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HTPC + Windows Home Server

  • 18-04-2012 8:39pm
    #1
    sink
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,314 ✭✭✭


    Ok so here is something a little different. I currently have a HTPC that is 4 years old, specs below. It's a little noisy and slow for my liking not being able to decode 1080p without turning off aero, and slowing right down when extracting large files to become unusable and it also lacks storage capacity with only 2 internal 3.5" bays, all of which is causing me to think of upgrading. I leave it on all the time running applications like FileZilla, SABnzbd and UltraVNC, which I can access remotely.

    What I'm thinking of doing is taking out the old components and using them to build a new box with lots of storage bays running Windows Home Server 2011 and putting new components in my existing HTPC case. I would leave the server on all the time and have the HTPC sleep when not in use. Does anyone here have any experience of WHS 2011? Is it any good? Can it run all regular windows software like the ones I mentioned in the previous paragraph?

    Specs of existing HTPC

    Case | Antec Fusion 430 Silver, 430w PSU,
    Mobo | Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H, AMD 780G m-ATX
    CPU | AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 3.0GHz (stock cooler)
    Memory | 2 x 1 GB A-DATA DDR2 PC6400
    Optical Drive | LG Blu-Ray DVD-burner, GGW-H20L, 6x, HD-DVD Reader
    Soundcard | Creative SB X-Fi Xtreme Music
    HDD | 2 X 1TB internal + 1 X 2TB USB 2.0 external
    OS | Windows 7 Home Premium


    Proposed new server

    Noise or aesthetics are not a concern as this will be kept out of the way. It will be used for downloading & extracting large files (NZB's) and sharing them on the home network. Will be constantly on.

    Case | BitFenix Merc Beta | €31.61
    Mobo | Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H, AMD 780G m-ATX |
    CPU | AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 3.0GHz (stock cooler) |
    Memory | 2 x 1 GB A-DATA DDR2 PC6400, 2GB DDR2 Corsair TwinX XMS2 PC6400 | €28.51
    Optical Drive | LG GH24NS70 Super Multi - DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM drive - Serial ATA | €16.81
    HDD | 2 X 1TB internal, 2 X 500GB, 1 x Seagate Barracuda 7200 3TB | €148.31
    PSU | 430W PSU which came with Antec Fusion 430 |
    SATA | DIGITUS DS-30104 PCI-E x4 SATA II Controller (4 ports)* | €58.16
    OS | Windows Home Server 2011 64-bit | €39.32
    Total| | €283.4

    *Mobo only has 5 SATA ports, am I right in thinking that a PCI-E x4 card can fit into a x16 lane?

    Proposed new HTPC

    Looking for silent as possible. Mainly used for video and music. Will be in sleep mode when not in use.

    Case | Antec Fusion 430 Silver |
    CPU | Intel Core i3-2120T Box, LGA1155 | €107.86
    Cooler | Suggestions? Looking for absolute silence |
    MOBO | MSI H67MA-E35 (B3), Intel H67, mATX, DDR3 | €70.72
    RAM | 4GB-Kit Corsair DDR3 PC1600 C9 Classic | €23.70
    PSU | be quiet! STRAIGHT POWER BQT E9-400W 80+Gold | €60.39
    SSD | Crucial C300 128GB SSD* |
    Optical Drive | LG Blu-Ray DVD-burner, GGW-H20L, 6x, HD-DVD Reader |
    Soundcard | Creative SB X-Fi Xtreme Music |
    OS | Windows 7 Home Premium |
    Total | | €262.64

    *Already own, currently in my games-pc which I will upgrade to Crucial M4 256GB SSD - €263.51

    I'm also considering upgrading the soundcard to a Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD - €179.99.
    I currently have the X-Fi Xtreme Music outputting DTS connect over SPDIF, and every so often it cuts out for a few seconds, which is really annoying, but I think this may just be down to high CPU load. I have a really nice Onkyo A/V receiver and 7.1 Tannoy speakers, will there be a noticeable increase in sound quality, especially with music?

    Any thoughts?


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