Need Help on a new system.

[DocLove]

I purchased 2 PVR 250mce’s, SageTV, Sage Client. I assembled the parts in an old system I had, as soon as I started to install the OS, my servers motherboard crashed. So I was forced to use the mother board from my new sage system to fix my server. I have a couple of quick questions, that I am hoping to get answers to.
I am on a fixed budget. I can only spend about $300.00 on everything I will need to buy.
The system will be only used for sage.

#1. what is the most economical motherboard / processor combination?
#2. The video card I was going to use is a 3 year old PCI video card with TV out, I was thinking that when I buy a motherboard I should buy one with video built on, if not I need to buy a good video card?
#3. Sound is not an issue; I have a good PCI SoundBlaster card.
#4. how much memory do I need to install in this unit, What really sucks Is that I have 1gb of memory that cannot be used in the new system..
#5 I have several 10/100 network cards, so Network is not a problem.


I would like to build this system right the first time, I understand that with only $300 to play with I will not be building the top of the line system, but if I can get a working unit to show my wife, maybe I can upgrade at a later date…

Thanks in advance

The Doc.

[RedR]

Heya,
#1: If an option, check out Fry's Friday ad in the local newspaper. They've had a Semperon 2500+ (ish) with motherboard (usually ECS) for 80 dollars. Else you can usually find a good CPU/MB combo for 80-100. From what I've read, VIA chipsets are the biggest gotcha's, tho I believe most if not all those problems have been solved.

#2: I personally would avoid using onboard video because it is traditionally very very poor quality and often uses shared memory vs. its own. I am using a GeForce 4 MX 440 on my PVR (a 2-3yr old card) and it works GREAT! If you’re looking for DirectX 9 support with a little more umph behind it, perhaps a GeForce 5200 for around 50 dollars, they are a great pick.

#3: SoundBlaster is great, though many on board sound solutions are even better on current motherboards, so keep that door open IMO.

#4: For a Windows box, I'd say no less than 512MB. I've read about folks getting away with less without a problem. Although for the price, it’s hard to argue with a stick of mid-range 512MB ram.

#5: Typically the onboard LAN on motherboards today do 100/1000, so either way your set there ;P

I built my first PVR for 200 that also include a HD and ram I had left over from an upgrade. So staying in the realm of 300 should be very realistic for you. Just keep in mind upgrading, or adding more to it down the road (ram, CPU, hard drive) and you'll be just fine.

Hope this helps,
RedR

[Toddly]

Yeah, Fry's or Outpost.com will have some of those CPU - Motherboard combos but I think they are mostly ECS boards of which I am not a big fan. I prefer boards with the NForce chipset and AMD CPU's, for the money they can't be beat. I have built 2 computers with Shuttle boards and each ran great right out of the box. They are reasonably priced too.
What type of RAM do you have that you cannot use?
Your wife will probably love the freedom and choice that comes with watching televison this way. That is what happened in my house.

[DocLove]

The memory that I have is PC133, all the new motherboards use DDR, I guess I will save it in case I need it for one of my other systems.

The Doc.

[mdmint]

Originally Posted by DocLove

The memory that I have is PC133, all the new motherboards use DDR, I guess I will save it in case I need it for one of my other systems.

The Doc.

Many new mobo's while supporting and optimal performance with DDR RAM can also use PC133. Just a BIOS setting to use it.

[RAKY0311]

hello:I'm in the same boat try to assembly a cheap sage comp,please can you sugest a exactly model # of the principal component to buy for non expert like me,also the GE force 5200 have a good price.
excuse for my english!

[Toddly]

Originally Posted by RAKY0311

hello:I'm in the same boat try to assembly a cheap sage comp,please can you sugest a exactly model # of the principal component to buy for non expert like me,also the GE force 5200 have a good price.
excuse for my english!

Are you referring to motherboard when you say "principal component". If so there are many good manufacturers of motherboards but lots of people prefer them with the NForce chipset versus a VIA chipset. If you are going to use one PC for recording and playback then I would suggest the ATX form factor. I have always had good success with ASUS, ABIT and Shuttle boards but there are many more that are good performers as well. Have you ever built a PC?

[g808]

I have a system running an Athlon Sempron 2400+ and a ECS N2U400-a (nForce 2 Ultra 400 chipset). It's pretty impressive for such a cheap combo. Good enough to run a basic HTPC for sure. The mobo maybe cheap, but it's chipset is great, it supports dual-channel RAM, has a passive northbridge cooler, good board layout, and has Soundstorm! So far very stable.

[RAKY0311]

I never build a comp before,but I think I can.Where I'm stuck on is in the compatibility of the component,ie:that model of mother b. with that video card and that memory.
thanks for help!