Hi

 

Being new to all this, I would appreciate your comments:

 

I would like to put together a media server to stream mostly DVD-quality .mp4 to my 1080p tv, in combination with Asus O!Player HDP-R1.  Also to stream .mp3.  And to store and share photo files within the home network.  Photo processing will be done on my Windows XP PC.  I would like to keep the processed files on the media server, and to back them up to a portable HDD from there, ideally using the Syncback SE programme I have installed on my Windows PC.

 

My proposed hardware list is as follows:

 

Mobo Asus P5QL-CM http://www.ebuyer.com/product/151483 iG43 Socket 775 onboard VGA GMA X4500 8 channel audio mATX Intel ICH10 Serial ATA-300 - connector(s): 6 x 7pin Serial ATA - 6 Device(s)  DDR2 SDRAM Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express 2.0 x16 ¦ 1 PCI Express x1 ¦ 1 PCI 4-pin ATX12V connector, 24-pin main power connector

Processor Intel Celeron E1500 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/165381 2.2Ghz Dual Core, 512Kb cache

HDD Western Digital WD15EADS http://www.ebuyer.com/product/160649

Case Codegen CSCG4U500 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/126991 7 3.5" bays, micro ATX,

PSU Corsair 400w CX http://www.ebuyer.com/product/150985 20+4pin Motherboard Power Connector, 4+4pin ATX12V Connector, 6x SATA Connectors

RAM Crucial http://www.ebuyer.com/product/119258 512MB DDR2 667MHz/PC2-5300 Memory Non-ECC Unbuffered CL5

Flash drive Lexar Firefly 2Gb http://www.ebuyer.com/product/122989

O/S unRAID Plus

Media Streamer Asus O! Play HDP-R1 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/193466

SATA cables Plexus

 

 

I saw something on the forum about WD EADS drives and jumpers and 63 vs 64, but could not understand the thrust of what was being discussed.  What should I be aware of?

 

Another hardware consideration: will I need a router to sit between the PC, server, O!Play, Broadband?  Can you give me an example of this?

 

Any assistance much appreciated

EADS drives are fine in unRAID, they work out-of-the-box.  EARS drives are the ones that require a jumper.  While they will work without the jumper, you will see a significant decrease in performance (speed).

 

I more or less just skimmed over your hardware list, but it looks fine to me.  512 mb of RAM, while it is the bare minimum, may not be enough.  Get two of those sticks for 1 GB of RAM and you will be fine.

 

Yes, you will need a router or a switch. 

Here is an example of a switch: link.

Here is an example of a router: link -that's actually the exact model that I'm currently using-

Which one you choose depends on what you want to do with your setup.  If you want any wireless devices to be in the mix, then you'll need a router.  If you don't mind running wires (Cat5e or Cat6) all over your house, then the switch will be just fine.  Keep in mind that the unRAID server and probably your Asus O! player will need to be wired, not wireless.