2013-05-06, 18:15
I am in need of a better solution for my HTPC needs, I like the idea of building my own Server to serve up DVD MKVs and HD MKVs to possibly in the future 2 or 3 clients but right now its only needed for 2 clients. The server would also have our music collection and photos on, and be accessed via XBMC and MediaPortal , recordings from tv will hopefully be shifted to the server for playback and so I don’t need huge HDD in the client pc in the living room which will still hold the TV Tuners.
From years gone by I have an old spare case a Cooler Master CM Storm, Sniper, I would presume I could use this as a decent server case for serving up the HD content and music etc.
Ok so my current living room has the following specification
Amd A10-5800K Black Edition (with onboard 7660D GPU)
Gigabyte F2A75M-D3H
8GB DDR3 LP Corsair
3x Seagate 2TB HDD and an external 1TB Western digital
1x TBS 6981 DVBS2 dual tuner
Silverstone LaScala LC 17 Rackmount HTPC
With a HP MCE Remote
oh and a Blu Ray Drive
running Windows 7x64, MediaPortal, XBMC, MakeMKV,
All feeding to a Yamaha AMP via HDMI which can do up to DTS but no HD audio and then onto the TV again via HDMI, a Panasonic Plasma TX-P42G15B
The wife has got a place at University starting in September and so need a machine that can be used in her now new study (was a third bedroom) , for accessing the music on the server and for her research and homework which she will no doubt have shed loads of.
I have read so much my head will soon spin loll, I was thinking along the lines of windows 7 x64 and drive bender which from what I have read will offer a backup situation, where if a drive dies In the server it can be replaced easily as the info is kept twice as such on the HDD as long as i have ticked the option.
Thinking of using separate HDD for the OS and using an external optical drive to install any bits, or my usb pen which has windows 7 x64 on.
So what are peoples ideas thoughts about my current HTPC and would it be better suited for any other part of my current project? All help welcomed and advice greatly appreciated.
Think that covers most if not all of it, as for £ as little as possible but still capable and expandable for HDD space, max of £800 but £600 would be better
From years gone by I have an old spare case a Cooler Master CM Storm, Sniper, I would presume I could use this as a decent server case for serving up the HD content and music etc.
Ok so my current living room has the following specification
Amd A10-5800K Black Edition (with onboard 7660D GPU)
Gigabyte F2A75M-D3H
8GB DDR3 LP Corsair
3x Seagate 2TB HDD and an external 1TB Western digital
1x TBS 6981 DVBS2 dual tuner
Silverstone LaScala LC 17 Rackmount HTPC
With a HP MCE Remote
oh and a Blu Ray Drive
running Windows 7x64, MediaPortal, XBMC, MakeMKV,
All feeding to a Yamaha AMP via HDMI which can do up to DTS but no HD audio and then onto the TV again via HDMI, a Panasonic Plasma TX-P42G15B
The wife has got a place at University starting in September and so need a machine that can be used in her now new study (was a third bedroom) , for accessing the music on the server and for her research and homework which she will no doubt have shed loads of.
I have read so much my head will soon spin loll, I was thinking along the lines of windows 7 x64 and drive bender which from what I have read will offer a backup situation, where if a drive dies In the server it can be replaced easily as the info is kept twice as such on the HDD as long as i have ticked the option.
Thinking of using separate HDD for the OS and using an external optical drive to install any bits, or my usb pen which has windows 7 x64 on.
So what are peoples ideas thoughts about my current HTPC and would it be better suited for any other part of my current project? All help welcomed and advice greatly appreciated.
Think that covers most if not all of it, as for £ as little as possible but still capable and expandable for HDD space, max of £800 but £600 would be better