Spec me a PC please

Jasseh · 21 Aug 2013 at 11:25

Looking to build a PC to be used for storing and playing 100,000+ songs to be used in a bar.

Good quality sound card needed.
No overclocking required.
~~SSD~~ + HDD (with possible RAID backup on mid/high options).
Not sure about OS yet so leave that out of spec.

Low, mid and high budget options please, not sure what exact budget is yet.

Thanks

s1xtyn1n3 · 21 Aug 2013 at 11:43

Just buy an HP ProLiant G7 N54L - there's deals with £100 cashback making it around £130 which is a bargin - takes a half height PCI express card so have options there for the soundcard also.

Jasseh · 21 Aug 2013 at 13:44

s1xtyn1n3 said:
Just buy an HP ProLiant G7 N54L - there's deals with £100 cashback making it around £130 which is a bargin - takes a half height PCI express card so have options there for the soundcard also.

That could work, thanks

. Would just need to add a couple of 2TB hard drives (RAID1 for backup) and a decent half height sound card.

s1xtyn1n3 · 21 Aug 2013 at 14:22

It'll do RAID1 no problem - I have a couple of these at home because of how cheap they are - the build quality is server grade so its pretty amazing value.

Not sure if it will affect the quality or not, but USB sound cards may also be a solution.

Jasseh · 21 Aug 2013 at 15:18

s1xtyn1n3 said:
It'll do RAID1 no problem - I have a couple of these at home because of how cheap they are - the build quality is server grade so its pretty amazing value.

Not sure if it will affect the quality or not, but USB sound cards may also be a solution.

Yeah, a friend at work has an older model of it at home too. He said that should be fine. Should hopefully be cheaper to run than a custom PC build too, right?

I don't think I'll need to go with USB sound card, just gotta check reviews on a few before deciding which half height one to buy.

s1xtyn1n3 · 21 Aug 2013 at 15:40

It's power consumption is pretty minimal but obviously starts to go up if you fill it with hard drives. I have both the N54L and the previous model, the N40L at home - I use the N40L as a home server for sharing files and hosting the odd bit of web stuff and the N54L as an HTPC.

I've upgraded the N40L to 8GB of ECC RAM (it only has 2 banks) and I have put an ATI 5450 into the N54L. It's such a versatile little machine

Jasseh · 21 Aug 2013 at 17:53

s1xtyn1n3 said:
It's power consumption is pretty minimal but obviously starts to go up if you fill it with hard drives. I have both the N54L and the previous model, the N40L at home - I use the N40L as a home server for sharing files and hosting the odd bit of web stuff and the N54L as an HTPC.

I've upgraded the N40L to 8GB of ECC RAM (it only has 2 banks) and I have put an ATI 5450 into the N54L. It's such a versatile little machine

It looks like the cashback offer requires the purchase of either Windows Server 2008, 2012 or SBS 2011 to qualify. Still looks like a good option though.

I've been offered an extra 2GB to put it up to 4GB total for only £5, don't think it'll need more than 4GB.

s1xtyn1n3 · 21 Aug 2013 at 19:31

Sucks about the OS but still a good deal as you say.

Jasseh said:
I've been offered an extra 2GB to put it up to 4GB total for only £5, don't think it'll need more than 4GB.

Just remember it only has 2 slots for RAM although if i remember correctly, it does only ship with one DIMM.

Jasseh · 21 Aug 2013 at 20:11

s1xtyn1n3 said:
Just remember it only has 2 slots for RAM although if i remember correctly, it does only ship with one DIMM.

Yeah, checked that already. Ships with 1 2GB stick, the 2GB I've been offered is one that shipped with the older model my friend at work bought, he upgraded to 8GB and still has the 2GB it came with.

s1xtyn1n3 · 21 Aug 2013 at 20:49

Cool, I gave mine to a mate as well when I upgraded when ECC RAM prices hit rock bottom a couple of years ago. I got 8GB, he got a matching pair - win win!