Standard Definition PC specs, this OK?

[Justcop]

Looking at building a XBMC Live machine for just playing standard definition content.
Does this look OK?

http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=38
I'm worried about the slow processor on this board, also how does the RAM look, is 512 enough?

Anyone know anything about this board, is it OK for Standby and booting from a removable disk, I plan to take out the hard drive and just run from USB.

If necessary I can by this card to meet the min spec for XBMC. I'm only doing standard definition, do you think this is even necessary?

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/-/667/874/-/9556293/PNY-Geforce-8400GS-512MB-PCI-Graphics-Card/Product.html?searchtype=genre

[fekker]

Looking at building a XBMC Live machine for just playing standard definition content.
Does this look OK?

http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=38
I'm worried about the slow processor on this board, also how does the RAM look, is 512 enough?

Anyone know anything about this board, is it OK for Standby and booting from a removable disk, I plan to take out the hard drive and just run from USB.

If necessary I can by this card to meet the min spec for XBMC. I'm only doing standard definition, do you think this is even necessary?

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/-/667/874/-/9556293/PNY-Geforce-8400GS-512MB-PCI-Graphics-Card/Product.html?searchtype=genre
that cpu is slower then the one used in the original xbox

you would have better luck with one of the dual core atom (msi wind size
ones) .. add a 9400 pci (or that 8400) and it'll do sd and hd too.
example of what i'm talking about
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856119012

you can add a usb tuner and tuck it inside the case if one is needed.

if you cared about hd (which your post says no), you could pop a card in there.
the video card would be a tight fit with the stock psu, but you would have plenty of room with a pico-psu in there (or open frame dc-dc psu).. heck ya might even just be able to remove the shell of that psu (if it's too close to fit)

[Justcop]

problem is I'm in the UK.

The components I gave above are the cheapest here, unless anyone else knows something better.

Would prefer an HTPC to an Xbox cos it looks nicer and is more of a challenge, looks cooler to people coming round, more of an achievement.

[badmoviesnbeer]

I've been looking around for a bit trying to put together the additional parts I need for a dedicated box. That little barebones fekker linked looks pretty interesting. Any opinions on the power supply in that thing?

In general, how would that dual core atom fare on things that aren't vdpau accelerated? I'm still somewhat unsure if I can get away with the lowest power setup of a dual core atom, or if I should go with one of the low power amd cpus. I might possibly being playing around with the other media center apps like boxee, myth, etc.

Is the 8400 with 512mb ram generally considered more than enough for 1080p content with vdpau? Or is it recommended to pay the extra and get the 9400? Any recommendations from the cards that are available on newegg?

Thanks for any suggestions you guys have.

[Pvt_Ryan]

http://projects.ninet.org/index.php/HTPC

^^ My website. Look at MC1 or 2. They are suffice for SD content.

You should be able to get *most* of the bits off ebay. That's what I do.

if you want a gfx card:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NVIDIA-GEFORCE-9400GT-1GB-PCI-EX-1024MB-GRAPHICS-CARD_W0QQitemZ260330308447QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Co mputing_Computer_Components_Graphics_Video_TV_Card s_TW?hash=item260330308447&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50


Better for less.