Hey everyone, it's been a while since I did any type of in-depth research on HTPC's and Media Server tech, but I've read assassins guide as well as a few of the posts here but none of the threads really address adequately what I'm looking to do specifically.
I have a server case I picked up for cheap, it's a chenbro SR-10769 C0 with Two SATA 6.0 4 high hotswap bays, two 5.25" to 3.5" hotswap bays, a 5.25" to slim DVD w/3.5" hdd bay, and a 3.5" to 2 - 2.5" hdd bay converter installed. Has a Silverstone ST-1500 PSU inside also.
So I have 1500watts of modular power, 10 - 3.5" hotswap bays & 2 - 2.5" bays
I have a USB Bluetooth adapter for a keyboard and mouse (server will be in the basement with the receiver so noise doesn't matter) and a sdxc multi card reader ready to go in as well.
I'm looking for an HTPC to stream media to laptops and other pc's as well as an Xbox 360 as an extender, but also want to run HDMI direct to the Denon 4311ci to feed to the 11.2 home theater setup. Do I need a component out sound card to maximize sound quality from the HTPC, or is a HDMI video card going to be sufficient?
I have decided I want to run a windows 7 x64 ultimate client dedicated to media center 24/7. I already have Tunebite, DvDshrink, DvDFab8, etc. I want to store my entire DVD collection on HDD's and am looking for recommendations on storage - including backup and best bang for your buck RAID configuration. I am willing to entertain installing and populating an external raid array as well.
When I build a PC, typically I install a small SSD (128-256gb total) for the OS and a pair of RAID1 velociraptor's for application space. Storage is usually a couple of the largest available WD or Hitachi HDD's in my price range in a raid 0+1 configuration as hardware raid.
I'm looking for advice as I've never tried to assemble a storage array of this size (16-20TB of RAID drives with expandability and backup) and am looking for an affordable, realistic solution.
I'm an enthusiast, so money - while being important - will find it's way where it needs to. This server is a one time thing but I want it 4k capable in storage and processing power/throughput.
This will store DVD's of movies, TV series and cartoons, lossless CD audio, SACD and DVD-A lossless audio, HD home movies/videos, and my wife's photography portfolio.
Currently I have no plans to store Bluray as I will use my oppo for that function.
Please recommend me a RAID configuration and backup design that maximizes the abilities provided by the case above. Again, I will add a secondary external HDD array if need be. I'm just lost on the software vs hardware raid and SAS vs SATA6.0 and the best way to set it up with some level of redundancy while avoiding $1200 expansion cards.
Also, more slower cores (2ghz hex core) or fewer faster cores (3ghz quad core)?
Thanks in advance
TL;DR version:
Best way to set up the internal 10 hot swap bays for raid storage and backup?(raid system/software, sata6)
Worth adding a 20 bay external enclosure for future expandability?
Hardware raid cards make me sad. How do I get raid storage on the cheap, filling all 10 bays internally and being able to expand via SAS or sata6 to a second storage unit like a Norco 4220 (total noob to external raid storage)
Faster processor (quad core 3ghz) or more cores (hex core 2ghz x2) for streams/transcoding to multiple devices (windows 7 ultimate, unsure as to what other software or VM's will be running)
Sound card with component audio out or HDMI audio from NVidia 500/600 card enough when feeding a Denon 4311ci?
Dual processor expansion nice to have, but necessary? See cores vs speed question above.
I have a server case I picked up for cheap, it's a chenbro SR-10769 C0 with Two SATA 6.0 4 high hotswap bays, two 5.25" to 3.5" hotswap bays, a 5.25" to slim DVD w/3.5" hdd bay, and a 3.5" to 2 - 2.5" hdd bay converter installed. Has a Silverstone ST-1500 PSU inside also.
So I have 1500watts of modular power, 10 - 3.5" hotswap bays & 2 - 2.5" bays
I have a USB Bluetooth adapter for a keyboard and mouse (server will be in the basement with the receiver so noise doesn't matter) and a sdxc multi card reader ready to go in as well.
I'm looking for an HTPC to stream media to laptops and other pc's as well as an Xbox 360 as an extender, but also want to run HDMI direct to the Denon 4311ci to feed to the 11.2 home theater setup. Do I need a component out sound card to maximize sound quality from the HTPC, or is a HDMI video card going to be sufficient?
I have decided I want to run a windows 7 x64 ultimate client dedicated to media center 24/7. I already have Tunebite, DvDshrink, DvDFab8, etc. I want to store my entire DVD collection on HDD's and am looking for recommendations on storage - including backup and best bang for your buck RAID configuration. I am willing to entertain installing and populating an external raid array as well.
When I build a PC, typically I install a small SSD (128-256gb total) for the OS and a pair of RAID1 velociraptor's for application space. Storage is usually a couple of the largest available WD or Hitachi HDD's in my price range in a raid 0+1 configuration as hardware raid.
I'm looking for advice as I've never tried to assemble a storage array of this size (16-20TB of RAID drives with expandability and backup) and am looking for an affordable, realistic solution.
I'm an enthusiast, so money - while being important - will find it's way where it needs to. This server is a one time thing but I want it 4k capable in storage and processing power/throughput.
This will store DVD's of movies, TV series and cartoons, lossless CD audio, SACD and DVD-A lossless audio, HD home movies/videos, and my wife's photography portfolio.
Currently I have no plans to store Bluray as I will use my oppo for that function.
Please recommend me a RAID configuration and backup design that maximizes the abilities provided by the case above. Again, I will add a secondary external HDD array if need be. I'm just lost on the software vs hardware raid and SAS vs SATA6.0 and the best way to set it up with some level of redundancy while avoiding $1200 expansion cards.
Also, more slower cores (2ghz hex core) or fewer faster cores (3ghz quad core)?
Thanks in advance
TL;DR version:
Best way to set up the internal 10 hot swap bays for raid storage and backup?(raid system/software, sata6)
Worth adding a 20 bay external enclosure for future expandability?
Hardware raid cards make me sad. How do I get raid storage on the cheap, filling all 10 bays internally and being able to expand via SAS or sata6 to a second storage unit like a Norco 4220 (total noob to external raid storage)
Faster processor (quad core 3ghz) or more cores (hex core 2ghz x2) for streams/transcoding to multiple devices (windows 7 ultimate, unsure as to what other software or VM's will be running)
Sound card with component audio out or HDMI audio from NVidia 500/600 card enough when feeding a Denon 4311ci?
Dual processor expansion nice to have, but necessary? See cores vs speed question above.