New Computer Build + Home Media Server

[FerraraZ]

I'm adding onto my current desktop. The hard drives have all died (old reused hard drives, had a good life ;( ) I also want to change out my video card but I'm keeping my Core i5 and 8GB Corsair DDR3 memory. Below is my prospective build from newegg:

1
HP StorageWorks X310 Intel Atom Dual Core (1.6GHz) 2GB Memory 1TB Data Vault 3 open bay, Windows Home
Item #:N82E16859105777
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$50.00 Instant
$50.00 Mail-in Rebate
$449.99
$399.99
1
Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" SATA 6.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #:N82E16822148697
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$5.00 Instant
$64.99
$59.99
1
ASUS P7P55D-E LX ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #:N82E16813131634
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$15.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
$124.99
1
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
Item #:N82E16817139006
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
-$30.00 Instant
$15.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
$139.99
$109.99
1
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Item #:N82E16822148433
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$69.99
1
EVGA SuperClocked GeForce GTX 560 (Fermi) 01G-P3-1461-KR Video Card
Item #:N82E16814130661
Return Policy: VGA Standard Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
$199.99
$189.99
1
OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTXE120G 2.5" MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Item #:N82E16820227551
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
-$70.00 Instant
$30.00 Mail-in Rebate Card
$269.99
$199.99
Grand Total: $1,094.94


How do you guys feel about the parts? The only thing I may change is drop another TB into the home server and take out the SSD. I pretty much do gaming and multimedia on this desktop as I use a different PC for class and work.

Also what do you guys feel about the HP home microserver?

 

[bastage]

Absolutely not on Either Seagate HDD or the OCZ SSD.. Swap the HDD's to the Samsung f3's for 65 each & get better performance & reliability. SSD changed to a Crucial c300 or an m4 for a few bucks more, but much better real world speed & reliability (from someone who has owned a c300 & a vertex 2)..

The rest is ok, though for the server I would go with the acer Aspire Easystore AH340-U2T1H since its the same upfront cost & the HDD is twice the size. Not to mention its a physically smaller unit.

 

[tiraides]

I concur with bastage's recommendations on the hard drive and SSD. I don't know enough about prebuilt consumer servers to make a proper recommendation, so I'll defer to bastage in this case.

What resolution will you be using while gaming? If it's a 1920x1080 resolution, it's worth spending the extra money on a 1GB HD 6950.

You should also spend the money on the V2 "model" of the Corsair PSUs as they are better than the "first-gen" models. However, you don't need 750 watts for one video card. The TX650 V2 is a worthwhile alternative to what you're considering.

 

[FerraraZ]

Excellent input guys. I do game at 1920x1080 so I'll have to check out the 6950 and its benchmarks but I'll be honest after my last ATI card I swore I would never go back to them and always stay Nvidia. Just terrible terrible issues and have had to get it replaced TWICE.