Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > HKPC and media server build check please...

HKPC and media server build check please...

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - HKPC and media server build check please...

Tom's Hardware: Over 1.4 million members in 6 different countries available to answer all your high-tech questions. Sign up now! Its free!
Word :    Username :           
 

Looking to buy within a week a home media server setup from scratch. Along with that functionality, I need it to directly run an outdoor speaker system amp. With that in mind, direct sound output is mandatory which is why I didn't run a Windows Media Server off the shelf. I also like the HDMI output of the listed MOBO but only really need it when I upgrade to Blueray in a year and run my kitchen HD panel directly from this unit (don't have that yet but I'm calling it a HKPC).

Wanted functions in order:
Remote backup location of multiple other PC's in house
Basic audio out to an amp is a must
Media storage that can be expanded with relative ease w/ some form of RAID.
Under $600 to my door not counting OS
Quiet

1) Which OS exactly will suit me the best for the majority of the things listed with relative ease? I was assuming Windows 7 Ult 64
2) What hardware should I change out? I just whipped this up today so no sweat swapping out anything.

2x
HITACHI 0A38016 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

I liked the HDMI and plenty of SATA
GIGABYTE GA-MA790GP-UD4H AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD MOBO

I had no clue here...
XCLIO STABLEPOWER 500W 500W ATX SLI Ready Active PFC Power Supply

Low power=cool=quiet?
AMD Phenom 9350e Agena 2.0GHz Socket AM2+ 65W Quad-Core Processor Model HD9350ODGHBOX

Uhhh...
Rosewill Conqueror WBK Triple 120mm Fans Steel ATX Mid tower Computer Case with Side Panel

It was cheap...
Kingston HyperX 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 Desktop Memory Model KHX8500D2/2G


Along with a free 8gig flash drive it all = $531 today

Please help! I need the backup function sooner rather than later and I would beat this to death myself if I wasn't in a relative hurry.

Thank you for your time.

Sponsored Links
Register or log in to remove.

don't bother paying extra money for Ultimate, just get Vista Home Premium, and upgrade to windows 7 home premium. If you need some extra networking functionality like remote desktop to this machine, then just go up to Vista business with an upgrade path to windows 7 professional. The extras included in Ultimate are for enterprise level functionality like remote hosted applications, and booting off virtual drives. I'd switch out the Hitachi drives, they are a bit dated. Much better performance to be had with the WD Caviars, Seagate Baracudas (7200.12), or even Samsung F2s. Rosewill is pretty generic when it comes to cases, I find Antec or Coolermaster to be good ones to work with and not too expensive. Though if you want to get fancy, mod a toaster oven to be your computer case and you may have something for your "HKPC" concept

Reply to wathman

I do happen to have a brand new extra black microwave with a coffee maker built in I might be able to mod ;)

I do want remote desktop for sure. I should have added that, sorry.

I also do have a server 2008 lic floating around but I figured the vista/7 path was more media friendly but I didn't think of business having the media functions Ultimate had.

I will look for new drives and at other cases, TYVM :)

Now that I think about it, I have the antique floorstanding radio from "A Christmas Story" I was saving for a "magic genie/8-ball" mod I can use too, that might be cool for this and that.........


Message edited by mousenut on 08-14-2009 at 09:56:00 PM
Reply to mousenut

Vista business doesn't, but windows 7 professional will... The whole non-tiered Vista feature sets was a bad idea, at least the windows 7 feature sets make more sense.

Reply to wathman

Sucks I won't have the Media Server function until 7 upgrade though. Still seems like the smartest plan though which saves a few $ and that aint not bad.

Reply to mousenut

Haha i like the idea of a HKPC :P Hmm how about an mATX/shoebox set up? Dun think you require a quad for this task though ^^
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q205/batuchka/HKPC.jpg

Reply to batuchka

That box doesn't have enough internal SATA slots but the proc/mobo looks nice. I only looked at the 4 core to start based on the low power.


Message edited by mousenut on 08-17-2009 at 03:31:27 PM
Reply to mousenut

Hmm this case has e-sata front port:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811146043
Well low TDP is one thing but a Deneb based quad at load (power consumption) will always be > Deneb based dual core


Message edited by batuchka on 08-17-2009 at 03:36:19 PM
Reply to batuchka
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Homebuilt Systems > New System Build > HKPC and media server build check please...
Go to:

There are 526 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Sponsored links
  • Ask the community now
  • Publish
Ad
They won a badge
Join us in greeting them