Sahara Media Center PC

Media Center PCs perform like normal computers, the only difference being that media center PCs have an added component - a TV tuner. Using a TV tuner, one can tune into TV channels as one normally does with a television. The added advantage of using a TV tuner with a PC is that you can record television. You can also avail the benefits of time shifting, popularly referred to as 'pausing live television'. The concept is pretty simple. From the time you hit the pause button, the feed starts getting recorded onto the hard drive. As soon as you hit resume, it starts playing back from it.



We have with us Sahara’s Media Center PC, S-MC765124-MK10 (that’s what the model number suggests). Anyway, from now on we will refer to it as MK-10. Lets first have a look at the configuration with our estimated prices. We are having a look at the price as to see whether this pre-built HTPC from Sahara charges a heavy premium for being branded and how much would it cost if we build it on our own.

Cost Analysis:
Processor: Intel Pentium D 820, 2.8 GHz, dual core processor- Rs. 4,500
Motherboard: FIC (Intel 945G chipset)- Rs. 4,000
Display: Onboard, (Intel GMA 950)- NA
LAN: Onboard, Realtek Gigabit Ethernet port- NA
Sound: Onboard, Realtek ALC880D HD- NA
RAM: 512MB DDR2 533 MHz- Rs. 2,000
HDD: Seagate 160GB SATA with NCQ – Rs. 2,600
TV Tuner: Harmonics (Conexant) with Video Capture ability and FM- Rs. 3,500
Input Devices: 1) RF Keyboard with inbuilt scroll Mouse – Rs. 1,000
2) Microsoft Media Center Remote (IR)- Rs. 2,500
Operating System: Microsoft Media Center Edition - Rs. 6,000
Monitor: 17-inch LCD (Regular, not Wide Screen)- Rs. 9,800
Optical Drive: 16x Dual Layer DVD Writer- Rs. 1,700
Chassis or Case with built in display and card reader- Rs. 7,000
Speakers: Altec Lansing 2.1 Channel (121i)- Rs. 1,300

Media center chassis' are generally expensive as they have a specific non-standard design, especially of the power supply. They also have a front display and a volume knob, adding to its cost. According to our generous estimates, the cost is around Rs. 46,000 whereas Sahara sells it for Rs.52,000. That, with a year’s support and warranty is pretty good. You can also purchase it minus the monitor for Rs. 43,500. Later in the article we will see if the mix of components is good enough and whether we can do better in the same amount of money.