Build assistance

[Bobthelost]

Useage: Media PC, server, general purpose internet box. Dedicated gaming/number crunching PC exists so CPU power isn't a priority. Low noise and low power draw are primary requirements.

CPU:
What i want is enough CPU to run h.264 movie files (only little ones, DVD backups for the next few years, no HD content), surf the web and run a bit torrent client in the background (using RC4 encryption) while running a RAID5 array. I don't know how much CPU power i need for 264, nor do i know how much of that work load can be done by the GPU (more later here). Otherwise i would be looking at an AM2 Semperon.

Motherboard:
I need RAID5 as part of the onboard, i've checked for addon cards, they cost a small fortune. Decent onboard sound would be a definite advantage. 2/3 PCI slots for TV tuner card(s?) and possible sound card upgrade.

Graphics:
No gaming, dual output would be best but i can work with a single DVI output. Cheaper the better, if there's a good reason to spend more money on an addon card (such as it'd be needed for 264) then i'll do it otherwise onboard will be fine.

Hard drives:
4x250GB Samsung spinpoints in a RAID 5 array (should give me 750GB total?)

PSU+Case:
P150 i'm thinking, pretty and comes with a decent PSU. Not to mention quiet. Smaller form factor cases are welcomed, but they need to hold 4 HDs which limits the options. I am willing to suspend drives in the 5.25" bays. Look should be discrete rather than flashy, easily configured for low noise.

Ideas for the motherboard, CPU and alternative cases welcomed. I doubt i'll be overclocking, if it turns out i need more CPU than semperons then i might go EE. Cheaper the better.

 

[Bobthelost]

Don't all jump in at once will ya

[/shameless attention seeking bump]

 

[Talcite]

don't use the raid5 on a mobo. It's software raid, and raid5 software is really ******. Just get a dedicated controller card. It shouldn't set you back TOO much. You're probably looking at the newest models.

 

[Operandi]

CPU: I would think any AM2 X2 ore Core2 would be plenty.

Case: PC-7B with 120mm Yate Loons.

PSU: Seasonic S12 330-380.

Video: The ATi X1xxx series is supposed to have hardware h.264 encode and decode assist in hardware, so that could be useful.

 

[Lord Evermore]

Why in the world do you think you need a RAID 5 array?

 

[Bobthelost]

Originally posted by: Lord Evermore
Why in the world do you think you need a RAID 5 array?

I want decent file size and redundancy for when one of them dies, backups on a file system that size start to become... impractical. The only other way i can think of getting a 750GB storage with redundancy is with RAID 10 and 4x400GB drives, which will cost a hell of a lot more. (Or RAID 1 with 2 750GB monsters, which would cost around three times as much).

This might do the job, better?
If you can find a link with more information about CPU usage i'll think about it. But if i get any dual core CPU i suspect i'm going to have spare cycles coming out of my ears anyway.

I'll think about an X1300, thanks for the heads up.