brgipple

So drove you to replace the hardware in your setup?

I built my server in 2011 with an unused Motherboard/CPU/Memory from a PC intent on making a media server and data storage device. The build consists of: M.B. = ASUS, M2N-MX SE Plus, Which i needed to add a SATA card and a Gig Ethernet Card CPU = AMD, Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 5000+ @ 2.6 GHz Mem = Super Talent, 2Gig DDR2 667 - PC5300 HD = 6 drives total (1.5TB to 320Gb)(Parity, cache and 4 data) I just recently updated to a fresh unRaid 5.0.6 install and add the PLEX Media Server and a few plugins from Dynamix. PLEX is running the Library and tmp files from the cache drive only in its own share. Really have never used the server for what i wanted to do with it since i could never find a Bluray player that i liked for windows. so its been turned off for a lot of the time and only used for back ups and music server when on. This all changed when i found VLC and PLEX, now i want to use this for what i intended 3 years ago. What I've noticed is that the CPU is bouncing around 40 to 70% with nothing really going on in the server other than PLEX running, No transfer to or from the server. The memory usage is at 97% with 50Mb free, 1.7Gb cached, 170Mb used. Question on this, what is got all this memory cached? unRaid or PLEX? and what is it using it for. I have no idea what what these figures were when running unRaid 4.7 and no PLEX. So... with ability of PLEX to be run from my Xbox 360 in the near future the need for a HTPC is going away for i want to do. So what I'm asking is the old hardware going to continue to serve me well, or should i gut my HTPC and install its hardware into the server? Or would i just be wasting this hardware that i could maybe find a use for doing something else? HTPC build: (built around the same time as the server) M.B. = MSI, 870A-G54 AM3 AMD 870 (take out the big video card and install a basic card)(maybe add the SATA card from old build to gain expandability) CPU = AMD, Phenom II X4 840 Quad-Core 3.2GHz Mem = G.SKILL, Ripjaws 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 - PC3 12800 (maybe bump up to 8Gig?) If i do this, is there anything special that i should do? anything that i need to be careful of? Just remove the old hardware, install / hook up the new hardware, then assign the drives to the same locations and do a parity check? Thank you all for your time BRG p.s. is the preclear and format built into unRaid GUI or is it still through the console?

I was looking at the Fractal Design Arc Mini or the Define Mini cases for this build, but haven't found a place that sells them. anyone know where i can pick on up?

Hello all, this will be my first PC build and obviously my first UnRaid build. I have my daughters 2 year old PC that i would like to re purpose into my server. The server will be for home storage, streaming music and movies to personal PC's, laptops and a HTPC. What i'm wanting to know, is the below hardware a good place to start and any recommendations you have. i trolled the forum looking at different things and just confused myself more. MB is a ASUS M2N-MX SE Plus, link http://www.asus.com/Product.aspx?P_ID=loNjR1kiB2uHkijb Mother board has two SATA ports on the board, 2 PCI slots, 1 PCIe x16 slot, and a 10/100mb LAN connection. CPU is a AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ 2.6 Mhz, code name Brisbane, Link http://products.amd.com/pages/desktopcpudetail.aspx?id=40&f1=&f2=&f3=&f4=&f5=&f6=&f7=&f8=&f9=&f10=&f11=&f12=&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 Memory is 2 1G sticks of Super Talent DDR2 PC2-5300, sorry do not have the model number The max number drives in the server will be around 6 but i will start with 3 1.5TB drives. I was thinking of using WD Western Digital Caviar Green WD15EARS 1.5TB 64MB Link http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136513 I will be replacing the crappy PSU that came with the PC. I was hoping you guy's could help size the PSU i will need, i plan on buying a modular for a little cleaner install. CPU requires 65W, the Hard drives around 10W each from what i could find. i was think 500 -550 PSU would be big enough. I will also be replacing the Case, but not sure which yet. My Questions 1. I have read that AMD CPU's may not be the best thing for a Unraid Build, True? 2. Will the 10/100mb LAN do what I'm wanting to do? or should i add a 1G LAN card. i read that Unraid only will use 1 LAN connection, if i add a 1G card can i tell it to use that card instead of the on board. should i use the PCI or PCIe slot for the 1g card? 3. Are the WD Green drives good for 24/7 operation in a server like this? 4. Should i use a PCI or PCIe slot for my add on SATA controller? which one do you recommend that has 4 SATA ports on it. 5 anything i'm missing or any suggestions? Thank you all for your time in reading this and responding. Brian