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Thread ID: 142120 2016-04-30 07:50:00 Cheap desktop build gary67 (56) Press F1
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1419778 2016-04-30 07:50:00 I have a spare desktop with an M-Atx form factor. Its pretty old has a Pentium 4 in it.

I'm looking to rebuild with a new Mobo, Cpu and Ram as I want to have an HDMI outlet so I can plug it into the TV as a cheap media player. Noise won't really be an issue.

Any one have some recommendations on a cheap upgrade kit.

Thanks
gary67 (56)
1419779 2016-04-30 09:34:00 If its still going OK and you don't need truck loads of power, why not simply drop in a Graphic Card, ( as long as its got a PCI-E slot) most cards have at least 1 HDMI outlet these days.

Just dropped a Gigabyte GV-N210SL-1GI, GeForce 210 into my old media centre about 4 months ago ( P4 3.0 w4GB memory) as it was running an old card with no HDMI, now works fine. Around $60, and fanless (silent)

Example @ Ascent www.ascent.co.nz
wainuitech (129)
1419780 2016-04-30 10:50:00 You could build a combo from one of these for about $260 without OS www.computerlounge.co.nz
Or for intel you have to go somewhere else (computerlounge don't stock the cheaper intel boards) so maybe one of these www.pp.co.nz + www.pp.co.nz + www.pp.co.nz for $10 - $20 more and a much better platform IMHO

Purely suggestions from my favourite suppliers, I haven't tried these combinations personally. Wainui's suggestion is probably the cheapest option, it's surprising how little power you actually need for media duties. I've use a 1Ghz dual core celeron for 1080P before.

Or if it's not being too Cheeky I have one of these I am about to list on trademe www.intel.com PM me if interested, will sell it about the same price as those parts I suggested :)
Has windows 10, a 160GB laptop WD blue drive, and 4GB single RAM chip. Was using it as a bedroom media PC until I got an all in one to replace it.
dugimodo (138)
1419781 2016-05-01 07:19:00 Was going to take Wainui advice so went to install Mint on it. First problem too old to boot from USB, second problem doesn't have a DVD drive, third problem I don't have an IDE DVD drive in any of the other machines I own either.

Oh well back to the drawing board.
gary67 (56)
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