Fry's (in store) has an ECS MicroATX board (945GTC-1333) w. Intel Pentium Dual Core chip (E2180) for $78.99

Combine that with this ...
ANTEC New Solution Series NSK2480 Mini Case w. 380w PSU
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...tCode=10006028
$49.99 after rebate ...

Time for the HDD .. Maxtor 500GB SATA
http://shop1.outpost.com/product/4551377
$90

Memory ... 2GB DDR2 PC2-6400 DUAL CHANNEL GOLD GX XTC C4 OCZ - $25 after rebate
http://shop1.outpost.com/product/5436039


$80 (cpu / board) + $50 (case / psu) + $90 (sata HDD) + 25 (ram) = $245 for a media center PC.

Skip the HDD if not needed, now down to $155.

I don't think this price can be beat.

 

for memory we have a good selection sitting here in our equipment locker

i talked to the guy and he's going to let me have what i want at cost

so things i have:

case
psu
hard drive
memory
optical drives

things i need:
motherboard
processor
video card - maybe

 

I thought you wanted to go quad core?

 

oh I do.

Unfortunately (fortunately?) the budget stuff I purchased is all SLI certified. (memory, PSU) ... is it okay to use SLI certified gear on non-SLI components (mobo)?

 

SLI certified is a crock.

its just like Vista-Boost ready.... doesnt mean that shit that says non vista-boost ready wont work too.

 

opinions of this mobo?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131237

ASUS P5E-VM HDMI Micro ATX


Pros:
G35 chipset. It'll take the newer 45NM processors
HDMI

Cons:
Micro atx.

 

asus <3

 

Are you making a media center pc? Why not get a full atx one?

 

only one pci express slot ftl

 

hard to do sli with one slot. : \