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General discussion

Using XPS 8000 as media center

Nov 7, 2009 10:54PM PST

Wanted to use a desktop as brains of media center.

Is that possible?

1) Want to use LCD as primary display when using computer
2) Want to use Computer as DVD/Blueray player
3) Can I then run sound cables out to speakers for surround sound? or to an amp for sound?

I talked briefly with Dell service online help and they said that I could do all that including wireless keyboard and mouse...

But my biggest concern is how much quality, if any i risk losing by not using dedicated computer screen as computer display and vice versa how much video quality i could lose, if any by not using a dedicated dvd/blue ray player

thanks in advance!!!!

Discussion is locked

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My answer is none.
Nov 8, 2009 3:40AM PST

A display is a display so if the specs are the same you ALMOST can write that HDTV and PC displays have finally become equivalent. So stop fretting over losing the PC display get that HDTV hooked up as the sole display.

And if you ask VGA or HDMI my answer is to try both.
Bob

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cheers!
Nov 8, 2009 4:22AM PST

thank you...appreciate the feedback!

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video cards and RAM vs CPU processor
Nov 9, 2009 7:34AM PST

Next questions....

Spend dollars on CPU processor or load up on RAM?

More specifically,

1) Intel 2Quad processor (4MB, 2.33GHz) and spend dollars on extra RAM (ie 8GB)

OR

2) Intel Core i5-750 (8MB, 2.66GHz) and 4-6GB RAM.


second question...

will the ATI Radeon HD 4350 (512MHz) suffice for my primary concerns of using computer as TV source...or do I need to upgrade to nVidia GeForce at 1024MB

Thanks again

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Try doing as little as possible.
Nov 9, 2009 9:41AM PST

Changing the CPU means you likely change everything from power supply, ram, video and everything. i.e. a new machine.

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buying a new machine...
Nov 9, 2009 11:14AM PST

thats the thing...i'm buying a brand new machine and pricing out components...and am getting a little lost and probably too caught up in the numbers game regarding all the performance factors...

but was wondering, should a person invest in bigger CPU at the beginning or will the CPU's in this day and edge be more than enough and one should invest in RAM?

I know that they both power different aspects of the computer...so for what i want...ie good looking TV/display...i'm leaning towards investing in more CPU power...as far as i understand RAM is more tailored for multitaskin etc...which i don't do a whole lot of

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Sorry
Nov 9, 2009 10:27PM PST

But that's not clear in your first post. Also Dell is not your best choice for a place to buy parts to make a PC. We use them when we want a ready to use PC.

As the subject has changed you should make a new post in a more appropriate forum.
Bob

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clarity
Nov 10, 2009 2:21AM PST

i'm not by any means a computer guru

i'm posting in the dell forum because i was building a dell computer

all the numbers and parts etc are off dell's website...for yes, a ready to use PC.

I realize that that is probably beneath you experts, but that's why i'm asking for advice from experts...not to get reprimanded and told to post in a more appropriate forum.

tell me...where outside of a dell forum would i get advice on how to build a dell computer as i'm using dell's website to build a dell computer.

trying to differentiate between their models on top of individual components for each model as a first time Desktop buyer is daunting when faced with all the options...educated decisions come from consulting those that are in the know...

but thanks for all your wisdom.

not sure how the first post led you astray...but i'll go find a more appropriate forum to post in...under newbies? computer illiterate? please point me in the right direction.

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I read you wanted to use that aforementioned machine
Nov 10, 2009 8:23PM PST

As a media center. Then you wrote about building a machine. In the PC culture, "building a machine" is collecting the parts and then you actually build the machine. There was no disrespect intended and no one looked down on you so I'll apologize anyway.

In short the only issue I find with media centers is the fan noise. Even the Xbox 360 was rejected (ejected by us from the living room) because it was too noisy. The PS3 was better in this regard (haven't heard the new model yet.)

Be sure you don't fall for the usual trap.
Bob

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my apologies
Nov 10, 2009 11:23PM PST

ya i reread after posting and learned that one should read twice before getting feisty...i was just a bit frusterated after spending last few days pouring over stats and trying to decipher it all..

so thanks for the advice...i appreciate it!

i don't have the tech knowledge or confidence to invest in my own computer building skills...and have a discount with dell..so that was where i started the search...

reason the thread was titled xps8000 at first was because i was "building" the dell computer on their website using their hardware and trying to compare the differences...

thing is i don't have a baseline to start with...meaning don't know how much power, RAM, HD etc is sufficient...

So thought process was use XPS8000 because of the i5 processor and 4GB of RAM and smaller HD for storage and then leave room for growth later on...

so it's not building by any means, but dell leads one to believe they have some customability...which is probably pretty focused and limiting...

i have heard about the noise issues...which would be a pretty major drawback as the reason i'm trying this route to begin with is because i don't have an office pe se...the loft is one big area...so was going to run the desktop through the lcd TV and use wireless keyboard/mouse etc...and then thought of using desktop as media player as well instead of just using lcd as display for desktop...

however more i read and more i learn...easiest and most cost effective is looking to keep computer system at a level that i need...which is realistically pretty tame...i'm not a big gamer (at least not yet...maybe after i get it installed and try one i'll be hooked Wink)

and then just get a seperate standalone dedicated blueray...

but thanks again for the patience and advice and sorry again for misinterpreting...blame it on numbers messin with the head