I am setting up my sister with 7 HTPC.  She doesn't want any tv tuning capabilities, just movie boxes.  Well, I need 7 video cards with component video out.  Seeing as she's buying 7, I'd like to not have to pay a ton of money for them.  Any suggestions??

Get seven of the Gigabyte HD2600Pro cards.  Mine came with a breakout cable for component connection, plus you'll have HD acceleration (if needed) and the capability to go HDMI later.  They're also passively cooled, so completely silent.  It doesn't have any massive power requirements either.

Above all else, they're relatively cheap at about $75.

I don't even want to know what someone would need 7 HTPCs for.  Unless there's a bunch of kids, that seems rediculous.

Thanks for the reply...she's building a 7500 sq ft house and has 8 kids.  It's the only way for them all to watch something different.  I think it's over the top, but it's her money, not mine. :)

Or a fanless Sapphire HD3450 for $50?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102724

 

Why not 8 boxes if she has 8 kids?  Someone loses!

Why not sagetv extenders instead of 7 computers? They stream movies just fine from what I read. Of course 7 from one cpu might be a stetch but still wouldn't think you would need more than two.

yeah I thought extenders would be the simplest  way to go in such a situation

Various Nvidia 8500GT models.  There are fanless models as well as models with fans.  Plus they will support HDTV under Vista.