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Cheap PC build for plex/media server

  • 08-05-2014 12:29pm
    #1
    Tinie
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,402 ✭✭✭


    So looking to build a cheap desktop tower that I can leave running for when at home for streaming web players and media content over plex to chrome cast etc. So power consumption might be a consideration. Thanks in advance. I know that I would need a decent CPU for processing the data but I think I might be able to make a cheap basic build for these, as I think this will work out cheaper and more beneficial than building a NAS as I have no experience with them. Also i think an mATX build might be better to save on space but I wouldnt be sure if it will add a lot to the budget to be worth it. What do you guys think?

    Would need at least a 1tb WD Blue or would I be better off getting a WD Red HD?

    1. What is your budget?
    Approx €350 but as low as possible preferably.

    2. What will be the main purpose of the computer?
    Media streaming and playback/web browsing only. No gaming, intensive processing etc.

    3. Do you need a copy of Windows?
    No

    4. Can you use any parts from an old computer?
    No

    5. Do you need a monitor?
    No

    6. Do you need any of these peripherals?
    Basic dvd drive, wireless card if cheap enough

    7. Are you willing to try overclocking?
    No

    8. How can you pay?
    Paypal/visa/bank transfer

    9. When are you purchasing?
    Within a month

    10. If you need help building it, where are you based?
    Can build myself.


Comments

  • #2
    Serephucus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,181 ✭✭✭Serephucus


    Are you planning on having your media stored locally? Do you want any sort of redundancy, etc.?

    Just so you know, setting up a NAS really isn't difficult. My server is just an mATX Win7 machine, running FlexRAID. I can remote into it using Windows Remote Desktop, install Plex, Minecraft servers, backup software, etc. and it's all just standard network share type stuff through Windows.


  • #3
    Tinie
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,402 ✭✭✭Tinie


    Serephucus wrote: »
    Are you planning on having your media stored locally? Do you want any sort of redundancy, etc.?

    Just so you know, setting up a NAS really isn't difficult. My server is just an mATX Win7 machine, running FlexRAID. I can remote into it using Windows Remote Desktop, install Plex, Minecraft servers, backup software, etc. and it's all just standard network share type stuff through Windows.

    Yeah id be having my video collection stored locally on the hard drive within the machine since I can use google music for my music collection on chrome cast. Id also want it for the plex channels for on demand media.

    Whichever is cheaper would be good, but if there is not much of a difference in building a budget desktop with streaming in mind, then id probably go for the desktop due to having experience with them.

    If a NAS is better then, if you want, id be grateful if you could recommend me a cheap NAS setup build for HWVS or wherever. Cheers


  • #4
    Serephucus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,181 ✭✭✭Serephucus


    What I'm trying to say is that my NAS is a desktop. It just happens to have a tonne of hard drives in it, and run an application (FlexRAID) within Windows. It depends what you're looking for.


  • #5
    Tinie
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,402 ✭✭✭Tinie


    Serephucus wrote: »
    What I'm trying to say is that my NAS is a desktop. It just happens to have a tonne of hard drives in it, and run an application (FlexRAID) within Windows. It depends what you're looking for.

    Oh right, i thought you meant you had a NAS enclosure and the likes.

    But yeah, id be going for something similar. Id be just leaving the desktop in a room and connecting it to the router via a homeplug, and controlling it when needed via remote on my tablet/phone. The machine would be used for streaming via plex primarily. Id probably not even need to use it for anything else considering I can use chromecast for browsing.

    Id be just buying a 1 or 2tb HD and leaving it at that as id never really need more than that at least not for a long time.


  • #6
    Serephucus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,181 ✭✭✭Serephucus


    Seems a bit of a waste to build such a machine for 1-2TB of storage to be honest. Might be better just picking something up off of Adverts or similar.

    Anyway, this is one I threw together. You'll be able to run up to six 3.5" drives with this setup, though you'd need to pick up a SATA expander card (around €50 for a 4-port one) if you wanted to do that in the future.

    I didn't run it through geizhals.de yet, so you could save a bit there.

    Item|Price
    ASRock H81M-ITX, Sockel 1150, ITX|€54.85
    FRACTAL DESIGN Node 304 schwarz, mini-ITX, ohne Netzteil|€71.39
    WD Green 2TB SATA 6Gb/s|€73.12
    SanDisk SSD 64GB 6,4cm S-ATA 600|€43.45
    Intel Celeron G1820T 2,4GHz Cache 2MB LGA1150 Tray CPU|€37.36
    4GB G.Skill RipJaws PC3-8500U CL7|€32.99
    be quiet! SYSTEM POWER 7 300W|€30.97
    Shipping|€11.99
    Total|€356.12


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