Advice on Entertainment PC / TIVO configuration

[Guest]

Greetings,

I am building a multimedia computer for playing MP3 files and using as
a Personal Video Recorder, or Tivo. That means I want an attractive
system that has lots of storage and runs very quiet.

I want my system to be primarily a desktop and secondarily a Tivo, so
I decided to go with the Antec Sonata case as opposed to a smaller
specialized case.

I have spent many hours reading reviews on different web sites about
each component that I have chosen. The reason that I have been so
picky about the components is because I bought a computer from Dell a
few years ago and spent way too much for too little. I don't want to
experience that kind of buyer's remorse again.

One specific question I have is in regards to the hard drive. I have
heard some bad things about DeskStars in other groups. The only
reason that I am considering buying this drive is the many favorable
reviews that is has gotten saying that it outperforms other
drives in its class and is silent.

Here are some of the reviews that I have read:

http://www.storagereview.com/articles/200310/20031007HDS722525VLSA80_sp.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/storage/20031001/hitachi_deskstar-06.html

http://envynews.com/index.php?ID=562&page=9

The link below leads to my wish list at Newegg.com. I would very much
appreciate any input that you all may have to offer as to how I could
make it better.

Newegg.com wish list:

http://secure.newegg.com/app/WishR.asp?ID=672309

Many thanks in advance!

~Jim

 

[Q]

Greetings,

I am building a multimedia computer for playing MP3 files and using as
a Personal Video Recorder, or Tivo. That means I want an attractive
system that has lots of storage and runs very quiet.

SNIP...

People say that the new Samsung hard drives are quiet... and good.

As for other brands... look for drives that have fluid bearings (quieter) as
opposed to ball bearings (can make whining noises).

 

[Rod Speed]

I am building a multimedia computer for playing MP3 files and
using as a Personal Video Recorder, or Tivo. That means I want
an attractive system that has lots of storage and runs very quiet.

I want my system to be primarily a desktop and
secondarily a Tivo, so I decided to go with the Antec
Sonata case as opposed to a smaller specialized case.

I have spent many hours reading reviews on different web sites
about each component that I have chosen. The reason that I have
been so picky about the components is because I bought a computer
from Dell a few years ago and spent way too much for too little.
I don't want to experience that kind of buyer's remorse again.

One specific question I have is in regards to the hard
drive. I have heard some bad things about DeskStars
in other groups. The only reason that I am considering
buying this drive is the many favorable reviews that is has
gotten saying that it outperforms other drives in its class

Trouble is that while that is in theory true, it outperforms the
others in its class by so little that you wouldnt be able to pick
the system with one of those drives in it in a proper double
blind trial without being allowed to use a benchmark.

You're obsessing about a different so small that its irrelevant.

and is silent.

There are other drives that are as quiet or quieter in the only thing
that matters, user perception. Like the Samsungs for example.

 

[Shailesh]

You definitely won't be disappointed by what you've picked out. I have
almost the same thing, that I use for almost the same purpose, and it's
perfect. I only have an 80GB drive, but I delete shows I record within
a week. If you're going to keep stuff on the drive, consider buying a
larger one. I record the Apprentice at DVD quality and it takes up 4GB,
SNL takes up 6GB. Keep in mind that you're not going to get anything
spectacularly quiet unless you go with some specialized kit like the VIA
EPIA mobo with C3 processor
<http://store.yahoo.com/directron/itx1gsystem.html>, but it will be
reasonably quiet. Drive noise is your least worry, because it will
easily be drowned out by the PSU, CPU, Case, and video card fans.

To your wishlist, I would also suggest tossing in a health plan at your
local gym, because otherwise you're going to gain so much weight sitting
in front of your computer all day. ;-)