HTPC/NAS Combo

BigCity Wrote:I sec unraid worked extremely well for me.

I think Unraid is the preferred OS of a separate NAS. I am considering having only 1 system that can function as both a NAS (backend) and a HTPC (front end)

A NAS + HTPC combo seems like a great idea, then after six months your hard drives start throwing up weird SMART errors because combining their heat in the same case with the heat of the GPU playing 1080p is a sure fire way to slowly kill them. Been there done that. Either your NAS + HTPC is a little loud (and therefore properly cooled) or you are fooling yourself. SMART never lies- I couldn't even get 7200 RPM drives (which are used to a higher level of heat) to live in that environment.

Now if this is really the goal- a HTPC plus a NAS- the trick is to get a case that CAN be cooled as quiet as possible. That means 120mm fans.

If I had to do it again, after learning of my failures the last two times I did it- I would stick a Mini ITX ION mobo in a big Micro ATX case. That way the heat from the GPU is not right next to the HDs. It would be the best way to do it while being as quiet as possible.

Something like a Silverstone or a Antec HTPC case can easily hold 4 drives and one of those boards. With all the space that will be in the case I think the HDs would survive without any problem. Another option would be to look at what others are doing with that HP Mediaserver - apparently it has enough airflow to not cook everything. Good thread in the forum about this right now.

Honestly though, in the long run, the REAL reason for a separate NAS is that the best NAS software can't double as HTPCs- FreeNAS, Unraid and WHS. A bunch of separate disks is fun until the GPU heat kills one and your data is toast. Once you get used to WHS/Unraid's "add any disk and it can stay protected" model old JBOD looks like an idea straight out of the 80's.

But if a NAS-HTPC monster is to be built, consider mixing Mini ITX boards with Micro ATX cases. I think this is the safest path.

ummmm gpu heat from an HD5450? Are you kidding me? The heatsink isn't even luke-warm when playing 1080p.

My gpu, cpu, and all hard drives never break 40 degrees C. There is a total of 3 70mm fans in the case.

Either you have bad luck with Hard drives, or a smoking hot gpu.

My system has been running just fine for several months, and I'm certain it will continue to!

vinistois Wrote:ummmm gpu heat from an HD5450? Are you kidding me? The heatsink isn't even luke-warm when playing 1080p.

My gpu, cpu, and all hard drives never break 40 degrees C. There is a total of 3 70mm fans in the case.

Either you have bad luck with Hard drives, or a smoking hot gpu.

My system has been running just fine for several months, and I'm certain it will continue to!

Congratulations ,I'm glad it works in your current situation. However, i bet that in six months to a year you will have moved on to a separate nas/htpc solution. It is simply the best way to safely organise your media and access it throughout your home, not to mention much easier to maintain and upgrade.

cheers

And it's better if you want lots of HD movies... those TB's fill up fast!!

Thanks for all your help guys! I decided to scrap the HTPC/NAS machine and decided to go for two separate boxes especially since the newer Zotac ION motherboards only come with 2 SATA ports...

Any suggestions for a good HTPC? Do you recommend building something with the Zotac Atom motherboard with ION?

Also, for a NAS, do you have any recommended cases? I want something really small and not very large. My roommates had the HP WHS server and I loved their cases. Something like that.

Thanks once again

gain Wrote:Thanks for all your help guys! I decided to scrap the HTPC/NAS machine and decided to go for two separate boxes especially since the newer Zotac ION motherboards only come with 2 SATA ports...

Any suggestions for a good HTPC? Do you recommend building something with the Zotac Atom motherboard with ION?

Also, for a NAS, do you have any recommended cases? I want something really small and not very large. My roommates had the HP WHS server and I loved their cases. Something like that.

Thanks once again

You made the right decision . I reckon i should leave your next questions to our Resident Hardware Guru

cheers

I personally use FreeNAS (but am currently considering different options as I plan some upgrades for the New Year). FreeNAS can accomplish everything I want, but using the embedded version running from a USB makes it slightly more challenging to install additional packages to handle SABnzbd, Couch Potato, and Sick Beard...

The major reason I love FreeNAS is that it serves its purpose, and does it well. I can choose from a variety of options to serve my content in my environment. It works very nicely as media server. I am running 3x1TB disks in a RAIDZ (ZFS RAID5) configuration with another 1TB standalone disk. [planning to increase storage soon]. Using this setup, the RAIDZ protects against a single disk failure and I can rebuild the zpool upon replacing a failed disk.

My FreeNAS uses a single-core AMD CPU and the Antec 300 case. This setup offers great airflow and room for disks. I stuck with a modular CPU to keep cable clutter to a minimum. If I had to do it again I would probably go with an ION configuration, but those were relatively new at the time and I could more easily afford the setup with my single core AMD. FreeNAS does not need a beefy CPU and I am running a headless box connected to my nerwork via GigE. I configure all services through the WebGUI and do not have to mess with VPN or attaching a display to make changes.

Works like a charm! May consider trying UnRAID or Ubuntu as a server... but am not sure my plans. I may upgrade my storage to 4x2TB disks and change the platform at the same time. Backing up my data on the FreeNAS/converting my RAIDZ (ZFS) to the new platforms would seem to be the most difficult step in the process. Ubuntu can support the RAIDZ using FUSE but I am not sure how I would move to UnRAID.

I decided to go with a dual system based on reviews from SmallNetBuilder and SilentPCReview.

Here is the system I decided on:

Intel i3-540
Scythe SCSMZ-2000 CPU Cooler
Zotac H55ITX-C-E mobo
G.Skill Ripjaws 2x2GB DDR3 F3-10666CL8D-4GBBRM
Asus ENGT430/DI/1GD3(LP) GPU
WD Scorpio Black WD3200BEKT 280GB 2.5"
4 x WD AV-GP WD20EVDS 2TB
SeaSonic SS-560KM PSU
Zalman Fan Mate 2
Lian Li PC-Q08B case


Micro-ITX case with 6 x 3.5" bays
Mobo has 6 SATA connections
2.5" drive for OS (Ubuntu server 10.10)
PSU is larger than necessary but smallest I could find that was both modular and had 6+ SATA connections
6TB of storage (RAID5) expandable to 8
3D viewing via the GT 430 GPU


There are a lot of good reviews on running Ubuntu server 10.10 for NAS and it runs XBMC and Sabnzbd without issue.

This system is larger (14" x 9" x 11") than a standalone HTPC but very space friendly.

The concerns raised about running a dual system seem to be that it is hard to get a quiet setup that is also energy efficient (i.e. low heat generation). Unfortunately, I can't answer those yet. The Zalman and Kil-a-watt don't arrive until Thursday. Once I have the case closed up I'll report back on both items but I am very optimistic based on reviews on the components from the websites above.

I decided on the dual system to minimize the number of computers in my apartment. This was also a more cost efficient setup. I'll update the thread once I have the other info.


-Kendall

vinistois Wrote:Either you have bad luck with Hard drives, or a smoking hot gpu. My system has been running just fine for several months, and I'm certain it will continue to!

You must be one of the few lucky ones who never had a hard drive fail on them. From my experience with hard drives ... it is always a matter of WHEN rather than IF.

Most of the time we upgrade the hard drives before they fail but keep enough of them for long enough and you will surely join the club. I've been there too many times and I wouldn't store anything today without the minimum of protection.