Want to build an energy-efficient HTPC/file/media server

[flexy]

I am currently running an ancient desktop system as HTPC (Athlon 64, some Nforce board) with an AMD HD 6450 24/7 and it serves only those purposes:

98% as storage, file server for movies, backups etc.
2% when we watch movies, then we play through this PC on the big screen. System is running Win 7.

My main concern is the power-usage and the silliness for having this desktop running 24/7.

I was eying a true NAS like a Synology DS215j which would be perfect for accessing files over the net, but then I hear that the CPU power of such a NAS is not sufficient say if I wanted to actually run a media server like Emby or Kodi.

(I experimented with media servers in the past and I *definitely* want to keep this option on the table. TBH, when I spend like €150 on a Synology and it turns out it's too "weak" for a media server and is only good as an "box for HDs" then I think I waste my money.)

An ITX system like Atom 330 based etc. also seems to be entirely unsuitable.

So my question is, what (cheap) system should I update this PC to so I have a small, power-saving media/file server that uses less power for 24/7...but on the other hand would be strong enough for a media server like Kodi?

(The recent system I built for my wife is a simple i5 system but a halfway modern i5 system would cost me about €200 in parts which I think is a little over my budget for this purpose.)

(The wife's system I just replaced is a Q6600 system on some Asus Rampage formula board, but this uses WAY too much power so I don't even bother replacing the Nforce HTPC with this one. I need something modern and energy efficient.) I have a feeling I need to build another i5 system if I want something halfway passable?

 

[smitbret]

I am not sure where you got the idea that Kodi requires a powerful server. Kodi is the user interface on the playback end of things. All you really need is a "box of HDDs". Kodi is then configured at the HTPC end your library is built there based on the files and folders in the NAS/Server. If you know your playback devices have broad codec & container support, a cheap NAS will be just fine.

 

[Engineer]

Don't know if the embedded boards that use the Intel N3700 (4 cores - 1.6GHz with 2.4GHz Turbo - 6 Watts) are enough. I used an Asus ITX board with Core I3 4130T. Also used a PicoPSU to keep noise and power down even lower. Ends up pulling 19W at the wall (probably more at full load) with 16GB DDR3, 120GB Intel SSD, 2GB WD Green drive, PicoPSU. No optical drive though.

The board and chip cost $200. Can probably get a cheaper board but I wanted certain features and an Intel NIC.

My SuperMicro N3700 system (8GB with 128GB of storage) pulls 10-11W at the wall. Having issues with 3 of the 4 LAN ports on it and am working with SuperMicro to try to resolve it.

 

[hhhd1]

you need a motherboard with a mobile chipset, like the motherboard in those:

http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-Barebone-GB-BXI3-4010-i3-4010U-1-7GHz/dp/B00FP4MWUW/
http://www.amazon.com/i3-3227U-1-9GHz-Barebone-System-ZBOXNANO-ID63-U/dp/B00DDXQGSQ/

those could use less than 10w at idle, maybe even less than 5w.

i found them by searching for 'hm87' and 'hm77' , which are some of the most used mobile chipsets.


or, you could use a laptop, with usb storage,
at idle with the laptop lcd turned off, it could use well less than 5w.

 

[LTC8K6]

It sounds like it would be idling at low power nearly all of the time, even if you had an i7 desktop system.

 

[Magic Carpet]

Don't know if the embedded boards that use the Intel N3700 (4 cores - 1.6GHz with 2.4GHz Turbo - 6 Watts) are enough. I used an Asus ITX board with Core I3 4130T. Also used a PicoPSU to keep noise and power down even lower. Ends up pulling 19W at the wall (probably more at full load) with 16GB DDR3, 120GB Intel SSD, 2GB WD Green drive, PicoPSU. No optical drive though.

What case you were using for that build? I wonder, what would be the most compact enclosure that could fit some PicoPSU and optical drive.

 

[Engineer]

What case you were using for that build? I wonder, what would be the most compact enclosure that could fit some PicoPSU and optical drive.

For the Core I3-4130T, I already had an Acer small form factor case with SFF power supply. I junked the supply and put the PicoPSU in there. No DVD drive (no space). The case is bigger than I want but it fits nicely in my entertainment center and has a side power button with light (can see when on shelf).

For the N3700 board, I picked up an Antec ISK-110 case with built in 90W fanless power supply. There's no expansion slots but I don't need them. There's also no room for an optical drive nor 3.5" drives. Will accomidate 2 - 2.5" drives though. Since it's fanless, it is obviously quiet.

I use a USB optical drive for the Acer case and since the N3700 board has an IPMI port with virtual CD/DVD mapping, I simply map ISO images across the network to it when I need to do something with a CD/DVD. Of course, this isn't practical for HTPC viewing of DVD's, etc.

 

[hhhd1]

googled "qm77 motherboard" found those:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813153253

^ you can have an i7 quad core in this, while still being very efficient.


http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/Xeon/QM77/X9SPV-M4.cfm


you can also try googling newer chipsets, like qm87/hm87 .etc

 

[dave_the_nerd]

98% as storage, file server for movies, backups etc.
2% when we watch movies, then we play through this PC on the big screen. System is running Win 7.

Okay, so this means you need something with video output. Most Synology-type dedicated NAS boxes don't do that.

I was eying a true NAS like a Synology DS215j which would be perfect for accessing files over the net, but then I hear that the CPU power of such a NAS is not sufficient say if I wanted to actually run a media server like Emby or Kodi.

Meh, most of 'em are alright, especially if you get a higher-end one with an Intel CPU in it.

But then you have to get another device to run your TV, like a ChromeCast or something.

(I experimented with media servers in the past and I *definitely* want to keep this option on the table. TBH, when I spend like €150 on a Synology and it turns out it's too "weak" for a media server and is only good as an "box for HDs" then I think I waste my money.)

An ITX system like Atom 330 based etc. also seems to be entirely unsuitable.

So my question is, what (cheap) system should I update this PC to so I have a small, power-saving media/file server that uses less power for 24/7...but on the other hand would be strong enough for a media server like Kodi?

(The recent system I built for my wife is a simple i5 system but a halfway modern i5 system would cost me about €200 in parts which I think is a little over my budget for this purpose.)

(The wife's system I just replaced is a Q6600 system on some Asus Rampage formula board, but this uses WAY too much power so I don't even bother replacing the Nforce HTPC with this one. I need something modern and energy efficient.) I have a feeling I need to build another i5 system if I want something halfway passable?

Honestly, I think you could probably do everything you want with a Raspberry Pi 2 and a USB multi-drive enclosure. But if you like running Windows, the Atom-based options mentioned upthread are probably your best bet.