Dear all,

I am a long time reader fo thsi forum and time has come to build my first unraid server.

Due to various budget issues (2 kids, lots of milk), I am leaning towards getting a used system to start and later gradually change it.

 

What I have found in a good price, is a system with the following specs:

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA P43T-ES3G

CPU: Intel Core2Quad q8300

CPU Cooler: Nexus LOW-7000 R2 Low-Profile CPU Cooler --> This can be changed day 1

RAM 4GB --> Will be upgraded to 16 GB

VGA ASUS 9600gt 512mb

Psu: Chieftek 650 watt --> This can also be changed to somethong more efficient

 

The goals for this server are:

1. Store music, photos

2. Have the ability to run one or two VMWares

3. Either playback directly to the TV (via HDMI) or XBMC from another PC may read the video files

4. Possible stream movies to a PS3

I plan to start with one parity disk and two data disks

 

Do you think it is sufficient for what I need?

 

Thanks in advance for the input

 

Regards

dkaris

That CPU will not pass a video card to a VM so you wont be able to do #3 on your list (direct to TV).

 

This setup will store and stream to XBMC/Kodi just fine.

 

I'd also change the Power Supply to a corsair unit for reliability.

 

What is your budget?

If you mean this PSU - CTG-650-80P - it is not single rail.

Thanks for the replies.

My budget is a bit tight for the moment.

 

I can get the system in discussion for 150 euros (around 170 usd)

 

Building from the beginning with up to date hardware will get high enough.

As said the idea is to start cheap and gradually upgrade.

 

As for the playback, not a great priority so no worries. Do you think the CPU is capable of transcoding so as to serve to ps3? I am talking about 1080p movies and possibly some 3d.

If that PSU I linked is the one you are talking about then you will need to be careful to not add too many drives.

Thanks for the replies.

My budget is a bit tight for the moment.

 

I can get the system in discussion for 150 euros (around 170 usd)

 

Building from the beginning with up to date hardware will get high enough.

As said the idea is to start cheap and gradually upgrade.

 

As for the playback, not a great priority so no worries. Do you think the CPU is capable of transcoding so as to serve to ps3? I am talking about 1080p movies and possibly some 3d.

 

Transcoding, probably fine for a single stream. But, even though your budget it tight, look into getting a raspberry pi2 as a media player after you get the server off the ground. Cheap way to get a good, well supported device to do 1080p via kodi/openelec.

 

That system will STREAM files/videos just fine. Its when you start trying to transcode, and then do a bunch of things (like one for your tablet, one for your roku, etc) that its going to start having issues.

The core2quad 8300 has a passmark of 3035. My Celeron G1840 has a passmark of 2956.

 

My celeron can handle a single low bitrate 1080p/720p stream while transcoding, but it's tight. Higher bitrate files stutter or buffer.

Hello,

@trurl: with regards to psu, I have no idea which one it is. In any case , I am reading a thread regarding psus so as to select the correct one.

 

@00b5 , @mr-hexen : Thanks for the info. No need for raspberry since an xbmc oriented PC already exists.

 

Any thoughts for vmwares? I think with the proper amount of ram, it will be OK.

 

VM's will work but don't expect the GPU to be usable for them, meaning no xbmc.