New User Looking for DIY 1st Build Help

Eskro,

I read BOTH your unRAID Guide [last night] and the HTPC Guide a few moments ago - GREAT Stuff bud. Thanks for ALL of your work and ALL that you do for the community. Really good stuff and a GREAT reference tool.

I am limited on funds per se right now, so I want to make something that has the ability to GROW with me and my needs as my finances do lol.

Do you think with what I mentioned above for the setup makes sense using the ASUS NZXT case I own for one of the rigs?

Thanks

there's no problems into using parts u have,

Here is the case:

http://www.nzxt.com/new/products/crafted_series/apollo

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Im leaning towards using the A6/ A8 for the NAS build

AND

Im leaning towards using the Intel I mentioned for the XBMC Server

well u can put at least 9 drives in there, good

OK so Im please with that haha.

So here is what Im thinking, and scratch the above mention of Intel lol.

NAS: A6 3650 [Quad Core 2.6] - $79
ASRock A55 PRO3 FM1 AMD A55 (Hudson D2) HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard - $74
8 GB RAM
32 GB SSD
1 Cooler Master HD Cage with [4 x 2 TB HD]
100 W PS
2 extra case fans

Still working on the XBMC setup lol

Comments .... Thoughts ....

Oh... And the case has a 5 in 1 reader using 1 of the front face bays as it sits now; leaving 5 x 5 1/4 free front bays [I believe] plus internal


Thanks as always

sp3kWrV3t

what r the parts u have in hand again?

I have the following to use in ANY manner that you guys think is BEST lol:

- Netbook running an Intel 1.6 GHz with 2 GB RAM - Not being used at all

- Older HP Pavillion Laptop running an AMD Turion with 1 GB RAM - Not being used at all

- XBOX 360 with 250 GB HD - Connected to the home network [used mostly for Netflix]

- ASUS NZXT Case [with 5 in 1 card reader installed in one of the front bays] - Waiting to be used

- MacBook Pro 15" running Quad Core i7 with 8 GB RAM and 1 TB HD [Raid 0] - Used daily as my workhoarse

- Tons of USB storage drives [4 GB - 32 GB sizes]

- 5 - 10 external portable HD [240 - 1 TB sizes]

I just saw this also:

- Fractal Design Arc Midi Black High Performance PC Computer Case w/ USB 3.0 and 3 x Fractal High Performance 140mm fans - $69 Special

With FREE Shipping

I know you are an advocate [I believe] of the Factual cases and this one looks pretty sweet for the $$ [Down from $109 Regular Price]

Do something like that and then use the ASUS NZXT Apollo for the other build or something else altogether.

I know its a GIANT case for a simple XBMC build but the space, look, size concerns of most are moot to me. I really have NO objection to using either of these cases, or anything similar if it is better for what I am trying to accomplish, and sticking it squarely right next to the TV lol.

sp3kWrV3t

keep NZXT Apollo for your Server.
i dont see why the need to get a new case for that.

and for HTPC, why not use your old latops?

anyone has HDMI out?

Hey Eskro:

OK - will do that with the Apollo then [I like it anyway haha]

I believe they BOTH have HDMI [I will double check for SURE in a bit].

I was thinking of using one of them - possibly the netbook since its a much newer cpu and more ram. Initially I looked into the older AMD Turion laptop first for it, but it ran really hot and really loud simply plugged in for an extended period of time, so I cant see putting that in a full time position, especially mounted behind the tv. However, the netbook may actually work. It has Windows 7 on it now and runs pretty smooth - even runs VMWare no problem with multiple OS configurations via the VM application.

I guess I could completely strip down the system so it would only have the Win 7 OS with XBMC, and maybe an AV software or something.

Would I have to do anything special with the system to handle the streaming aspect from the NAS that Im going to build?

And it does NOT have an SSD drive, a 160 GB regular HD; but I think it will support an SSD so I can replace the HD on there now for a smaller SSD to handle the OS and for better efficiency and performance.

Would I simply download the XBMC software AS-IS from the web page, or download a Live Distro to a USB and set it up to boot from that?

Thanks

sp3kWrV3t