HELP with a TV Computer

[manshooter]

Hello All,
Been a while since I have been around after taking a new job. Speaking of which, I got a used computer from work. It is a Dell Optiplex 780 (the flat one, not the tower type.) running windows 7 Pro SP1, 32 bit software. With a Q8400 quad core 2.66gh processor, and 4 gigs of Ram. I don’t recall the size of the hard drive off hand, but it will be connected to a hard drive bundle anyway to hold all the movies I wish to store on it.
This computer has NO WiFi, and NO video card installed. I am thinking about adding a wifi adapter, and a video card with an HDMI output to connect to my Surround Sound System, to carry the audio as well as the video to it..
My main goal is to store my movies on the array of hard drives, put them under some kind of file system so I don’t have to run though them all to get a specific movie.
Secondly, to stream video from the net. My TV will do this on its own, netflix, etc.. so I doubt I would really have to worry about the computer feeding it. But I would still like to run videos off of uTube and other sites as well if possible
Thirdly, I would like to stream files and movies I have on my desktop computer as well if that is possible. ( it is only about 20 feet away in another room.)
I have an existing D-Link Wireless Router I use for my smart phone. But my desktop machine has NO wifi as well. The router is near the desktop so I can hard wire to that if needed, or get a wifi card for it, which ever would work the best.
I also wondered if a new MOBO with onboard video and HDMI connection, and wifi built in would be a better idea? If it would cost less, or not?
I would like to do this the least expensive way possible as I had a couple of heart attacks and am no longer working at this time. Can someone tell me IF I can turn this computer into something I can use for the above uses? And what hardware I would need to buy to complete it?
Thank you all very much for your time.
Gary*

 

[lincsman]

Well, basically I would definitely suggest getting a video card as apposed to a new motherboard. It would maybe be cheaper, maybe not, but the thing is changing out your motherboard is a lot of work and very difficult. You would have to find another one that supports your processor, and basically rebuild your computer and install new drivers. Buying a new video card would involve sliding into a PCI-express slot (which you will need for a new video card), uninstalling your onboard drivers and then installing the drivers for your new video card. To do what you need you could buy a cheap (30-50 dollar) video card. As for internet, if you're looking for cheap just buy a network cable. You'll probably get a more stable and fast connection that way anyhow. For wifi you would have to buy a USB wifi adapter, which would be a lot more expensive than buying a network cable.
All you would need is a video card like this one :http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX33912
hope that helps.

 

[manshooter]

Thanks Lincsman,
Sounds like a plan to me. I have to have the WIFI however, or I would have to run a cable from my office where the router is, across my hallway, and into my livingroom. The hallways is the problem, we keep tripping over it, or the rug I used to cover it up.
I didnt know if the USB would work as well as a card, but it would seem that many are using USB now anyway.
The last Dell I rebuilt with after market items I did in fact replace the mobo and the CPU as a unit. Mainly I just used the ram, and hard drives, fans ect.. I saw a couple mini ATX boards kits that come with the processor as a package for around $100-125 with HDMI connetions that got pretty good rateings on newegg, but I would still have to get the USB wifi as none of those boards came with wifi built in.
Thanks so much for your information. Looks like that is the way to go. Seems like a nice card as well. I assume as it has a HDMI connection, it would carry the audio as well as the video? (I believe I read that someplace anyway.)
thanks again,
Gary*