Media Server

tavernman

enfield_freddy wrote: »

I am thinking of building a media server but I think I might be better to just buy a refurbished PC that can be adapted for the purpose. I am having some difficulty finding something close to the right spec, a dual core processor 2.6Ghz or higher, SATA III, gigabit ethernet, ability to hold 3 HD's (one for the OS and 2 for storage) and I would like at least one USB 3 port. Happy to try out linux but quite a few refurbs have Win7 thrown in.




actually I read that as being a stand alone media server with a gigabit Ethernet in order to watch online media.


the fact that he states ability to hold 3 HD's ,one for the OS 2 for storage tells me that he is not going to be networking the thing and YES he does state that usb will be used as an input method

So why suggest something can stream, a cheap PC with HDMI/other output can serve a TV or a HiFi system and 2 external USB caddies will do that, the word server still gives one the idea he wants to access it from more than 1 device, otherwise he would have asked for something to store his media on to watch/listen from 1 device.
Have a lovely evening and get home safely

Edited "tells me that he is not going to be networking the thing" then why does he need Gigabit ethernet

enfield_freddy

"otherwise he would have asked for something to store his media on to watch/listen from 1 device."


maybe the OP misquoted his needs , until further down the posting , where he stated it


I think the fact that he stated ability to hold 3 HD's ,one for the OS 2 for storage , suggests that this machine will be "serving" to provide media to a monitor (tv perhaps?)


my comments were to remove the un needed windows OS and to use a stand alone operating system , that uses a lot less memory and cpu cycles ,


at no point did I suggest a suitable file system for his storage devices.

Big_Graeme

When you two have finished your love in...

tavernman

Big_Graeme wrote: »

When you two have finished your love in...

Yeah I know but I quote "the original hard drive will be formatted as a Linux format , and will be useless for storeing data ,"

It is much better for storing data than Fat32/NTFS but hey what do I know

Edited- You got any suggestions Big G?

enfield_freddy

yup , and a "sacrificial" 30g SSD drive would be a better option than using the main drive for data , the OP states that he is willing to use one drive for the operating system and 2 for date .


http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.X30g+ssd&_nkw=30g+ssd&_sacat=0 shows that a very fast but "sacrificial" drive might be better cost wise

prowla

tronator wrote: »

Maybe because of the "ability to hold 3 HD's (one for the OS and 2 for storage)

I use a HP Microserver as my media server with 4 hard disk in the removable drive bays and an SSD with the OS in the CDROM bay.

Sure, it depends how hard the requirement for three disks is...

The Mac can hold two.

And of course it can stream from a Wi-Fi NAS.