I am not too good with hardware prices etc etc so give me advice plz :o)

I have a mate who wants a system just for playback of mpeg and divx, mp3 through Real jukebox and general Internet kinda stuff, he does not play any games at all.

He is going for a look around on Thursday for a new system and he wants an Athlon 1gig+ system. I told him I would get him some info on video cards and motherboards etc so here I am asking you kids !!

He already has a 256MB stick of PC133 SDRAM so he will want to use that in his new system.
What video card would you guys go for ?? I am thinking of a GF2 of some description with TV out, but I wouldn't know which one, remember he does not play games - he will only require it to do full screen mpeg playback etc (which is something even my TNT-2 M64 can do :p)

Also what is a semi-decent midrange soundcard to get ?? I know sweet FA about them :o)

Yer so some specs and prices and s*** would be sweet, I'd just hate to see him get screwed over and end up with some dodgy mobo or whatever :o)


OK he wants to spend between $1500 and $1700, he wants the following (may not be possible within his price range though):

* DVD drive
* 40gig HDD
* 17" Monitor
* Video card with TV out
* Sound card
* Floppy drive
* Minimum 1000MHz Thunderbird CPU
* Heatsink and fan (he won't be o/c'ing so nothing uber needed)
* Motherboard
* Case
* IDE cables etc

Things he does not need are:

* Keyboard and mouse
* RAM (has 256MB PC133 SDRAM)
* CD-ROM drive
* Modem

I wouldn't know brands/models of this gear to get, so what would you guys recommend ??

You think it is possible to get all that gear under $1700 without getting gear that is too s*** ??

HEY!
smart arse!

Common hardware guru's gimmie answers :o)

If he really isn't into gaming then he'd be better of with an ATI vid card (All-In-Wonder). They do the best DVD playback. And frankly the only real need for a 1ghz system is gaming. He could get away with a lower end Celeron or Duron system if it's just watching movies, surfing the net etc. He could probably save quite a few bucks that way.

Yea I personally would say get a Duron but he is intent on being in the 1gig+ league :p Can you get 1gig Duron ?? Dun laugh at me bitches.
I also think that GF2 is probably overkill for his needs, what else has TV out ??

over clock one

Yeah, overclocking would be a good way to do it. But what the hell the 1.2 athlons are pretty cheap anyway. Heapsa cards. My rec is the ATI Radeon All-in-wonder or take a step back and grab the ATI Rage ALl-in-wonder. TV out and superb DVD quality. But not as fast as the GeForce for gaming.

Yea he seriously is not into gaming at all... The most intensive graphics he would be doing is full screen DVD playback or DivX

Just saw this on Gamedude: Riva TNT2 M64 POWERCOLOR 2D/3D 32meg with DVD software and TV in and out - $139 - How bad would this card be ?? He would like TV in too you see :o)

you could easily get that system for under $1700, but instead of getting a video card with TV out, you would be better off getting a decoder card, it has TV out and makes your DVDs run REALLY smooth.

Yeah I'm with Eds on this one, a dedicated mpeg decoder card is a far better than using a standard AGP video card. Don't forget that decoder cards not only do video but dolby surround and all that. I haven't had much experience with DVDs but from what I've seen/heard/read, Videologic make good mpeg decoder cards. Definately take a decoder card over onboard mpeg decoding on a video card. Oh and I'm not entirely sure about this, but apparently a lot of videocards that claim to be able to decode mpeg infact use software rather than true hardware decoding.

Oh and I forgot to mention, as Eds said, decoder cards produce very good quality output.

Some nice soul sent me a component list, tell me what you think. I think it is pretty decent spec'd system - BTW the list I was sent was for Umart, gamedude didn't have all of the same stuff :o) Grab the info from HERE
I think it is worthwhile and less hassle to just get everything from Umart and pay a little more than what gamedude is charging. I have dealt with neither company but from word on the street UMART seems the better choice IMO.

both look like good systems, but i would go to umart, have heard a lot of bodgy things from gamedude, but then again i know ppl who have bought s*** from there and its been ok .

gamedude will have working stuff for you... eventually.

I've heard many stories of people getting stuff from there only having to send it back and wait x amount of weeks to get a replacement. and all the while they get bad service and long ques ( ques in a compuer store ? )

and they dont open untill 10:00 am or something lame like that..

Yea I would also go UMART simply becasue the monitor is slightly better and they have a better reputation with service and warranty and all that crap. The price difference is pretty small anyways and is most probably worth while. Also the DVD from gamedude is slot whereas the UMART one is tray, but meh.

i got slot loading and it aint that great..

Also can someone tell me the difference between the KF45a and the HX45 ?? I checked and they both have a 250watt PSU, is it just a cosmetic thing ??

yeah just a cosmetic thing, personally i dont like the look of the kf45a, the hx45 looks pretty dam nice, but they both do the same thing.

Whats all this about a decoder cards ?? How much do they cost ??

get a realmagic hollywood + . they are nice. very nice and only bout $120. u wont regret it, works with any other vid card, so to save some money, just go for a tnt2 or somethin.

Buy mine

$1300

800mhz
256ram
burner
sblive soundcaard
15' monitor

No :o)

Videologic is my choice. Don't know any specifics or prices but last I heard the "pro" model cost $249 retail (about 6 months ago).

bit pricy....... hollywood+ does same thing and cheaper.

So you reckon get a TNT-2 M64 and a DVD decoder card instead of a GF2 with TV out ??

