Building A Media Server.

[Orford]

Hi all,

I have just upgraded my PC and with the old CPU and Motherboard I'm looking at buying some parts to make it into a media server, NAS and remote file server for when I'm not at home. Think the marketing people call it a personal cloud.

I have atm,

CPU i5 750,
Mobo, Gigabyte GA-P55-UD5,
CPU cooler. Corsair H50.
HDD 2x 1TB WD Green drives from an old WD NAS.

Budget £150 - £200

I will be looking at RAM, Graphics card, Case and PSU. Small ie midi tower size and as quiet as possible.

The questions i'm asking myself is.

1. Do I sell what I have and get a Acer Revo RL80 and run elecXBMC with freenas. Is that possible?

2. Build a server add a good wi-fi card and hide it in the garage. (built onto the house)

3. Get a HP N40L with the cash back offer and learn how to build a proper server. Are they quiet enough to sit behind the TV add a low profile graphic card with HDMI out. Or put it in the garage and use the TVs own DLNA player.

4. Sell the lot in exchange for beer tokens.

Not sure what to do although I know I want to do some thing.

 

[Mercutio]

There's not a lot you can't do with the N40L considering size and power, no need for an extra graphics card, the onboard is ok for basic display. Stick a decent USB sound card to it an it'll do fine for media player duties.

 

[Orford]

Thanks. I'll start by selling the old stuff. Hopfully I can get an advance on some toy funds and buy the N40L before the cash back deal ends.