Advice on Entertainment PC / Tivo configuration

[jwm1976]

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!

 

[ekÆsine]

what you want is called XP MCE 2004 complaint machine. it is your computer TIVO equivalent. here are some models to choose:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/evaluation/products.asp

this is what XP MCE can do for you:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/evaluation/top10.asp