New PC help

[gillbee]

My desktop has been creaking for the past 6 months so it's well beyond replacement time. Trouble is my component knowledge is so out of date.

I'm currently running with the following :
Atholong64 MB (ATX)
Athlon64 3200 processor
1024MB DDR
2x200GB SATA
128MB Radeon 9800
Sony 16x DVD
XP Pro

I hook the PC to the TV for media playback so I want something that will handle HD and sound well for when I eventually get my new TV. I ruled out a HTPC as I work from home a bit so like the conventional setup for programming.

I'm not into gaming so I'm looking around the 500 mark. I don't mind doing the build myself but want to get decent components which will allow me to upgrade in the future.

Can anyone point me in the right direction - I'm sure I used a site previously which recommended components based on what you wanted your PC for (gaming, graphics editing, programming, tunes, tv / movies) but for now I am a little lost in the minefield of components.

Thanks.

 

[EndlessWaves]

Find a highly rated HTPC around your price range and then get a tower PC with the same components?

 

[gillbee]

Looks like I can workaround an HTPC - had a concern about using the monitor when the TV was in use as well as splitting the sound - but it seems these are things that can be worked around.
Will investigate mediaPC and see if I can find something in my price range I can use as a base build. I'm sure there will be more questions to follow!
Thanks.