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I am building a File/Media Server for my house, to serve files to/from numerous media devices (2 Desktops, 2 Laptops, 2 ReplayTVs, 2 XBMC [Xbox Media Centers])
It will mainly house Photos and Videos. But I will also use it to store important work related documents, and e-mails that I need to access from all the computers.
I will most likely be running Windows2000Pro on this computer. I know, I know, everyone says to go with 2003, but I am most comfortable with 2000 so I think Ill stick with it for the time being, besides the MoBo Ive selected isnt compatible w/ 2003.
I have been researching parts for the past couple of months, and this is the list I came up w/:
And now on to the questions:
1. Any recommendations on any of my choices? Will these all mesh together well?
2. Controller Card or Not Should I use a RAID controller card or not ? Ive been fighting this back and forth for a while now and I am still unsure as to what route to go. Some say I wont see a great difference, and its not worth the extra cost, others say get a lesser MoBo and a Raid controller card please help
The Raid configuration on the MoBo will be
2 WD Raptors in a RAID 1 on the Sil 3114 chipset
3/4 WD4000YRs (400gb Caviar) in a RAID 5 on the ICH7R chipset
The reason for this layout it because the ICH7R chipset supports Raid 5&SATA II, and the other (Sil 3114 chipset) doesn't (only raid 1 or 0, and SATA150). And in the future I will be swapping out the WD4000YRs for SATAII drives and Ill prolly leave the Raptors as is.
3. 955x or wait for 975x ? Intel recently released there 975x chipset, and I was wondering if I should wait for this to mature and buy a 975x board to future proof my server, or does it not make any difference for my needs ? p.s. I know very little about the new 975x chipset, what are its features/enhancements over the 955x ?
4. Why is NewEgg currently only selling a Referb version of my MoBo?
Thanks in advance for any/all the help,
-BassKozz
It will mainly house Photos and Videos. But I will also use it to store important work related documents, and e-mails that I need to access from all the computers.
I will most likely be running Windows2000Pro on this computer. I know, I know, everyone says to go with 2003, but I am most comfortable with 2000 so I think Ill stick with it for the time being, besides the MoBo Ive selected isnt compatible w/ 2003.
I have been researching parts for the past couple of months, and this is the list I came up w/:
And now on to the questions:
1. Any recommendations on any of my choices? Will these all mesh together well?
2. Controller Card or Not Should I use a RAID controller card or not ? Ive been fighting this back and forth for a while now and I am still unsure as to what route to go. Some say I wont see a great difference, and its not worth the extra cost, others say get a lesser MoBo and a Raid controller card please help
The Raid configuration on the MoBo will be
2 WD Raptors in a RAID 1 on the Sil 3114 chipset
3/4 WD4000YRs (400gb Caviar) in a RAID 5 on the ICH7R chipset
The reason for this layout it because the ICH7R chipset supports Raid 5&SATA II, and the other (Sil 3114 chipset) doesn't (only raid 1 or 0, and SATA150). And in the future I will be swapping out the WD4000YRs for SATAII drives and Ill prolly leave the Raptors as is.
3. 955x or wait for 975x ? Intel recently released there 975x chipset, and I was wondering if I should wait for this to mature and buy a 975x board to future proof my server, or does it not make any difference for my needs ? p.s. I know very little about the new 975x chipset, what are its features/enhancements over the 955x ?
4. Why is NewEgg currently only selling a Referb version of my MoBo?
Thanks in advance for any/all the help,
-BassKozz