHz: 5000
WD Cavier Green 500GB: 2400
Coolermaster Elite 330: 1600
Gigabyte 80 Plus Active PFC 460W: 2200
DELL S2409W: 13800
Altec Lansing MX5021: 6600
Asus Xonar DX: 4500
XFX HD4650 512MB DDR2: 3000

Total ~52k.

Another thing....from MX5021 users: Please comment on the last line of my first post.

 

[rahul_007]

why don't you go with this:-

processor :- AMD Phenom II X4 955 3.2GHz B.E. @ 8k (7.7K + 4% tax)
motherboard :- Asus M4A785TD-V EVO @ 6.5k
ram :- Transcend 2*2GB DDR3 1333MHz C9 5k
harddisk :- Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB @ 2.4k
graphics card :- MSI HD5750 1GB GDDR5 @ 8.2K
psu :- GlacialPower 650W AA @ 4.6k
cabinet :- cooler master elite 330 @ 1.9k
dvd :- LG 22x DVD sata @ 1.1k
monitor :- BenQ 22" G2220 FULL HD LCD Monitor @ 8k
speakers :- Altec Lansing VS2421 2.1 @ 2.6k
peripherals :- Logitech keyboard(0.4k) + mouse(0.2k) @ 0.6k
UPS :- APC UPS 650va @ 2.2k

total :- 50.6k + 1.4k = 52k(including tax and vat)

this config would satisfy all your needs....

 

[Jaskanwar Singh]

i suggest the following components

Athlon II X4 630 2.8GHz @ 5.1k
ECS A785GM-M @ 4.8k
Transcend 2*2GB DDR3 1333MHz C9 @ 5k
PowerColor HD5770 1GB GDDR5 V2 @ 9.9k
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB @ 2.4k
ASUS Xonar DX @ 4.5k
NZXT Gamma @ 2k
Corsair VX450W @ 3.9k
Logitech X540 5.1 @ 5.2k
BenQ 22" G2220 FULL HD LCD Monitor @ 8k

total - 50800

 

[coderunknown]

OP not replied for long time. maybe busy shopping

 

[winzip]

@Jaskanwar Singh

Athlon II X4 630 2.8GHz @ 5.1k
ECS A785GM-M @ 4.8k
Transcend 2*2GB DDR3 1333MHz C9 @ 5k
PowerColor HD5770 1GB GDDR5 V2 @ 9.9k
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB @ 2.4k
ASUS Xonar DX @ 4.5k
NZXT Gamma @ 2k
Corsair VX450W @ 3.9k
Logitech X540 5.1 @ 5.2k
BenQ 22" G2220 FULL HD LCD Monitor @ 8k

total - 50800

I do not need a high-end graphics card as I am not going to game. The only purpose is Music & Movie for which a low end graphics is enough to serve HD movies in 24" monitor.

Anyway I have already purchased the rig but could not find Asus Xonar in Lynx. They have canceled my order as it is out of stock. Can anyone please tell me where else can I find it in reasonable price (<= 5k).

 

[rahul_007]

winzip Anyway I have already purchased the rig but could not find Asus Xonar in Lynx. They have canceled my order as it is out of stock. Can anyone please tell me where else can I find it in reasonable price (<= 5k).

what config did you get????

 

[winzip]

AMD Athlon II X4 620: 4.6k
Gigabyte GA-MA785GMT-UD2H: 5.5k
Kingston 2 * 2GB DDR3 1333MHz: 2640 * 2
WD Cavier Blue 500GB: 2350
Coolermaster Elite 330: 2250
Gigabyte Superb 460W: 2050
DELL S2409W: 13600
Altec Lansing MX5021: 7000
Microsoft USB mouse: 350
Netgear 8 Port Switch: 700
IBall Clario: 600
Logitech C120 webcam: 650

Prices excluding 4% tax. Will add graphics card later.

 

[coderunknown]

AMD Athlon II X4 620: 4.6k
Gigabyte GA-MA785GMT-UD2H: 5.5k
Kingston 2 * 2GB DDR3 1333MHz: 2640 * 2
WD Cavier Blue 500GB: 2350
Coolermaster Elite 330: 2250
Gigabyte Superb 460W: 2050
DELL S2409W: 13600
Altec Lansing MX5021: 7000
Microsoft USB mouse: 350
Netgear 8 Port Switch: 700
IBall Clario: 600
Logitech C120 webcam: 650

Prices excluding 4% tax. Will add graphics card later.

excellent config for HTPC. nice. though i would have suggested you get 1Tb HDD. & i not think in a HTPC anywhere more than 2Gb ram is needed. you got 4Gb, good for you. congrats .

for sound-card, try Prime ABGB. or maybe techshop though they quote a lot more.

 

[winzip]

though i would have suggested you get 1Tb HDD

I heard that 1 TBs are more prone to crash. So decided that I will go for another 500GB if the existing one is used up.

i not think in a HTPC anywhere more than 2Gb ram is needed.

I went for 4GB as I have to install a highly resource hungry Portal server. Check my first post.

for sound-card, try Prime ABGB. or maybe techshop though they quote a lot more.

I haven't seen Asus Xonar DX listed in Primeabgb website. Techshop has it 'Out of Stock' and price is also steep.

 

[coderunknown]

I heard that 1 TBs are more prone to crash. So decided that I will go for another 500GB if the existing one is used up.

well its not so nowadays. still you taken necessary precaution to avoid data loss.

I went for 4GB as I have to install a highly resource hungry Portal server. Check my first post.

oh yah, missed it. sorry

I haven't seen Asus Xonar DX listed in Primeabgb website. Techshop has it 'Out of Stock' and price is also steep.

well you may call Prime ABGB. they may have it but mayn't have it on display. you may also call thunder.02dragon. he should be able get it for you. or instead visit his website. Exodus PC.