Media Center Build Advice

[atmax1]

I currently have a i3 2120 and a gigabyte h61N-USB3 in a Thermaltake Element Q mini-ITX with a drobo attached for storage but I want to get 6x3TB WD reds and have all in a case as quiet as possible.

USAGE
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Plex streaming online, local streaming, xbmc being used on the tv connected to it and recording / uploading security video from a POE camera.

What would you guys spec to handle the tasks? I was thinking maybe an i5 with 16gb ram? I know nothing about raid cards but would like one with battery backup with 3TB drive support. (needs to be a HTPC case) the budget £600 without the drives.

 

[The Deuce]

totally over the top spec for a media centre. why would you need 16gig of ram? or an i5?

 

[atmax1]

Why I was asking for advice to see if it was needed, four people can be watching a movie at the same time and with the add-on of a poe camera in a few weeks I wasn't sure if it needed an upgrade.

If the i3 will be fine still then can anybody recommend a good htpc case to fit 6x3.5 drives and a raid card? I was looking at the IBM M5014 for a raid card and the Silverstone Grandia GD08 as the case.

 

[Cool Breeze]

I have a system very similar to what you are looking at.

My Specs

Core i3 3220
Asrock P67 extreme 6
3 DVB-t2 and 3 DVB-t tv tuners
16GB of Ram
Radeon 5450 1GB
Blu Ray Drive
Case is Silverstone Grandia GD01 HTPC Case this can house 6 drives internally and comes with a card reader.
4 2TB drives
1 3TB drive
1 1TB drive

3 Drives in a Hornettek esta / USB3 enclosure (using port multiplied esta) Usb 3 kept dropping out.

any how this baby runs, as a CCTV server / Download server / My Movies server/client / PLEX server. And finally Media centre serving 3 Xbox 360s with live and recorded TV.

It doesn't skip a beat and is on 24/7.

My advice the Silverstone is a great choice of case and the i3 should be more than enough processing power.

 

[atmax1]

I have a system very similar to what you are looking at.

My Specs

Core i3 3220
Asrock P67 extreme 6
3 DVB-t2 and 3 DVB-t tv tuners
16GB of Ram
Radeon 5450 1GB
Blu Ray Drive
Case is Silverstone Grandia GD01 HTPC Case this can house 6 drives internally and comes with a card reader.
4 2TB drives
1 3TB drive
1 1TB drive

3 Drives in a Hornettek esta / USB3 enclosure (using port multiplied esta) Usb 3 kept dropping out.

any how this baby runs, as a CCTV server / Download server / My Movies server/client / PLEX server. And finally Media centre serving 3 Xbox 360s with live and recorded TV.

It doesn't skip a beat and is on 24/7.

My advice the Silverstone is a great choice of case and the i3 should be more than enough processing power.

Thanks this is what I wanted to know, I will stick with the i3 then.