After investing many hours in reading a lot of information on the web, I have finally decided to build myself an unRAID server. I'm also planning in installing PS3MediaServer on my server. I will use it to transcode my movies on the fly for my PS3.

 

Here is my problem. I'm a real noob when it comes to hardware. At this time, I'm thinking of using the following main components:

 

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-MA74GM-S2 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128342

Processor:  AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400 Brisbane 2.8GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core black edition Processor http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103289

Memory:  Transcend 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820208353

 

You will notice that those are quite inexpensive components but I'm on a really tight budget so that's what I'm looking at at this time. I also know these components work with unRAID which is another important factor at this point.

 

I have never done on the fly transcoding for 720p content so I really don't know if the above mentioned components can do the job. At this time, I only have a 720p plasma TV and I don't intend to upgrade for a while. However, I'd like to know if I would also be able to transcode 1080p content with this machine. You never know when Santa is going to bring a 1080p projector for the basement !!! My main goal, is to stream 720p content but I'll more than thrilled if it can also do 1080p.

 

You input would really be appreciated.

this boils down to your network connection.

 

Do you have a gigabit switch or Wireless N? If not then all this hardcore computer stuff is worthless as you'll need all the bandwith you can get to stream HD content.  Avg bandwith is 14MB/s (not mb) for HD content. Bigger pipes the better.

 

So in answer to your question: maybe.

 

You can get away with a less beefy cpu, more memory, but need gigabit at the MINIMUM

My system is:

AMD Athlon 64 3500+ with 1G RAM much older hardware no problem Transcoding 720P MKV using PS3MediaServer (just don't use forward or rewind ).

 

The post before me is 100% correct you need gigabit router or switch. Wired connection is a better choice for your PS3 to stream HD content.

 

I am streaming 1080P movies without problem on my wired network (I am not transcoding 1080P).

 

Hope this help.

Depends on many factors... not the least of which is the codec you use, the profile, and the bitrate.

unRAID will have no problem streaming the data fast enough over a gigabit network.  I don't think that's the issue.

 

The question is more on the effort required to do the real time transcoding.

 

My guess is that this setup will not have any problem, but only way to know for sure is to try it.

this boils down to your network connection.

 

Do you have a gigabit switch or Wireless N? If not then all this hardcore computer stuff is worthless as you'll need all the bandwith you can get to stream HD content.  Avg bandwith is 14MB/s (not mb) for HD content. Bigger pipes the better.

 

So in answer to your question: maybe.

 

You can get away with a less beefy cpu, more memory, but need gigabit at the MINIMUM

Yes I do have a gigabit switch.

 

My system is:

AMD Athlon 64 3500+ with 1G RAM much older hardware no problem Transcoding 720P MKV using PS3MediaServer (just don't use forward or rewind ).

 

The post before me is 100% correct you need gigabit router or switch. Wired connection is a better choice for your PS3 to stream HD content.

 

I am streaming 1080P movies without problem on my wired network (I am not transcoding 1080P).

 

Hope this help.

As I said above, I have a gigabit network and my PS3 and my future server will be wired to it.

 

Depends on many factors... not the least of which is the codec you use, the profile, and the bitrate.

To be honest, I haven't looked into that at this time. I mostly download 720p content from the internet so it is hard to know what codec was used to create the file. On the server end, I'm going to use what Romir (http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=3072.msg28571#msg28571) and/or maybe PsyVision (http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=3072.msg29439#msg29439) posted in the PS3mediaserver thread (http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=3072.0).

 

unRAID will have no problem streaming the data fast enough over a gigabit network.  I don't think that's the issue.

 

The question is more on the effort required to do the real time transcoding.

 

My guess is that this setup will not have any problem, but only way to know for sure is to try it.

I'm aware that the best way to know for sure is to try it but I'm really on a tight budget so I do not have the luxury of going by trial and error on this one. If the hardware does not do the job, I'll have nothing to do with it since the whole house is running on a Mac. I just want to be sure I've got plenty of processing power under the hood to do what I want to do. I'll be able to handle the software side. I just want to be able I've got the hardware I need for what I intend it to do.

Just fyi i stream 1080p fine to XBMC over a uber cheap 100mbit switch

you will be fine then if everything is hooked up via gigabit and everything negotiates at the full speed. the xbox streams 720pHD content over a cable modem. Granted it's compressed so if you are doing 1080p RAW that may be an issue.

 

 

My main goal is 720p as my screen is a 720p device but sometimes, one cannot find what he's looking for in 720p so it would be nice if 1080p could be streamed too but not a biggie it that doesn't work. I'll be more than happy if this hardware can transcode 720p on the fly and stream it over my gigabit network.

My main goal is 720p as my screen is a 720p device but sometimes, one cannot find what he's looking for in 720p so it would be nice if 1080p could be streamed too but not a biggie it that doesn't work. I'll be more than happy if this hardware can transcode 720p on the fly and stream it over my gigabit network.

 

so what is going to transcode your streams on the fly? Unraid won't do that at all, I take it the PS3 will or is that just a front end?

so what is going to transcode your streams on the fly? Unraid won't do that at all, I take it the PS3 will or is that just a front end?

As I said in my first post, PS3MediaServer installed on my unRAID server will do the transcoding.

That looks like a good motherboard you've chosen, I love Gigabyte boards and that is a decent price.

 

My only suggestion is to not spend so much on the CPU.  With 5 minutes of shopping around at the Egg, I found these few:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 7750 Kuma 2.7GHz

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200 Brisbane 2.7GHz

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400 Brisbane 2.8GHz

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5800+ Brisbane 3.0GHz

 

All of those are $20 or so less than the one you linked.  As I'm sure you've read, the unRAID server itself doesn't need much power under the hood.  Perhaps you need more power for the PS3MediaServer app, I don't know, so I only linked CPUs that are in the same range as your original.

 

My unRAID server is running with far less CPU power, only 2.0 GHz Dual.  I'm not doing any transcoding, though, so its still even a bit overpowered.

 

I would also suggest not spending as much on the RAM.  I picked up 4 GB of quality Corsair XMS DDR2 800 RAM for $25 (after MIR).  After another quick search, it seems that most 4 GB kits on Newegg are around $40-$50 right now, so you might want to wait for the next sale to save some money.  You can also sign up for their newsletter and they'll send you deals and promo codes by email. 

 

Good luck with your build, and have fun.

Sorry to double post, but I wanted to catch your attention.

 

This RAM is on sale today, with free shipping.  Slightly cheaper and better than the RAM you have linked:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211188&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL041609&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL041609-_-DesktopMemory-_-L0A-_-20211188

OK, I'm going to post what should have been obvious. 720p picture size does not automatically mean any specific bit rate. You can find 720p movies that are very compressed and do not have the bit rate of a 720p blueray (if such a thing exists). Just saying, 720p does not mean any particular bitrate or file size. The lower bitrate smaller file sized movies/tv shows should be much easier to transcode that say a full bitrate 1080p blueray.

 

Peter