Ever considering....

CaligulaPolk

to add a horizontal computer to your home theater rack? I am considering buying Dell Optilex GX280 with Pentium 4, 2.8 GHz, 512 Ram and Windows XP from this dude for 60 bucks.

I figured i could upgrade it if i feel necessary. Whatcha think? I looked for horiziontal computer desktop for my rack to hook up to my panny. I figured for 60 bucks, why not?

GX280 Click for spec info

renowilliams

CaligulaPolk wrote: »

to add a horizontal computer to your home theater rack? I am considering buying Dell Optilex GX280 with Pentium 4, 2.8 GHz, 512 Ram and Windows XP from this dude for 60 bucks.

I figured i could upgrade it if i feel necessary. Whatcha think? I looked for horiziontal computer desktop for my rack to hook up to my panny. I figured for 60 bucks, why not?



GX280 Click for spec info

Sure, just make sure you install a duel head video card with tv out and that it will fit in the case. Not a bad idea though. Makes for a more compact set up.

mmadden28

Dell computers are not upgrade friendly-well except maybe for the Hard Drive and DVD, but not the motherboard, and most of your components that go into the mobo (video, sound, memory, etc) are limited to the mobo architecture. In this case older.

Note, you can position most desktop PCs horizontally.
You have to also consider that not all computers are quiet and with this being in your entertainment rack...Of course I realize you won't hear it but your wife will.

$60 is not bad (not sure what the market rate for older computers are though).

Does the Panny have VGA input? This Dell does NOT have DVI out.

For what purpose do you intend to use it?

CaligulaPolk

mmadden28 wrote: »

Dell computers are not upgrade friendly-well except maybe for the Hard Drive and DVD, but not the motherboard, and most of your components that go into the mobo (video, sound, memory, etc) are limited to the mobo architecture. In this case older.

Note, you can position most desktop PCs horizontally.
You have to also consider that not all computers are quiet and with this being in your entertainment rack...Of course I realize you won't hear it but your wife will.

$60 is not bad (not sure what the market rate for older computers are though).

Does the Panny have VGA input? This Dell does NOT have DVI out.

For what purpose do you intend to use it?

Yes my panny have VGA, im gonna usei t for computer use. Store pictures, ITunes (Wife), screensaver , etc. PS3 broswer is slow, My wife take over the laptop lol

the item is selling 70 to 130 dollars..

Sherardp

I was looking at adding the Studio Hybrid, just for web browsing, etc, on the big screen.

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/desktop-studio-hybrid?c=us&cs=19&l=en&ref=dthp&s=dhs

CaligulaPolk

Sherardp wrote: »

I was looking at adding the Studio Hybrid, just for web browsing, etc, on the big screen.

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/desktop-studio-hybrid?c=us&cs=19&l=en&ref=dthp&s=dhs

This is nice!!!

Sherardp

CaligulaPolk wrote: »

This is nice!!!

I thought so too, I really like the small footprint as I can put almost anywhere in the theater room and connect it via HDMI. Would be nice to surf the web on the projection screen and see what it looks like. Use wireless keyboard and mouse and should be all set.

zingo

I ran a media PC in my HT for a while and it was great except for the fans since they can be a little noisy on older computers.

nadams

The GX280's run quiet unless you're taxing them. Then you'll hear the fans as they speed up.

Memory and hard drive are easily upgradeable. With the SFF case you showed, the CDROM drive is actually a laptop drive of sorts. I'd make sure you get it with the drive you want to start (IE- DVD burner).

They do also have an expansion port for video, but it'll be hard to find anything decent in a half-height card.

metal83

Nope, never considered it. I haven't even bothered hooking up my laptop to my Samsung 650 yet.
Interesting though.

polktiger

CaligulaPolk wrote: »

Yes my panny have VGA, im gonna usei t for computer use. Store pictures, ITunes (Wife), screensaver , etc. PS3 broswer is slow, My wife take over the laptop lol

the item is selling 70 to 130 dollars..

Why not just stream from your existing computer to your PS3? Sure this doesn't fix the slow browser, but do you use it that much? I don't think I have ever used the web browser on mine. If I need to use the internet, I just use a normal computer. No need to tie-up the HT set-up so I can surf the net.

jdwmap

http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=NzEz

I have been looking at this case to create a component that looks like it belongs with other HT Gear.

shadowofnight

I use a slim HTPC chassis by SilverStone...
http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents.php?pno=lc11m&area=usa ... Has a real audio component look to it and I used a passive northbridge and cpu cooler in it as well as a laptop hard drive to make it completely silent.

I have the vacuum fluorescent display either off or just displaying temperatures. Seeing both in person I liked the brushed aluminum natural color over the black.

AsSiMiLaTeD

That Antec is a step in the right direction, but there are cases that look even better. I don't have links handy, but check out some Zalman and Silverstone cases.

Of course those cases alone cost twice what you already paid for the computer

CaligulaPolk

Its more likely i will buy the GSX computer for a while. I am hoping the guy will reply my email about DVI. I could hook it up via hdmi/dvi to onkyo instead using vga cable.

I know HDMI has better quality in Picture. I am wondering if VGA would make any difference or DVI is better than vga?

Also, will i able to have sound coming from computer via DVI (my understanding is that DVi do not carry sound just for picture)

mmadden28

CaligulaPolk wrote: »

...
Also, will i able to have sound coming from computer via DVI (my understanding is that DVi do not carry sound just for picture)

Nope. DVI is video only.

CaligulaPolk

mmadden28 wrote: »

Nope. DVI is video only.

Thought so! I figured, id use the computer i plan to buy for a while, when i upgrade for better computer with hdmi, and this one will go to kitchen for my and wife's reciepe database and watch cook tv while cooking. I love to cook and i thought id use my old lcd monitor next by stove

have few plans for the house

CaligulaPolk

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41vWMS7WDCL._SS400_.jpg


Acer Aspire AL5100-U3790A Mini Desktop PC This Acer Aspire small desktop computer comes loaded with an AMD Athlon 64 X2 4050e low power processor running at 2.1GHz. It also has 3GB of DDR2-800 SODIMM memory, a 320GB SATA hard drive, gigabit LAN, and integrated ATI Radeon X1250 graphics with DVI, HDMI, and DVI-VGA adapter. You also get a DVD and CD burner that can burn DVD-RAM discs. All these features run on an AMD 690G chipset motherboard with S/PDIF connector. All running with security and stability with an Microsoft's Windows Vista Home Premium. A multimedia keyboard and mouse and a set of speakers complete this package.

Like how it look with piano finish (Sort of), blue led to go with onkyo Whatcha guys think? What else can I do with computer as HT equipment on my rack, other than music server, RSS FEED, surfing the net, of course visiting Club Polk

CaligulaPolk

Sherardp wrote: »

I thought so too, I really like the small footprint as I can put almost anywhere in the theater room and connect it via HDMI. Would be nice to surf the web on the projection screen and see what it looks like. Use wireless keyboard and mouse and should be all set.

Yes, this is nice and perfect for you and me.

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=A0482483&cs=19&c=us&l=en&dgc=SS&cid=39715&lid=1003774