[beev20vTQ]

Has anyone mentioned about implementing Gigabit Ethernet? Going to need a switch http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6833127082

[darkscout]

I'll just go ahead and post my specs for anyone that insists on building these ungodly over powered systems:

1.8 gHz Single Core Celeron. 1GB of RAM. GT220.

Code:

model nam: Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 430 @ 1.80GHz
Mem:   1025952k total, 797860k used,   228092k free, 77320k buffers
Swap:  1952760k total, 3052k used,  1949708k free, 489856k cached

I don't do Hulu or any FLV stuff. but the GT220 will the 23GB version of Transformers with no problem: over my gigabit network.

Code:

[mkv] Track ID 1: video (V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC) "19.2Mbps MPEG-4 AVC", -vid 0
[mkv] Track ID 2: audio (A_DTS) "Main Audio DTS 5.1 @ 1536Kbps", -aid 0, -alang eng
[mkv] Track ID 3: audio (A_VORBIS) "Commentary OGG 2.0 @ 80Kbps", -aid 1, -alang eng

[jtap06]

Just pulled the trigger! Can't thank you enough poofyhairguy and others. I'll be sure to post a few pics or a video when its complete.

[steve1977]

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....

Wow, looking to buy one today. Unfortunately, quite a few of the links above expired. Would love to get your thoughts on what to buy.

What I need/want to accomplish with my server built (currently have a QNAP 459 and need to upgrade to achieve the following:
* At least 8 disks (my QNAP only holds 4 and the USB add-ons are a pain)
* Capable to convert on-the-fly (current CPU not strong enough)
* Ideally, reading NTFS disks (easier to pull one out to borrow to Windows friends)
* Properly working USB port access
* Ideally, able to stream from iPhoto library (DLNA/UPnP); my current guess is that this is impossible unless I work with an OSX server, which I don't want to do
* Ideally, able to install Zumocast


My specific questions:
1) What of above hardware do I need (upated links)? Do I really need all of above? Price is not an issue, but would love to keep complexity down when building it.
2) Is WHS/Windows Server my "only" option if I want NTFS disk and Zumocast support?
3) Am I overlooking anything how I can get iphoto streaming support without using OSX Server? I served for several hours, but doesnt look promising...


Thanks a million for your help!!!

[FishOil]

The ZOTAC HD-ND01 cost me $260 and does EVERYTHING its supposed to do. Including 1080p 30MB/S Blueray rips even.

Well, thats not entirely true. I replaced the wireless for an additional $12.

[poofyhairguy]

My specific questions:
1) What of above hardware do I need (upated links)? Do I really need all of above? Price is not an issue, but would love to keep complexity down when building it.

Depends on what solution you decide. I can help though, maybe in a new thread.

2) Is WHS/Windows Server my "only" option if I want NTFS disk and Zumocast support?

Yep, pretty much.

3) Am I overlooking anything how I can get iphoto streaming support without using OSX Server? I served for several hours, but doesnt look promising...

Use Mac Mini + Plex as your frontend....

[steve1977]

Thanks a lot for your reply and help. Few additional questions:

Yep, pretty much.

That's pretty crap. The more I search online on this, the more I understand that WHS is actually not a solution, many people like. Also, (if I read it correctly), the next version of WHS will not support NTFS drives anymore that I can just plug out and plug into a regular windows xp based computer. And Windows Server doesn't do so already by now?

Use Mac Mini + Plex as your frontend....

You mean that I stream from my frontend? I have a macmini and am currently streaming from this (to XBMC). Issue is that I would very much prefer not to have my macmini on 24/7 in addition to the server.

[Definedav]

I contacted newegg and gave them the combo number of the combo build that was previously mentioned.

Here are the parts:

11-112-186, 13-128-421, 15-100-041, 17-153-113, 19-115-222 , 20-145-260 , 22-148-337 , 80-101-002, 27-106-346, 35-106-152.

[B1G-HTPC]

What do you guys think of Asus. I've always bought Asus MOB and never had any problems.

I was thinking of getting this MOB Asus P7H55 M LE

With the i3 and GPU card poofyhairyguy suggested.

I have already built an unRaid box from an old PC. I love the way you can just slap in SATA drives of any size and have the whole thing just work....

