DVD Database computer

[adryan16]

I have a friend who wants me to build a computer for him, but I'm a bit confused at how to go about doing so. He owns around 200 DVD's and wants me to build him a computer that he can load all of these onto, so that he can use a computer solely for acessing and watching DVD's. So, I'd like to know what needs to be done. We're looking at around 15 200gig hardrives, a good TV-out video card, and a motherboard and memory combo that can handle this amount of info, as well as be able to simply play a DVD without skipping. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[edelbrock]

15 200GB drives?! Encode them all to Divx or Xvid and you can get by with 1 200GB drive.

 

[Malak]

Originally posted by: edelbrock
15 200GB drives?! Encode them all to Divx or Xvid and you can get by with 1 200GB drive.

 

[adryan16]

yeah, but you lose some quality, and encoding that many would be an insane amount of work on top of ripping them all off.

 

[Mojoed]

Originally posted by: adryan16
yeah, but you lose some quality, and encoding that many would be an insane amount of work on top of ripping them all off.

An insane amount of work, or an insane amount of money. How much is his time worth?

 

[Malak]

Well you aren't going to fit 15 harddrives into any case I know of. You'd need a nice big closet for what you are asking for.

 

[adryan16]

that's the other thing, I think we're gonna just use two cases, I'm just not sure how exactly to make sure everything is connected and such, let alone how to manage this mass of info

 

[DaveSimmons]

With a RAID-5 controller you only need 1 extra drive for backup (plus a spare sitting in bubble wrap).

Assuming 300 DVDs at say 8 GB each (dual layer), you'll need about 2,400 GB of storage. Even with 8-port RAID controllers, you'll need 2 controllers.

With 8x 200 GB (one of which is lost to RAID) you could store 1,400 GB per array, or roughly 155 DVDs. With 2 such arrays, 310 DVDs.

Given the cost of RAID controllers, and the work setting it all up it might make sense to use 250 or 300 GB drives to increase the storage per array. With 300 GB drives you could fit the existing 200 DVDs onto a single 8-drive array with space for another 30+.

Frankly, a Sony 400-DVD changer makes a lot more sense, but I shouldn't talk since I have about 1,000 of my music CDs (out of 1,400) on a server as lossless FLAC files using around 300 GB of storage.

 

[asm0deus]

thats a damn waste of 200GB HDDs, how many of those movies are crappy? but it wouldnt be hard to build, just build 2 terrabyte servers, you could can play dvds easily w/ a 1ghz and a decent video card, the cost is gonna be the HDDs. Managing and storing those is gonna take a decent amount of time also. Get a 400 dvd changer.

 

[addragyn]

http://www.mythtv.org/modules.php?name=MythFeatures

 

[DGath]

If you are going to do this, do it right

- 12x300gb SATA drives
- 3Ware 12 port SATA Raid 5 controller
- Fanless GeForce 5200 w/ dvi & vga
- ~Athlon 2500+
- NForce2 Mobo w/ soundstorm
- Silverstone HTPC case
- 256 megs ram (512?)
- Fire up MythDVD

You'll be golden. Similiar units sell for over 10 grand, you can build it for less than 4k probably.

You said a video card with TV out (meaning composite)? He's that big of a movie buff and he doesn't have an HDTV yet? Go with a few less had drives and buy at least a 32" tube HDTV for around 600-700.

 

[DaveSimmons]

^ good advice, I hadn't checked to see the max. ports for SATA RAID controllers, with this you only waste one drive on parity instead of 2, only need one controller, and get enough storage (3,300 GB) for 400+ dual-layer DVDs.

Be sure to also buy an extra drive for a spare, and possibly a spare controller if 3Ware has any history of backward-compatibility problems with their cards (I've no idea, I haven't checked).

 

[adryan16]

Well, we're gettin somewhere now. As goofy as it may sound, we're college kids. He's got money for this, but not an HDTV. Plus he has a decently nice 35" Mitsubishi right now, and it suits him fine. In the future though for sure. And if I could find one for 600-700, I'd snatch it up. Anyway, after reading some of this, I think what he wants to do is instead of running so stinkin many drives, he's going to load only about 150 of his favorites, keeping it around the 1200 Gig range, meaning 4 and 5 at the most 300 gig drives would be sufficient. I have a GeForce FX 5200 right now, with the personaly cinema. I've used it for DVD viewing, and it worked great. So, I'll do some searching as far as the RAID controller is concerned, the motherboard should be pretty simple, as would the CPU and memory, and we'll see what to do about keeping a case cool witht that many HDDs.

 

[laurenlex]

That sounds insane. Why not just get a 400 DVD changer for 400 bucks (or less). I have this sony in the CD changer model, and it's great. Never lose, scratch, or lend out a DVD again. Plays cd's and mp3's also.

Sony 400 DVD changer

 

[adryan16]

Lend out, that'd be nice. The problem is that we live in a fraternity, where respect is somewhat at a minimum for both privacy and belongings. I have to lock my DVD's up in my safe to keep people from taking them! Not that they get stolen, they just get taken, and then passed around the house, scratched to no end, and then rarely returned, so you can see his problem as well. I know the whole thing sounds insane, but if it can be done, I'd like to try. Another thing? What kinda power source(s) should I be looking at?

 

[Zepper]

The Silverstone Berserker would make a good case for the system. Has room for a 4 or 5 drive hot-swap cage in the bottom plus about 5 or more additional HDs in the various locations. Plus it won't strain the budget.
. But I generally agree with the others that one of those Sony changers would be more practical - very easy to shuffle the collection around. Take some out put some new ones in etc.
.bh.

 

[jose]

Look at the 3Ware 12port sata controller & 12 - 250g WD raid ed. hd's. You will need a 64bit/66mhz pci slot mobo. ie Opteron or Xeon or the Supermicro P4SCT "P4 w/ 64bit slot"

This will give you 2500gigs w/ 1 spare & 1 parity drive (raid 5)

Regards,
Jose