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Media Server

R

Roland00

Gawd
Joined
Jan 22, 2009
Messages
837
Built an HTPC recently, love it, but I know long term I am going to need more hard drive space. I put 2x1tb in the computer (only had 2 hd slots in the media center case) and with only 38 movies currently ripped to the hard drives I am using about 370gb. Since I have 140 movies or so, plus multiple tv seasons on dvd, and its an ever growing library I need more space. Thus the want for a dedicated server.
I considered one of those HP mediaservers but didn’t want to plop down 400 dollars+Hard Drives for something that only has slots for 4 internal hard drives, thus severely limiting any backup options even with 2tb drives. I want the option to be able to stick in 8 or so hard drives in a case.

Well here is the usual info. And all advice is greatly appreciated :)

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1)Media Server Functions. Placing all my dvd rips, music, tv shows on one centralized location to be streamed out to multiple computers. Also to do a raid 1 so I have backups of everything.

I also want the system to be very quiet.

2) No limiting budget but looking for the best bang for my buck.
3) Houston Texas. Thus I am near a Fry’s, a Microcenter, and supposedly Directron. I work at fry’s as a salesperson thus what I don’t get online I will probably get there.
4)Everything, Case, Motherboard, CPU, Harddrives, Ram, Server OS, DVD, etc
5) Not reusing any parts
6) Probably not due to it being a server
7) 37inch 1080p tv which I use with my main computer. I plan on having integrated video or a cheap video card and, then switching between the main computer and the server via remote due to the fact the tv allows multiple inputs.
8) In the next month or so.
9) Raid and lots of sata ports
10) Not for this computer
 
you could actually just build a cheap storage server and put it in a closet some where.. i currently use an athlon XP 1700+ with 4 sata cards 2 ports each in a cheapo self modified case to support 8 hard drives.. since its only going to be used for storage you dont have to go nuts with it.. just get something that has onboard video.. cheap processor and gbit lan/or buy a gbit lan card..

this is just an example..

motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-MA74GM-S2 AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128342

cpu:
single core: AMD Sempron LE-1250 Sparta 2.2GHz 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 45W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103189

dual core: AMD Athlon X2 4050e Brisbane 2.1GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 45W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103672
(both processors are the 2 cheapest ones for each of those catigories

memory: G.SKILL 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231102

power supply: SeaSonic SS-300ES 300W ATX12V Ver.2.2 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151055

sub total: single core setup 141.96 dual core: 151.96

thats just an example of a perfect but inexpensive and low power use server you could build..
 
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I will want to get a dual core no matter what I do. And I will want to get a dual core that is faster than a BE 2300 (pretty much the same cpu as listed above but 1.9ghz 45w amd dual core vs a 2.1). I know I don't need much cpu power for server related functions, but I am currently using the BE 2300 in my htpc build (paired with nvidia 8200 graphics). It is perfectly fast for htpc work, but I am a little disappointed at the dvd rip speed, my q6600 at stock frequency is almost 3 times faster (20-24 mins vs 8-9 mins).

Motherboard selection, Gigabit Lan =good
Built in Raid Controller = nice
6 sata ports = not good, I want 8 or more. I could always do an add on card but I prefer getting 8 on the motherboard

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And I know I will be stepping up from 45 watt to 65 watt will produce more heat, but how about the intel dual cores/core 2 duos? A quick search on newegg shows that they have a lot larger selection of motherboards with 8 sata ports unlike amd which only has 3 motherboards with 8 or more sata ports.

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And I have no clue what case to get. Unfortunately due to apartment situation I have no room for the case to be in a closet dampening noise. The planned space is to be about 8 feet away from my bed in between a chest drawer and dress drawer. Thus I need a real quiet case.

And easy access to the hard drives would be preferred.
 
well all the brisbanes will do 3ghz @ 1.38v which comes to about an 89w TDP..

the c2d's are fine.. they just seem to be insanely over priced compared to amd processors..

as for raid.. me personally i prefer a pci-e x8/x16 raid add-on card but ive had a lot of issues with on board raid.. and ive just lost all trust in it now..

well darn if you dont have space.. i was going to suggest maybe do a rack mount case that allows for hot swapping hard drives..
 
sirmonkey1985 said:
as for raid.. me personally i prefer a pci-e x8/x16 raid add-on card but ive had a lot of issues with on board raid.. and ive just lost all trust in it now..
Click to expand...
This is why I am here asking questions. I am very computer knowledagable, but things such as raid cards I wouldn't even know where to start. I also need similar help with cases.

sirmonkey1985 said:
well darn if you dont have space.. i was going to suggest maybe do a rack mount case that allows for hot swapping hard drives..
Click to expand...
The hard drives don't have to be hot swappable, just easy to access.

And I saw this on newegg. Was wondering if someone knows of a cheaper version

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817995001
 
Got a HP Media Smart when they were being clearanced from Office Depot and I love it. Easy setup with no hassles so far. If you can find a new one on sale, or get a good deal on a used one with an AMD I would go for it.
 
Roland00, check out this thread in the Data Storage Systems (ton more of information there) forum -> http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1409993

The thread can be quite helpful for those that want RAID, and those that want duplication.

Look into a Norco 2040 case. Just buying that many hotswap bays along makes up for the price of the case.
 
I have 2 WHS setups both in cooler master cases each one has 8tb in the Pool. What I do is I use Microsoft Synctoy about once every 3 weeks to back up stuff from the Main server to the backup machine, then unplug it and wait for the next backup date.
 
Roland00 said:
Thus if I understand this correctly I can get any motherboard with as many sata ports as possible. And I need more I can always buy an expansion controller card instead of a raid card and just Windows Home Server to do the automatic mirroring just like it is Raid 1?
Click to expand...

Well as long as the folder that contains your files has Duplication turned on, yes there will be a second copy of that file store on another drive.
 
Danny Bui said:
Well as long as the folder that contains your files has Duplication turned on, yes there will be a second copy of that file store on another drive.
Click to expand...
And will there be any downsides (besides the reduced storage) of having duplication on all or close to all of my files
 
Roland00 said:
And will there be any downsides (besides the reduced storage) of having duplication on all or close to all of my files
Click to expand...
Well it might take bit longer to transfer files to the server since two copies are being made. But that's about it AFAIK.
 
Okay one more big question, since I am effectively mirroring the hard drives, and the new firmware...


should I touch the 1.5tb Seagate hard drives?
 
Yeah, Seagates are fine now that the firmware problem was resolved. I'm pretty sure though that Seagate lowered their warranty from 5 to 3, and WD is still at 5 years. Not sure if that's important to you but it might be. The WD green drives are great for their lower power and noise which really helps when you put that many in the Norco 4020 :)

And I believe the SATA cards are from Supermicro, and while PCI-X, they can word with regular PCI which still has more than twice enough bandwidth.
 
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