Help speccing a system

[mikemarsden]

Hi,

Total PC newbie looking for some help in building a small, quiet media server.

I'd like something I can fit in the stand under the TV that isn't huge that can do the following :

Run Slimserver for a squeezebox
Can play HD media files out to my TV via HDMI and also use the TV in place of a monitor. I may be putting Win7 media cenre on it, so possibly having a remote control and/or wireless keyboard/mouse?

Optical audio out to my 5.1 system.

I'd like at the very least 1TB of storage, mirrored, preferrably more.

The main thing for me is keeping the noise level down as much as possible, so quiet drives and case fans are a must.

Looking to spend £450-500, but can possibly go a little higher to meet all the requirements

Thanks a lot for any help
Mike

 

[mikemarsden]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. Because it'll be going in the stand under the TV the case will need to be as small as it can be really.

I already have a spare license for Win7, so don't need to purchase that.

Not sure about a separate HDD for the OS, never thought about that. Are there any reason(s) as to why I should be doing this rather than just having 2 drives mirrored for everything?

HDMI and optical from the motherboard would be fine as long as it can play 1080i/p stuff to the TV. Don't necessarily need a blu-ray optical drive, a DVD will do.