How about this <$200 PC for a Sage Client?

[brianblank]

From this thread on FatWallet.com it looks like this system can be had for under $200.

Compaq Presario SR1200NX
SKU# 583808
AMD Sempron Processor 2800+
256MB DDR RAM
40GB Hard Drive
CD-RW
56K modem
10/100 Ethernet Card
9-in-1 card reader
Windows XP Home Edition

I am thinking of getting one and thowing in a decent Video card instead of building a machine from scratch to be my sage client for our bedroom TV (32" standard def Toshiba).

Thoughts? I just bought my first Sage bundle so please be kind.

Brian

[fidget]

The biggest question with most cheap PCs is their expandability. At work, we have some "slim line" Dell PCs and they have some severe restrictions. First, they only have two DIMM slots, so any memory upgrade requires you the replace all of the RAM. Second, they only have two PCI slots. For a set top box, this may not be too bad, but I don't think it is acceptable for a server. Finally, and this is the kicker, it will only accept a half height AGP card.

Be sure to take a look at the PC's specs first. I couldn't because I don't enable cookies by default, and I don't like Staples so won't enable them for their sight.

[Toddly]

It is a great price for $200.00. It looks like the sale hasn't started yet because the link brings up a full system for 449.00. I would think for a client it would be perfectly acceptable although you could get by with the Media MVP for about 1/2 the price.

[brianblank]

It looks to accept full height cards, have 3 open PCIs and one open DIMM.

Full specs

Processor
Clock speed 2 GHz
Processor type Sempron
Installed processor qty 1
Max supported processor qty 1
Processor manufacturer AMD
Processor performance index 2800+

RAM
RAM installed 256 MB
Max supported RAM 1 GB
Memory specification compliance PC2700
Memory speed 333 MHz
RAM form factor DIMM 184-pin
RAM technology DDR SDRAM

Video Output
Video output form factor Integrated
Display (Projector)
Display type None.
Service & Support
Service & Support type 1 year warranty

Optical Storage
CD / DVD type CD-RW
CD / DVD read speed 48x
CD / DVD rewrite speed 32x
CD / DVD write speed 48x
Optical storage interface type IDE

Storage Hard Drive
Hard drive interface IDE
Hard drive installed qty 1
Hard drive size 40 GB
Hard drive type Standard
Spindle speed 5400 rpm

Audio Input
Audio input type None

Interface Provided
Interface 7 Hi-Speed USB, 2 IEEE 1394 (FireWire), 2 Audio Line-in, 2 Microphone Input, 1 Audio Line-out, 1 Headphones Output, 1 Serial RS-232, 1 Parallel IEEE 1284 (EPP/ECP), 1 Network Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX, 1 Display / video VGA, 1 Keyboard Generic, 1 Mouse Generic

Connector Type 4 pin USB Type A, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Mini-phone 3.5 mm, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 9 pin D-Sub (DB-9), 25 pin D-Sub (DB-25), RJ-45, 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15), 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style), 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style)

Storage Hard Drive (2nd)
2nd hard drive type None

Optical Storage (2nd)
2nd optical storage type None

Storage Controller (2nd)
2nd storage controller type None

Modem
Modem 56 Kbps Fax / modem

Cabinet (Chassis)
Cabinet form factor Desktop

Cache Memory
Cache 256 KB L2 cache
Cache per processor size 256 KB

Mainboard
Chipset type VIA UniChrome KM400A
Data bus speed 333 MHz
Networking
Data link protocol Ethernet, Fast Ethernet

Networking Network adapter Integrated
Video Input
Video input type None
Bay Provided
Expansion bays 2 (1 free) Front accessible 5.25" x 1/2H, 1 (1 free) Front accessible 3.5" x 1/3H, 1 (0 free) Internal 3.5" x 1/3H
Storage Floppy Drive
Floppy drive type None
Service & Support Details
Full contract period 1 year, 1 year

Service & Support details Limited warranty, Technical support
Service included Phone consulting

Input Device
Input device Mouse, Keyboard

Power Device
Power device type Power supply

Printer
Printer type None

Video Memory
Video memory technology Shared video memory (UMA)

System
Recommended use Home use
System type Personal computer

OS Provided
OS provided Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

Storage Removable
Removable storage type None

Slot Provided
Slot provided 1 (0 free) Processor Socket A, 2 (1 free) Memory DIMM 184-pin, 3 (2 free) PCI, 1 (1 free) AGP 8x, 1 (1 free) SmartMedia Card, 1 (1 free) XD-Picture Card, 1 (1 free) SD memory card, 1 (1 free) CompactFlash Card Type I/II, 1 (1 free) Memory Stick Pro

Storage Controller
Storage controller form factor Integrated
Storage controller installed qty 1
Storage controller type IDE

[brianblank]

Originally Posted by Toddly

It is a great price for $200.00. It looks like the sale hasn't started yet because the link brings up a full system for 449.00. I would think for a client it would be perfectly acceptable although you could get by with the Media MVP for about 1/2 the price.

How is the picture quality out of an MVP? From what I have read about the Sage plugin for the MVP it works well, but has a few buggy features, please correct me if I am wrong.

Brian

<edit>
Sale starts Tuesday (in theory, check the FW thread for all the details)

[krutaw]

Originally Posted by brianblank

How is the picture quality out of an MVP? From what I have read about the Sage plugin for the MVP it works well, but has a few buggy features, please correct me if I am wrong.

Brian

<edit>
Sale starts Tuesday (in theory, check the FW thread for all the details)

The MVP picture quality is very very good. I'd say it rivals the PVR-350 in picture quality, however, it does have problems when a picture has alot of red in it (shrug). Anyway, I would say it's a much better choice for a client considering the price and picture quality.

[korben_dallas]

No DVD playback on the MVP though..

[krutaw]

Originally Posted by korben_dallas

No DVD playback on the MVP though..

But the same is true with a PVR-350. And without spending bank on an HDTV that has DVI in, you're not going to find comparable picture quality.

[kny3twalker]

the MVP has the same built in decoder as the PVR 350

[Matt]

Originally Posted by brianblank

From what I have read about the Sage plugin for the MVP it works well, but has a few buggy features, please correct me if I am wrong.

Yes, it's not perfect but I do my best to get those quirks out. But even in it's current state, many people use it very successfully every day - me and my GF included ;-)

Given the price of the MVP, its picture quality and the fact that it's absolutely silent (no fans, no harddisk), it's hard to beat as Client for SDTVs.

-Matt