Advice: server/htpc/router build

[Tripp]

Hi all

Been wanting a server and htpc combo for a while now, I have the spare cash so want to jump into this before I spend on something else.

What I want
-play dvd/bluray rips and music files (on main tv and on laptops and smartphones)
-backup all my design work and photos (likely raid 6)
-be accessible to laptops, smart phones (windows, apple and android)
-be accessible off site

what I would like
-to be able to rip and compress blurays
-to use it as a (wireless) router
-to play some emulator games on
-torrent server

I basically want an always on (low power) server with enough oompph to play blurays and perform the server duties mentioned above.

I would also like an os that can provide a slick htpc experience through my tv whilst the server backup duties remained hidden in the background

what would be the best software and hardware to acheive this.

I will put the budget at £400 for now - cheaper the better really

 

[JonJ678]

The wireless router bit is more hassle than its worth.

The various free operating systems will do all that without any bother, if you're willing to spend time working out how. Otherwise windows is probably capable of it too. I have XBMC in mind for the GUI. DLNA works well enough for streaming video.

The only remotely difficult bit is the blurays. If you want to rip and compress them quickly, you need a very fast processor. For playing them, quite a crap graphics card will do. I think a microserver with a graphics card will do all of the above for much less than your budget, but you'd be leaving it running overnight to convert videos. Possibly for days.

I think most people rip and compress films on a normal desktop then store the end result on a NAS. That way the NAS doesn't need a fast processor, lowing price, noise, power consumption. Depends how badly you want to do the video conversion on this computer I suppose.

edit: On a separate note, I don't want my backups to be accessible over the internet. Are you sure you do?

 

[Gav_881]

I have the N40l microserver doing all that at home bar the raid and wireless router part, if the cashback offer is still running you will get it for about £100 + £20-30 for 5450/6450 + £60 for a blue ray drive then its just buying drives.

Win 7 and xbmc will do it all