GF2 = $197

Decoder Card = $120
TNT-2 ~$100

So the Decoder card combo would be a little over $200 whereas the GF2 alone is just under $200

That a good idea you think ??

$1300?
my bro got brand new pc for just above that..
specs of em.. (this is if ya think it's s***box)
amd 1ghz athlon
asus a7v133
512mg ram
gf2 mx asus
17" monitor for like
all up bout - $1400

hey thats pretty good.

Anyone have definate prices on DVD decoder cards ?? I can't find any ?!?!

the decoder card + tnt would b a better dvd alternative in my opinion. stand by for prices..

s*** ur right prices for decoder cards are non-existent

I'm pretty sure a 1.2GHhz CPU and GF2 can handle decoding DVD and what not via software though.

yeah im sure it could too, but the sound and video quality would b far superior with a decoder card. but still up to u. personally i would, but thats me. i value my dvd quality :P

Man, thier was a few posts regarding video decoders a while back (I think Hunter was in on them) the general consensus was that decoders were the go for tv out, but that software decoding was better for playing on monitors... Im sure someone in here will debate that, lets here it. Ill be interested to get this straight...

Well, it is generally accepted that dedicated decoder cards tend to have a better quality output no matter what output medium you chose to view it on. Decoder cards also perform a few functions that as far as I know, software decoders aren't able to do. Even so, you can go with software, but be warned the quality is always going to be less than what DVD is capable of, and in some cases is actually worse than VHS. Generally, software decoders are only marginally better than VHS.

I came across this mammoth DVD FAQ a while ago:

http://dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html

No one hase told me where the fark I can get a DVD decoder card from yet ?? I have looked at a few places and it doesn't look they have them.

those prices and specs are boo, they could be so much better, I bought my Videologic Pro Decoder card with dolby 5.1 last year, and it was about$200, but the image and sound quality it put out to the TV was unreal, and it worked awsomely for the monitor as well.
for a DVD box, you dont need a 1.2 gig athlon, my boss's DVD computer is a 166 with 52 meg ram and a decoder card, and it runs to his projector f***ing smooooth as.
go duron, becuase if you want it for purly MP3's and DVD's , then youll want more than a pissy SB Live Value. and you will want a decoder card.

Yea I know he dun need an 1.2gig Athlon, he wants one. Personally i'd go with a duron 700+ but meh.

CPUs are cheap as chips anyway (ah hahaha, pun was unintentional :) ).
But if you can find a decoder card, get it. Sunlit had them a while back, but even if they still did I wouldnt go near it with a 10 foot pole....

I've bought hardware from both Umart and Gamedude. Umart had faster service and a more permanent looking store...

Check out Computer Alliance, they have a very good reputation and their stuff is well priced.

None of the major (reputable) stores seem to have decoders in. Perhaps software decoding has improved enough to render hardware based solutions obsolete?

OK I have told my mate about the computers and we both recon that the one from Umart is the one :o) Thanks to everyone for the help and s***... In case you care this is the Umart one

http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/telscum/s***/umart.gif

No, software rendering is still poor in comparison to hardware. There seems to be this big myth where everyone thinks software is ok just because you've got more grunt, which is a big load of crap.

Back to decoder cards, I saw a pioneer dvd drive and videologic decoder card in a kit, though you should be able to get them separately.

i saw a nice Creative DVD drive, Cambridge FPS 1000 speakers, and decoder card package for $400... that was a while ago at megamart...

heh.
jaton makes the hollywood realmagic plus now but i dunno if u can still get it
check out
Techwatch
for some prices...
u also consider Samsung syncmaster753df for monitor (again u have to check the prices i am a lazy bitch).

I am done rambling, i hope i have helped in some way.

He is going to get it on Friday afternoon... Do you think Umart will have all the stuff in stock ??

umm,... can i ask why the f*** he is getting a 1 gig CPU when its not for gaming.... (soz if someone has , and most likely posted this already)

yeh, all in wonder is schweet for dvd stuff,

Damn I just ordered the stuff online and they have sold out of the monitors :o( Also specifically what CPU cooling should he get ?? He isn't overclocking so something quiet is the plan :o)
And yea about the 1gig thing, he just wants, I have told me he doesn't need - it is just wank factor I think.

ROFL

ok then

1) get a sony monitor, they are only 630 at umart now!!! used to be like 800 2 wks ago
2) when you buy the mobo/cpu from there, you usually get some el dodge cpu cooler, personally i would go with Thermaltake Volcano 2 fan, only 30 dorrah, quiet, and keep a Tbird 1gig @ 1.33 at 50 degrees after playing 1 hr of tribes 2..

No do not buy a Sony monitor. They may claim to have trinitron technology but the patent to that ran out a while ago and lots of other companies now use trinitron technology in their monitors for a fraction of the cost. Put simply, you do not need to waste all that money when you can get exactly the same quality for less. Not too sure of what is good to get though, but I do know that Sony is just a big waste of money.

I have a trinitron, but ill agree with Hunter. Mine was 595 new, so it was worth it at the time IMO...

As for the heatsink, get something quiet...
If you want you can go to Cool PC>here< they have these new Tiger coolers in from Germany, quiet, easy to install, and they auto adjust fan speed according to CPU usage to get optimal quiet...

Correction: Tigers are COMING and can be preordered... Not the same.

still say you should check out the Samsung Syncmaster 753 DF
I have one and i am very happy with it so far, it is flat and it is only $470 compared to that of trinitron.
It also does the same max res (1280*1204@ 60Hz) as the trinitron....