Is a Dell Vostro 200 (slim) enough to make a budget HTPC?

[NDman]

I know there is a thread about HTPC on a budget but it gets into the technical side of things.

I jumped on a deal at Dell (US) for a Vostro 200

PROCESSOR Intel® Core™2 Duo Proc E4500 (2.20GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800FSB) edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition edit
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE No Pre-installed Productivity Software edit
MONITOR Dell 20 inch Widescreen E207WFP Analog Flat Panel Display edit
MEMORY 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz - 2DIMMs edit
OPTICAL DRIVE Single Drive: 16X (DVD+/-RW) Burner Drive edit
HARD DRIVE 250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache™ edit
VIDEO CARD Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3100 edit
FLOPPY OR MEDIA READER No Floppy Drive edit
MODEM & WIRELESS No Modem Option edit
SOUND Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio

All that with the 20" WS monitor was $400 after taxes.

Anyway, I know I'll need a decent low profile video card, and possibly a sound card, to even think it'll might be worthwile for an HTPC. But even then, I am not sure. Does this PC has any potential for that (maybe with a bigger HDD but those come cheap these days)?

Thanks

[EDIT: I do have a LCD proj HD-ready TV. Any recommendation for a reasonable HDTV card would be great, too]

[AllWheelDrift]

In terms of CPU/RAM it easily has enough power. In fact, almost any entry level system should have no problems playing back BluRay movies as long as you spend $50 on a Radeon HD 3450.

I do find it strange that talking about a HTPC but you haven't mentioned a TV tuner or even more importantly, a remote.

Also, Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 or Windows Vista Home Premium would give you some nice media center capabilities that Windows XP Home doesn't but if you can use something like GBPVR instead, or use MythTV on Linux.

Edit: I notice you do ask about a HDTV card. I'm leaning towards a Vista View Saber DA-1N1-I.

[cheapbastage]

You'll have to find yourself a Low Profile video card and Tuner card. If your not going to get Over The Air HD you'll be out of luck for recording HD in most cases.
The On board sound will only output 2 channels, so If you want 5.1 you'll need a soundcard. LowProfile cards seem to cost about 15-30% more.

Check out SageTV for PVR software if your recording SD or HD. (or even a front end for media files) The software is around $70 but it includes the program guide which you'll have to pay extra for with Myth and GBpvr. (SchedulesDirect has a annual fee around $30)

[NDman]

Thanks for the replies. Any suggestion on the video card and the tuner card? I read that 8400GT (low profile) is a budget card that does a reasonable job, and can be had for fairly cheap now these days. 8600GT is at an ok price too (about $150 USD if there was a sale)

What about a good tuner (brand, model, etc)? Thanks again.

[crazdefool]

Radeon HD 3450.

allwheeldrift already pointed out a good card for HTPC and its only $50-60 from ncix.

[NDman]

A little bump for the thread. I've priced around and seems like the HD 3450 is a very able and reasonable card for the purpose. Thanks for the suggestion, AllWheelDrift. And for comparison, whcih one is better? HD3450 or the HD2400 Pro?

http://www.buy.com/prod/diamond-ati-...205073851.html


What about a TV Tuner card? Saber DA-1N1-I looks a bit pricey. Or is it some what of a range that I should be expecting? Anything on the slightly lower end? Thanks again

A quick look on Newegg and this *looks* reasonable, and it's low profile to boot, too (reviews and ratings are only so-so)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815122008


Also, if I were to setup an HTPC, what is the proper way to hook things up? Right now, I am thinking of subscribing to cable for something other than OTA and local channels. If that's the case, should the TV out from the cable box go into the tuner, then out from the video card to the TV (if I want to have the PVR capability using the computer)?

[fitbrit]

An HTPC doesn't automatically imply that you want to use it for TV viewing. I don't use mine with any kind of live TV service; it's strictly a player for movies and TV shows that do not have advertisements every 5 minutes, e.g. DVD box sets.
It's still an HTPC, though.
Like others have said, your PC with a low profile video card like the 3450 would be fine. Also, if it has integrated SPDIF sound for passthrough, there's no need to invest in a soundcard. I'll assume that your audio receiver is capable of upmixing audio to ProLogic II/IIX or DTS:neo6. If so, any stereo movies will be upmixed to 5.1/6.1/7.1 by the receiver, and any 5.1 DD/DTS movies will be passed through any way, with no need for a separate sound card. If you don't have SPDIF or want to encode to DD/DTS in the PC, then I can recommend a DD Live/DTS Connect USB sound card if low profile PCI/e ones are rare/expensive.

[ppl4golf]

You'll have to find yourself a Low Profile video card and Tuner card. If your not going to get Over The Air HD you'll be out of luck for recording HD in most cases.
The On board sound will only output 2 channels, so If you want 5.1 you'll need a soundcard. LowProfile cards seem to cost about 15-30% more.

Check out SageTV for PVR software if your recording SD or HD. (or even a front end for media files) The software is around $70 but it includes the program guide which you'll have to pay extra for with Myth and GBpvr. (SchedulesDirect has a annual fee around $30)

The sound is 8-channel (7.1) good quality or not is another question

[ppl4golf]

Price is good...having a Dell as HTPC is not very savvy in the eyes of many HTPC snobs

It is a good low cost alternative...remote can be had in many TV tuner cards...adding the 3450 is a good idea if you're getting into HD playback or if your display is 1080p. The sound issue is not an issue if there is a SPDIF header on the mobo...otherwise stick with the analog outputs is still not that bad.

I've seen one of these slim towers at Staples and it ain't that bad :~)

Then the real fun begins...codec paks searching

[NDman]

Thanks a lot for the help, fitbrit, and ppl4golf. I'm sure I'll have a lot of fun just by playing with it and setting it up (then tweaking it later when I have more experience). Will probably pop by later for more questions.

[fitbrit]

No problem. We'll be here!

[NDman]

BUMP for a little question

If I am running Windows XP on the machine, will the card work at all since it's a 64-bit? I thought only the the Vista ultimate that runs on 64-bit?