Up until yesterday I've had a normal PC running Win7 Ultimate connected to my TV via the VGA, yesterday the pc failed for the last time (motherboard keeps looping and not detecting any disks).

I would like to start building a proper Media PC with remote control etc

All our films are currently stored on my Windows 2003 fileserver with a 1gb connection between them and are mapped to our profiles via a logon script, SWMBO and I map to the VCDS folder and the boys map to the VCDS\KIDS folder so as to only see the films we are happy for them to watch.

The films we have stored aren't HD quality and at the moment we don't have any bluerays or need togo HDMI although I would like to be able to upgrade when required without too much extra cost.

Workable parts

Dual Core 2.8ghz cpu/cooler (large heatsink/fan to keep noise down)

4gb DDR2 RAM

Plenty of SATA II 7200rpm disks

PSU

I will need a Case of sorts/motherboard & software for browsing the film library.

My current budget is £20 which I'm hoping will get me a replacement motherboard for a normal sized PC case or Media Case?? As for the remaining budget, I don't want togo silly with cost (hence would like to re-use as much as possible from my current pc)

I haven't looked into any of this yet but will be doing so tomorrow should it be quiet at work so any tips/advice/pointers will be helpful.

Matthew

Can you RMA the motherboard?? Where did you buy the PC and how old is it?? Most have a 3-5 year warranty. Failing that, I buy most of my hardware from aria.com, even the Computer Fair prices tend to be higher!!!

The motherboard will be at least 6years old its had a good life especially at one point I had it running as a 2003 server running vmware server and 3 virtual servers without being powered off for a couple of years

Sorry, the Win7 comment made me think it wasnt that old. I dont think you are going to find a new mobo for £20, although you can pick up a 2nd hand one for that and have change. TBH, for what you want it for, you can probably buy a whole 2nd hand PC and stick in a £30 gfx card and some HDDs. Aria do, (or did) a media centre/card reader box that slotted into a floppy drive slot, it comes with an IR receiver AND remote. The only problem was the Vista only software, although if they still have it, there may be a Win7 software version available now.

Been having a little look around today and my thoughts are now

* buy a 2nd hand motherboard to get the PC up and running and give it to the boys to replace their aging Dell of which failed to power on yesterday (smells like the PSU has burnt out).

* build myself a nice new HTPC over the next 6months

So far I'm liking the Zalman HD503 Casealthough it does have mixed reviews

Do you actually need a full media PC? Why not some kind of box like this, WD TV Live

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002LZUHMI/ref=asc_df_B002LZUHMI4744453?smid=A1F8YGP86NG3IP&tag=googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22218&creativeASIN=B002LZUHMI

I have one and it plays everything I can throw at it and its tiny.

Go for something dead silent like an apple TV, then jailbreak and install XBMC. Then you'll be able to stream all your media just like you do now.

Do you actually need a full media PC? Why not some kind of box like this, WD TV Live

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002LZUHMI/ref=asc_df_B002LZUHMI4744453?smid=A1F8YGP86NG3IP&tag=googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22218&creativeASIN=B002LZUHMI

I have one and it plays everything I can throw at it and its tiny.

Go for something dead silent like an apple TV, then jailbreak and install XBMC. Then you'll be able to stream all your media just like you do now.

They both look really good but I need the use of a PC as this hosts 1 of my backup drives for my fileserver & I do play the occasional game on it

Matthew

I have an antec fusion box which I am thinking of selling. Has an asus motherboard with hdmi and vga out. Has a e4500 core2duo with 2gb of ram.

Let me know if you're interested and can send you pics etc.