Anyways, I don't want to get off topic here....

[notho]

My system uses an ASUS P7H55 board....

ASUS P7H55-M PRO MB w/ Intel Core i3-540 Clarkdale 3.06GHz
2x 2GB Kingston DDR3 Ram
Thermaltake Slim X3 CLP0534 80mm CPU Cooler
ECS NGT430C-1GQR-F GeForce GT 430 Video Card
AVerMedia AVerTVHD Duet - PCTV Tuner
OCZ Vertex Series OCZSSD2-1VTX60G 2.5" 60GB SSD
LG Black 10X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM
2x WD WD20EARS 2TB 64MB Cache HD (someday I'll build a unraid server but for now I have these 2 drives in the HTPC plus a 1.5tb external drive)

it all fits nicely in a LIAN LI Black Aluminum PC-C37B HTPC Case with a MCE dongle for the URC R50 remote. I used a OCZ power supply that wasn't modular which was a mistake, I just didn't need all those cables and ended up just cutting them off.

I'm running w7, xbmc, sabnzbd, sickbeard, and to a lesser extent couch potato, it's a pretty kick ass box.

[B1G-HTPC]

My system uses an ASUS P7H55 board....

ASUS P7H55-M PRO MB w/ Intel Core i3-540 Clarkdale 3.06GHz
2x 2GB Kingston DDR3 Ram
Thermaltake Slim X3 CLP0534 80mm CPU Cooler
ECS NGT430C-1GQR-F GeForce GT 430 Video Card
AVerMedia AVerTVHD Duet - PCTV Tuner
OCZ Vertex Series OCZSSD2-1VTX60G 2.5" 60GB SSD
LG Black 10X BD-ROM 16X DVD-ROM
2x WD WD20EARS 2TB 64MB Cache HD (someday I'll build a unraid server but for now I have these 2 drives in the HTPC plus a 1.5tb external drive)

it all fits nicely in a LIAN LI Black Aluminum PC-C37B HTPC Case with a MCE dongle for the URC R50 remote. I used a OCZ power supply that wasn't modular which was a mistake, I just didn't need all those cables and ended up just cutting them off.

I'm running w7, xbmc, sabnzbd, sickbeard, and to a lesser extent couch potato, it's a pretty kick ass box.

Nice !

What difference is there between the ASUS P7H55-M PRO and the LE model ?

Did you have any probs with configuring the ECS GT 430 ?

[notho]

None, it just worked, it's plugged into the HDMI on my Sony - HD sound and works like it should going into the TV passed out to the sound system. Even that dam million bird test video plays smoothly although, at times I think the white birds get a bluish cast going over the blue water.

Everything went well except one Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31500341AS 1.5TB HD that I bought with the rest of the kit - it was running so hot you couldn't touch it, about 57C - I RMA'd it at newegg as DOA and a new one was sent. I'll end up not using it since I put the WD drives in - the WD are running about 33C.

The system is running a bit warm with the two HD's in there, about 42C on the cores for the CPU and Video Card, hopefully when I take the HD's out things will run a bit cooler.

The SSD is just laying on the BR DVD burner cage suck with a bit of double sided tape - SSD's are awesome, I have one in my desktop and one in my laptop and I never go back for my boot drives.

I haven't tried playing with the PCTV tuner card yet.

[majorheadache]

That combo is available again under a new ID, I found it under the case. Not sure if it will work for long, but it's still working in my cart and I think it said good thru nov 30th. Here's the link:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundl...mbo.549135

What I'm wondering before I pull the trigger is how is the noise level? I'm forced to have mine kind of right behind my head in a projector setup. I can live with a moderate fan noise, but obviously prefer it to be minimal. I'll go with an SSD only for the drive.

Thanks

[notho]

good find.

You end up with five fans so its not silent but it's not too bad. Mine are turned down all the way and I can't hear it 12' in front of me - right behind your head you may have to take a few extra steps.

[Stewge]

If you want an i3/5/7 in a Mini-ITX platform you could go for one of these:
Zota H55itx

It's got more ports than you could poke a stick at plus a PCIEx16 slot so you can add in a dedicated graphics card