[gabbott]

poofyhairguy,
Wow that looks like would be a really nice setup. Making me really want to build one.

[poofyhairguy]

I was on the fence on getting an core i3 I wish I would have done it. I had no idea I could have bought a cheapo video card that would have solved my problems. that would have been the ONLY thing making an i3 more expensive then my zotac setup.

-=Jason=-

The i3 is a neat chipset, but don't beat yourself up to much. It wasn't until like two weeks ago that the world's first perfect HTPC card hit the market (the GT430), and the i3's onboard GPU is complete and total junk in my opinion. That is why I really love the above build- it avoids that junk Intel GPU!

In fact, you might as well call the above setup ION4 because we are probably looking at exactly the power structure and feature set of what that chipset with be.

[poofyhairguy]

poofyhairguy,
Wow that looks like would be a really nice setup. Making me really want to build one.

Second best Newegg combo I have ever seen. Only thing better was when I got the $180 Antec 1200 for $118 shipped with a free $20 pen drive.

Which, if we get into building an Unraid server for OP, is the EXACT case I will recommend for a server.

[poofyhairguy]

Screw it, I am excited: Here is the Unraid build:

First this combo with a PERFECT CPU and mobo for Unraid:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealD...mbo.526656

RAM I love (one stick is better for Unraid):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...-_-Product

Then a sata card I love:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...-_-Product

My favorite Unraid case and the PSU they built to go in it:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealD...mbo.491499

Four of these to go in that case:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...-_-Product

Then the perfect parity drive:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...-_-Product

And one Green drive for storage:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...-_-Product

A good pen drive:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...-_-Product

And a Unraid pro license:

http://www.lime-technology.com/products/...ation-keys


There you go- about $2000 after rebates with a perfect Unraid server ready to hold up to 20+TB with ease and a perfect HTPC. Just keep adding more of those 2TB HDs when you need more space....

[jtap06]

Oh my gosh, thank you so much poofyhairguy! I think I will go with what you suggest, my only issue is I am not too familiar with "build it yourself" hardware type stuff. I suppose I can buy the parts and take them to a computer shop and have them build it for me.

This is great, thanks again! I am so glad I decided to consult the XBMC gurus first!

So just to be sure, with this setup you suggested... I can run Aeon in 1080p and basically hold down the remote arrow and fly through cover flow without any lag/duplication of covers? That was my main issue I am trying to overcome. I just want my setup to be super sleek to show off this great program(and my collection!).

Thanks so much!!

[jtap06]

Also, I see it only comes with one eSata port. What would you suggest putting in for additional slots? (I only need two actually). Thanks!!

[poofyhairguy]

So just to be sure, with this setup you suggested... I can run Aeon in 1080p and basically hold down the remote arrow and fly through cover flow without any lag/duplication of covers?

Oh yeah. With those particular SSDs (especially the 120GB one) fan art and covers are ripping across the bus at pretty much the maximum speeds for sata. The seek times on those Vertex SSDs are so insane compared to HDs it is not even funny. And as far as skins go, and i3 will carve through Aeon like a hot knife through butter. An i3 embarrasses a Core2Duo, and makes the Atom look like a cell phone CPU. This build is a safe play.

Also, I see it only comes with one eSata port. What would you suggest putting in for additional slots? (I only need two actually). Thanks!!

Just use the two at first and if later you need to add something you have the space. That is kinda the genius of the build. You can't buy all the parts today for a computer 5 years from now. But you can have the upgrade capability (like in this case and extra esata port, and extra sata port, an extra PCIe 16 lane - big deal, and a PCI slot), then pretty much whatever cool upgrades NVidia thinks of 5 years from now should work on this computer...

[osirisjem]

Hmm..well thats why I asked the question. What would you guys suggest would be the BEST XBMC system?

Small and Quiet, with good processing power for HD !

[fonzie]

I also agree with pretty much everyone that says you have a way overpowered system if you go that route. Spend your money on your server.


Alright Poofyhairguy, you've convinced me to buy some components to build my first unRAID system and see if I like it.

I already have a spare case and ram from an old PC:

- Antec P160: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6811129173

- Ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6820145015

**You say one slot is better than two on unRAID. So should I just put 1GB of RAM (is that enough)? Or two 2GB of RAM (one for each slot)?

- Old PSU

NEW PURCHASE:
the Mobo and CPU you mentioned:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.526656

*I decided to go with these after reading the recommendations at the unRAID forums, but heard I should wait till they go on sale. Looks like it's time to buy!


So 7200 RPM for parity and 5400 RPM green for storage? makes sense.

I'm going to try out the unRAID and if it works for me, I will purchase the license and begin expanding from there.

On a side note...What do you think of the COOLER MASTER Centurion 590 case? Lots of people seem to use it for unRAID. It holds fewer drives though.

[Hannes The Hun]

the combo i3, GT430 and SSD will definitely be my next HTPC project for the coming year, superseding my cute little foxconn netbox which I guess will end up in a friend's living room.
I like poofy's codename "ION4" because that's exactly what this is about

[Hjord]

Hey.
Just a quick question.
Wich Zotac Zbox would be perfect for XBMC Live?

[Hannes The Hun]

I have no idea why you try to hijack this thread when there's a perfectly fine and extensive zbox thread easily available via the search function http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid...light=zbox

[Hjord]

I'm not trying to hijack anything.
I just saw the topic and got a related question.

[jtap06]

Or its big bro (which is as fast as RAID 0 of two of the 60GBs):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...-_-Product

Hello again! Would you recommend using this as the primary(OS) drive or a secondary drive and just put my XBMC files on it?

Also, I am about to pull the trigger and buy the system you suggested on Monday. Is there anything else you can think of that I may need/want for this system?

Thanks again, i'll be sure to let you know how it works out!!

[Kode]

Its more than big enough to use for the OS and xbmc if your data is going to live on a NAS.