System Cost:
When I started building the system, I didn't expect it to cost as much as it did. There were a few items that were more expensive than I thought, and a few unexpected items, but it was mostly in line with my original $800 estimated budget. Now with the new hard drive and reduced memory, the total price is now significantly less than that. Some of the components I already had, and for others I used the MP3 player as an excuse to upgrade.
Of course I purchased other items that I needed for this job that I didn't already have, like a new soldering iron, misc. woodworking tools and several Dremel tool attachments. These things can add up quickly, but aren't necessarily required by everybody, nor are they only used for this project, so I didn't include them in the cost. I also didn't include software costs, like the Xing Audio Catalyst software that I bought to rip the songs from the CDs and convert them to MP3s.
The good news is that you can build a similar system for less. The old hard drive was clearly the most expensive component, but the new one costs less than the motherboard. A Celeron 333 is overkill for decoding MP3s, but I didn't want to take a step back to a Socket7 CPU, even though that would probably save money.
| Product | Price | Comment |
| Irman infrared remote control | $38 | from evation.com |
| Kenwood KCA-R40FM infrared remote control unit | $8 | credit card size remote - from ebay |
| AC Traveler 140W DC-AC power inverter | $28 | found on ebay |
| In-Win 145W Micro ATX power supply | $15 | purchased on-line |
| Intel CA810EAL i810E MicroATX motherboard | $130 | on board video, sound, and network |
| Celeron 333 processor w/ retail heatsink | $50 | had an extra one laying around |
| 32MB PC-100 SDRAM | $31 | bought at computer show |
| Pair of removable hard drive sleds with fans | $24 | for both MP3 player and main system |
| Quantum Fireball Plus LM 30GB 7200rpm hard drive | $73 | can hold over 5,000 MP3 songs |
| Seiko L4034 40x4 LCD display with LED backlight | $20 | from eio.com |
| StreetWires 15 foot RCA audio cables | $30 | from Crutchfield |
| 25-pin straight through serial cable, 9-pin serial cable | $12 | to connect LCD display and Irman |
| Miscellaneous wires, switches and connectors | $12 | mostly from Radio Shack |
| Sony XA-107 Source Selector | $74 | from Sony outlet |
| Wood and hardware to build custom case | $30 | from Home Depot |
| Total | $575 |
This page was last updated on Tuesday, January 16, 2001
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