Assassin's Simple/Beginner HTPC Buying Guide - Page 431

Originally Posted by Shanndogg

Finally getting my HTPC parts in, but I really need your help on my server build to go along with it. I got the template from the Renethx guide and am going with unRaid. Here's what I'm thinking so far for a 20 drive build:

Case: Antec Twelve Hundred V3
HDD Cages x4: ORCO SS-500 5 Bay
PSU: PC Power and Cooling Silencer Mk II 750W
CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230 Sandy Bridge 3.2GHz
Motherboard: Supermicro X9SCM-F MBD-X9SCM-F-O LGA 1155 Intel C204 chipset microATX with IPMI
Memory: Kingston ValueRAM KVR1333D3E9SK2/8G DDR3-1333 ECC CL9 2 x 4GB Kit
HBA x2: SUPERMICRO AOC-SASLP-MV8 PCI Express x4
Cable x4: 0.5m SFF-8087 to Four SATA Forward Breakout Cable (3ware CBL-SFF8087OCF-05M)
Flash Drive: SanDisk Cruzer Fit 4GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive

My question is mainly regarding the CPU. Originally I had it as a Xeon E3 1225 as in Renethx's guide, but I was recommended the E3 1230 instead since the motherboard already has a video chip. Furthermore, since I don't plan on running a virtualized served, I could save some cash and go with an i3.

Considering this will be paired with my HTPC as seen here, and that I want to do transcoding of full bluray files using Plex to Android phone/remote computers, what processor should I go with (or should I make any other changes)?

I am planning to do the transcoding from the server, but if it makes more sense to do it from the HTPC please let me know. I know a lot of you do what I am trying to set up so any insight would be great.

Originally Posted by Tyfoon2

I'm currently using a setup where my HTPC is acting as server and HTPC. It's getting a bit dated and lacking some performance especially when e.g. downloading/decompressing and playing HD content (or even navigating WMC). Also the HD setup is not the best.

A good time to replace everything.

The setup needs to:
a) Actsas the media server for the bedroom system (WMC), sonos etc.
b) is on 24/7 (as it also is used to manage all downloading, decompressing etc.). Have a 100mb optic fiber connection.
c) Is the DVBlink server (IPTV) for bedroom system and other devices (like Ipad etc.)
d) directly connected to my Receiver/TV (HDMI) running WMC (win 7) and used for live TV and all other Media (so core entertainment system)

So in short it's kind of a combo of a mediaserver and normal HTPC. No need to be perfectly quit or beautiful, just to be efficient, powerful (sometimes the un-rarring/parring of files and watching a 3d H264 movie hits the max perf of current system) and reliable (!).

I'm now selecting the hardware and will be using Ivy Bridge I5 3750.

• I want to protect everything better (had some HD failures in the past). Already purchased FlexRaid to handle this (incl. pooling)
• wil use approx 8-10 T of HD space max. So thinking of using 4x2T (WD green) of 3x 3T(Seagate)

My main question is with the harddisk setup:
What is the best way to configure this all knowing the usage scenario (especially the combo of being the main HTPC and downloading/unrarring/unparring). Do I put them all in a flexraid config? Do I use a seperate physical HD for the downloading part? Shout I put the OS on a SDD etc?

Any tips are very welcome!

Originally Posted by Tyfoon2

Are there no performance hits in read/write traffic when e.g. unrarring/parring and at the same time moving (or playing) from the same pooled drive? Sorry but I'm new to this polling thing.

p.s. I used to unrar/unpar all to a seperate drive from the ones actively recording TV from and from the one actively playing HD content. This created better overall performance but is also nor very practical.

Originally Posted by Shanndogg

What would you recommend, or where can I find a suggested list that will better suit my needs? Granted, there are less expensive options on Renethx's list, I just took the higher end one, but his guide is also about 5 months old and I am not able to determine what level of server meets my needs.

It will just be for my own personal use, I just want to make sure I get something that will be solid and able to do the transcoding as I mentioned as well as the in-house serving. I will reexamine the info on Flexraid as well and am wondering if you recommend Flexraid for a specific feature or ease of use over unRaid?

Originally Posted by Shanndogg

Just reviewed a lot of the info on the Flexraid site and it seems a lot easier to set up at first glance compared to unRaid (at least to me). I am also glad to see it does real time as well as snapshot- I previously was going off a comparison chart that indicated it only did snapshot. If I go with WHS and Flexraid (Raid-F + Pooling), it costs the same as unRaid, so looks like I am leaning that way now as you suggested.

Is your G530/H67 set up able to do the transcoding from Plex to your phone/remotely, or do you run it from your HTPC instead? I've been going back and forth between having the server do all the services like you mentioned or the HTPC. Any major pros/cons either way?

Originally Posted by LastButNotLeast

I feel the need for a new guide!
Yes, it works on the original file and doesn't modify it at all. It is suggested to set it to start 10 minutes after the show finishes recording; there's a "watch" folder, so it's automatic and you don't have to move anything.
http://babgvant.com/files/folders/dv...x/default.aspx
You need DVRMSToolbox (DTB) - 1.2.2.5 and DTBAddin - 1.0.0.7 (R3). It automatically installs a free version of Comskip (which is what it actually uses to detect the commercials), but you're much better off paying the $10 and getting the latest "donators" version (currently 81.036, 4/7/12) of Comskip:
http://www.kaashoek.com/comskip/
The setup of DTB is pretty straight-forward, but you can spend years tweaking the settings in Comskip. Fortunately, you don't HAVE to, but there are some defaults in the .ini file that do need to be changed. Not a big deal.

Originally Posted by ryanm1058123

been playing with my assassin htpc for a while now.. it is seriously perfect.

the only issue i have is that the processor (G630) isn't strong enough to use Dolphin (wii emulator). small potatoes though. does everything so well! (if i wanted a gaming machine i should have payed more from him)