Slimline upgrade (help much needed)!

[luii]

I have recently acquired a dell inspiron 530s (slimline) it does not include a TV tuner or a half decent graphics card

http://www1.euro.dell.com/uk/en/dfh...d.aspx?refid=d045s07_services&cs=ukdfh1&s=dfh

I am hoping to be upgrading the components in the PC as it doesn't actually have any.

my aim to is to make a pc that is a full on media center which means it needs to have:

handle 1080p [with a bit of cheeky gaming ]
7.1 surround sound
Digital TV (freeview)

These are the core features id like it to have however, being a slimline PC, it means that it can only have a TFX power supply. After doing a bit of research and consulting a friend, i have decided that im going to need a new PSU, A new sound card, graphics card and a TV tuner card.




so far i have decided to acquire the following psu, however im not sure as my friend told me 300w wont be enough for a decent graphics card.
Be Quiet TFX 300W MicroATX PSU - WxHxD 85x70x175mm...

i was hoping you awesome people would possibly be able to help me out with what low profile graphics card/psu to get as this was the only decent TFX psu i could find.

thanks a lot

 

[JATownes]

Here is a Gigabyte HD5450 or a Sparkle GTS 250 that might work. A 300 watt should be enough for a 5450, not sure about the GTS250 though.

How many slots are available? Are they PCIe or PCI for the sound card and TV Tuner. Also, is the onboard sound not acceptable? Any interior pics I could check out for reference?

And BTW, Welcome to TPU.

 

[luii]

there is 1 pci - e slot and 2 pci's
plus 1 mini pci - e slot and hang on whilst i take a few pictures

 

[luii]

thanks man! a friend recommended this site to me

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/4093/mg6312.jpg

here is a big picture should show you what im on about.
ive been looking at the 9600gt and the 5570 but im pretty confused about what i could get and what the limitations of the PSU are haha

also, there is enough slots, and the reason im doing this is so i can hook it up to a 37inch TV with 5.1 surround sound through a pioneer amp and sound system, so id like to get the best for what i can

 

[JATownes]

All of the HD5000 series cards are pretty low power. So with the PSU limits, that might be what you should be looking at. (Keep in mind the HD6000 launches in Oct.) Any low profile TV tuner should be sufficient for your needs, so check around there.

Edit: As you can see here, the HD5450 consumes a whole 13 watts max.

Edit 2: If you can find one in stock, THIS sound card looks to be right what you are looking for.

 

[luii]

All of the HD5000 series cards are pretty low power. So with the PSU limits, that might be what you should be looking at. (Keep in mind the HD6000 launches in Oct.) Any low profile TV tuner should be sufficient for your needs, so check around there.

yeah thats cool. Im not too worried about a TV tuner atm, as my main concerns are with PSU and Graphics card.

im torn between 9600GT and HD5570 and my the new PSU which is only a diddy 300W

wow just seen your edit!!! 9600GT is a power hungry BEAST haha
and the soundcard im going for will probably be something like an Asus xonar as ive read good about them

 

[JATownes]

I believe the most power efficient would be the 5570 it consumes 50watts maximum, but it gets romped on in benches by the 9600GT.

 

[luii]

yeah that is a problem haha but as i said, im making this PC for the lounge as im hooking it up to a 37 inch TV. so theres probably not gonna be a huge deal of gaming, apart from maybe a small bit of racing and maybe a bit of guitar hero, and maybe even a tiny bit of COD

 

[JATownes]

It sounds like the 5000 series would be the way to go for you. Keep in mind that the 5000 series also does 5.1 audio through an HDMI connection also. So you could use the HDMI to your TV, then audio outs from the TV to the receiver, and save the $$$ on the sound card. Just a thought. Good luck, and we expect pics when it is done.

 

[luii]

haha yeah totally dont you worry, id have to thank you for your help somehow

hmm and my bequiet 300W psu will be good enough? sorry to be a pain, need to double check

 

[JATownes]

Never a pain to help a fellow techie. The 300 PSU should be plenty to run what you are planning.