MSI Hetis 865GV-E Intel Socket 478 Intel 865GV Barebone

Pros: Really a beauty. Compact, yet easy to handle and install everything. Paired with a celeron prescott 2.1GHz, works like a charm for Media Center, even with the integrated 865G Intel video, as long as you turn off the "check for media center compliancy". Even tried with 720p video, smooth as silk.

Cons: Not really any that i can see, apart from only 2 PCI, no AGP. Although is worth mentioning that the included CPU fan is effective, but a tad hard to install. And the video memory allocation is limited to only 16 MB. But as said earlier, works fine in MCE 2005.

Overall Review: If i had to buy again, i would. The Intel 865 chipset was and still is a great performer.

Comments: I just finished putting all the parts together for this sytem. The case is very tight, but that is to be expected. One major warning, the 3.5" bay is only for something very small, it will not fit any standard 3.5 card reader/floppy/etc.

Pros: Wonderful kit. Looks great, clever design, simple quality system. The Intel chipset shouldn't ever fail. The case stays nice and cool. Its a real joy to put together.

Cons: Any complaint I may have would be subjective (not for every one), so I really only have one: the processor and heatsink block the 3 1/2 bay so that you can't fit a floppy (nor does the mobo accept FDD cables) Wanted to put a floppy in there but... oh well.

Overall Review: I used to build my grandma a new computer. I added the cheapest celeron I could find 512 kingston value memory and widows xp pro. Everything installed just fine, though the case is tight it acutally goes together faster than a compy from scratch. Once again Newegg to the rescue!