I pulled forward yesterday building a new media center, because my main PC died.  I’m moving into a new flat soon with a bigger ‘office’ that I’m also going to use a games room, hence the need for a second media center PC to go with my current media center PC in the front room.

Although Amit is right that buying more than you need with PC components can turn out to be more expensive as newer parts are always faster, I haven’t found this to be true for myself, because I don’t play a lot of games, which I think is what drives the need for a lot of real PC component advancement. Because of this, in order to build my 2nd media center PC what I’m actually doing is upgrading my main PC, and then using the replaced parts to form the nucleus of my media center PC, which won’t be used as often and will be doing simpler tasks.

Main PC Upgrade

• Processor: Upgrading from AMD 4200+ to Intel Q6600
• Motherboard: Upgrading from DFI Lanparty to Abit IP35 Pro - NEW
• Memory: Upgrading from Crucial 2GB Value memory to OCZ 2GB (2×1GB) PC2-8500C5 1066MHz SLI-Ready DDR2 - NEW
• GPU: No change - X1900XT flashed to X1900XTX
• Soundcard: No change - X-Fi Xtreme Music
• Cooling: No change - Swiftech GPU&CPU watercooling
• Chassis: No change - Gigabyte Aurora
• PSU: No change - Seasonic S12-600

Although I was pretty much set on gettng a Asus P5K SE motherboard, when I did some google searches I came across this Overclocked Q6600 Bundle from Overclockers UK.  Although initially I wasn’t planning on doing a lot of overclocking with the new rig, what I liked about the bundle was that the components had been put together because they complemented each other, and because Overclockers even supplied a written guide on how to overclock the given components, it would be easy for even novice overclockers like me to achieve.  It would also allow me to finally put my Swifttech CPU&GPU watercooling to better use.

The guide promises that the rig will allow me to overclock the 2.4Ghz Q6600 safely to at least 3.3Ghz, which would make it as fast as an intel QX chip that cost at least £400 more.  I’m hoping to get a bit more than this as I’m sure my watercooling will outperform the fan-based CPU cooler in the bundle.

I’ve stuck with 2GB of ram for now as this is what is recommended in the guide, and because I’m going to install a 32-bit operating system which can only see 3.5GB of ram.  Once I’ve overclocked the machine I’ll purchase the extra ram if I think the machine will benefit from it.

New Media Center PC

• Chassis: Thermaltake Mozart VS4001SNS - NEW
• Processor: 4200+ - from Old PC
• CPU Cooling: Coolermaster Hyper TX2 - NEW
• Motherboard: DFI Lanparty  from Old PC
• Memory: 2GB - From Old PC
• GPU: Sapphire HD 3870 XT 512MB - NEW
• PSU: Antec Neo 550 - NEW
• Soundcard: Auzen X-Fi Prelude 7.1 - NEW

My original plan was to use the new components to upgrade my current HTPC (Antec Fusion, 4600+, 7950, X-Fi Xtreme, 2GB) , and to use the replaced bits to build the new machine.  I’m actually going to use this machine in my main room rather than my current PC because of the chassis which is very cool. I can’t transplant the current HTPC into the Thermaltake chassic because I won’t be able to get the DFI Lanparty ATX mobo into the Fusion case which can only accommodate a mATX mobo.

I’ve opted for a HD 3870 card rather than a EN8800GT card because it will run quieter and cooler.  It’s definitely over-specified for my needs now and will handle 1080p without breaking a sweat, and it in fact supports resolutions up to 2560×1600.  I can’t wait to see what the picture quality on my new TV will be like.

It includes a HDMI connection, but I will be using the digital output on the Auzen Prelude card to transmit the sound to my new receiver.  To be honest I’m not sure if I need the additional quality in the Auzen card, because the audio will be handled directly by the receiver, but in the future I might be using the card in a standalone PC so I’ve spent the extra pounds.

I’ve nearly completed all my upgrades - I’ve just got the speakers to purchase (SVS system) and the receiver (current plan Yamaha RX-V1800) and I’m done.  All I need now is the keys to the new place so I can start enjoying the new kit!