New HTPC/Server Build

[maciekmiszkiel]

I finally got to build my computer as my budget was tight lately. Just wanted some opinion on the parts I chose. This build will serve as a server machine and also frontend XBMC as well as Usenet downloader. Pretty much everything in one box.

I already have a Mobo and GPU. Below is the list of the components:

1. OS Drives in Raid 1 config
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136195

2. Storage Drives Raid 5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152245

3. PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151087

4. CPU ( the reason why I went with this particular CPU, my board will support either this or i5 750 with the BIOS that's on it right now. )
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115213

5. Case Fans
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835608006

6. Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811163118


I still haven't made my mind about RAM. MAybe someone can throw some ideas at me.

I appreciate your opinion.

 

[Ken g6]

1. Throw out Sell your existing motherboard. LGA1155 is all the rage these days. AMD might be an option too.
2. I'm not seeing any reason for you to have a quad-core processor here, except maybe depending on what you're serv(er)ing. So what is that?
3. What's your budget? If we both missed any other questions from [thread=80121]the stickied thread[/thread], please answer those too.
Edit: 4. Consider an SSD for your OS drive. Eggsample: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148442

 

[maciekmiszkiel]

1. I'd rather stick with the board I already have. I don't have money to put up front for a new board and who knows how long will it take me to sell that one. I'm pretty happy with it anyway.
2. I'd rather go with Intel. Box will be serving Movies/Music and files. It will host Sickbeard and Couchpotato. At the same time I'll be watching movies on it as well. SOme encoding and decoding will be performed on it too.
3. I'd like to close it within a 1000 $ so I don't think SSD will be an option. Maybe in the future.

 

[Ken g6]

I'm sure at this point you're going to ignore any more advice from me. And what I'm laying out here will probably change tomorrow when October sales start. But I propose that you discard both your motherboard and the graphics card you bought (whatever it is), get this:

4x2TB drive = $320 (Can't fit any more; no boards seem to have more than 4 RAIDed SATA ports.)
Case: $140
Processor: $135
Mobo: $90
RAM: $42
430W PSU: $25AR
SSD : $200; or get one half the size for half the price and a 1TB Samsung Spinpoint for any extra files.

That's about $960. Then use onboard video, and use Quick Sync for any video transcoding needs.

How's that sound?

 

[mfenn]

I'm sure at this point you're going to ignore any more advice from me. And what I'm laying out here will probably change tomorrow when October sales start. But I propose that you discard both your motherboard and the graphics card you bought (whatever it is), get this:

4x2TB drive = $320 (Can't fit any more; no boards seem to have more than 4 RAIDed SATA ports.)
Case: $140
Processor: $135
Mobo: $90
RAM: $42
430W PSU: $25AR
SSD : $200; or get one half the size for half the price and a 1TB Samsung Spinpoint for any extra files.

That's about $960. Then use onboard video, and use Quick Sync for any video transcoding needs.

How's that sound?

Agree. $1K is a pretty decent budget for the machine that can easily fit all the parts under budget as you've demonstrated. Paying $290 for a Lynnfield at this point is silly (borderline crazy!).

 

[maciekmiszkiel]

what about the playback of 23.976fps. on Sandy Bridge? I don't fully understand issues associated with it ? English is not my first language and I've read on Anandtech that Sandy Bridge does not recognize the correct frame rate.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/...-core-i7-2600k-i5-2500k-core-i3-2100-tested/7


Is that going to be an issue if I go Sandy Bridge path ? In the article it is said that it can be corrected with a use of a discrete GPU which right now is supported by only these GPUs "AMD’s Radeon HD 5000 and 6000 series GPUs".

 

[lehtv]

That issue, if it's relevant to you, is easily fixed with a $25 HD 5450.

 

[mfenn]

what about the playback of 23.976fps. on Sandy Bridge? I don't fully understand issues associated with it ? English is not my first language and I've read on Anandtech that Sandy Bridge does not recognize the correct frame rate.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/...-core-i7-2600k-i5-2500k-core-i3-2100-tested/7


Is that going to be an issue if I go Sandy Bridge path ? In the article it is said that it can be corrected with a use of a discrete GPU which right now is supported by only these GPUs "AMD’s Radeon HD 5000 and 6000 series GPUs".

Basically, if you don't understand the 23.976 issue, it probably doesn't apply to you. :awe: It also doesn't apply to you if you don't have TV that can take a 23.976 input.

In short, Sandy Bridge sometimes doesn't properly lock in the the frame rate to 23.976 for content that requests it, but instead uses 24. That means that every ~42 seconds, you will get a frame that stays on the screen for 0.084 seconds instead of 0.042 seconds.

 

[maciekmiszkiel]

If I get a discrete gpu that shouldn't be a problem though ?

 

[mfenn]

That's correct, AMDs handle it no problem.

 

[maciekmiszkiel]

I'll have to go over my options then. I've put the mobo out for sale on eBay but if no one buys it within a week I'll just go with 1156 socket.

 

[maciekmiszkiel]

Thanks for all of your input.

 

[mfenn]

No problem.