WIP Build- Looking for Serving Media to HTPC /Some Transcoding/ Download via NZB

[lakerk]

Hi guys,

 

I've done quite a bit of research trying to get things all set up. I'm hoping to run Sonnar/Sickbeard/Couchpotato/Torrenting stuff while consuming low power/costing not too much. I may have 1-2 transcoding streams but that is it, as my HTPC is more than equipped to handle full uncompressed blu rays.

 

Case: Lian Li PC-Q25B $110

Mobo: ASRock H97M-ITX/ac $95 or Gigabyte LGA 1150 H97 $110

Processor: Intel Core i3-4360 $150

RAM:G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) $50

PSU:SilverStone Technology 450W SFX  $70

Drives: WD Red 4TB $150 x2 300

 

Total $775

 

I have a spare SSD for cache, and I will use one WDRed for parity for a total storage of 4GB at first.This build will also allow for some growth with room for more drives.

 

My questions:

• Can I do better for the price?
  
• Is there some upgrade I'm not seeing within spitting distance of my price? Within 150$ more at most
  

 

 

I would be super grateful for any help or suggestions guys

 

[tdallen]

It looks like you've done your research.  For another $150, it's worth considering a server class motherboard like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157466 with IPMI, and ECC RAM.

[00b5]

Assuming that the MB you pick supports VT-d, i'd strongly consider going for a cpu that supports it as well (pretty much any haswell i5, like an i5-4430). They are only about $175-$225 depending on which model/speed/etc you get.

 

This would then allow you (if you ever wanted) to do a VM with full passthrough (like you wanted to make an OE vm next to the server), or wanted to have a windows 10 machine/etc.

 

You may not want to do it, but you asked if anything was within spitting distance, and if it turns out you COULD have had full IMMOU for $30 now, vs deciding you want it later and buying a new CPU, its probably worth while.

[lakerk]

Assuming that the MB you pick supports VT-d,

 

This would then allow you (if you ever wanted) to do a VM with full passthrough (like you wanted to make an OE vm next to the server), or wanted to have a windows 10 machine/etc.

 

 

Can you talk to me more about why I would want to do this? I think I'm getting confused about what passthrough is.

[mr-hexen]

Assuming that the MB you pick supports VT-d,

 

This would then allow you (if you ever wanted) to do a VM with full passthrough (like you wanted to make an OE vm next to the server), or wanted to have a windows 10 machine/etc.

 

 

Can you talk to me more about why I would want to do this? I think I'm getting confused about what passthrough is.

 

Well, for a normal VM, you could just use the built in web based VNC viewer or remote desktop. With a GPU that is passed through you can just plug it into a monitor and use the full power of the GPU/

[00b5]

Assuming that the MB you pick supports VT-d,

 

This would then allow you (if you ever wanted) to do a VM with full passthrough (like you wanted to make an OE vm next to the server), or wanted to have a windows 10 machine/etc.

 

 

Can you talk to me more about why I would want to do this? I think I'm getting confused about what passthrough is.

 

Well, for a normal VM, you could just use the built in web based VNC viewer or remote desktop. With a GPU that is passed through you can just plug it into a monitor and use the full power of the GPU/

 

Right. A Virtual Machine (VM) has everything emulated, so the cpu has to intercept and redirect everything where it needs to go. This adds overhead. Overhead equals slowdowns. These days, hardware understands it can be virtualized, so it accounts for it and can often do a good job at being pretty fast.

 

But, accelerating video, 3d gaming, etc, just doesn't virtualize well. This is where the passthrough comes in. Instead of virtualizing a video card, you can actually access one natively. This also means that nothing else can access it. So you create a VM, but give it a REAL video card (passthrough). The best part is, in benchmarking for games/etc, often this results in near 100% native performance (there is always a small hit for the VM, no matter what).

 

A VM would also emulate a keyboard and mouse, and as hexen noted, you'd connect via remote desktop, or VNC, etc. Buy say you wanted a REAL keyboard and mouse (again, games are a good example), or a usb dongle to have a remote for a HTPC, etc. You could also pass through an entire USB controller, and now, it is also reserved for the VM.

 

All of these ideas/etc need a specific setup of hardware, and if you are interested in doing it (even a little, down the road), it is probably worth your while to get supported hardware now. That way, you can try it when you want, instead of say buying a $150 cpu now, and having to replace it with a $200-$500 one later on.

 

Lastly, here is a specific case. My server is a good size atx case in my basement. On the wall right behind it, is the primary TV watching area. I use a pi2 to play all the movies/etc from the server right now. If one day, I said, "why don't I just make a VM in my server, and run a few cables a few feet and have the HTPC be part of the box that is already on all the time and sitting right there", then i'll need to make sure to have something that supports passthrough (and add a video card with hdmi, and pass a usb controller) and run it all from one box.

 

Will I ever do it, I dunno, but its possible. Right now, my hardware doesn't support passthrough, so I can't even try. But some people are combining their server, local desktop, and htpc all into one machine/etc.

[mr-hexen]

I'm in the same boat (unRAID close to main TV but I don't have the right hardware for pass through).