Media server died, starting a plan for a new one

[Lazybones]

I have been using my previous workstation as my media server, and have my media files on my NAS.... Well my media service died (technically for the second time Guessing PSU or MB), so it is time to plan a replacement.

I have temporarily cloned the old server into a VM on my workstation but I am thinking it is time to combine the media server and nas as well as increase storage.

Now here is the problem.... I really like PLEX, however, i like PLEX for the trans-coding to the various endpoints. Although plex runs on QNAP and Synology NAS boxs now none of the affordable home ones use fast enough CPUs to trans-code.

My research shows that I basically need a dual core 2 Ghz processor or better so I am thinking an i5 bottom of the line. I will probably go linux for the OS again but maybe ubuntu instead of debian for better support of current packages.

The real question is getting the cost down. I would like to have a minimum of 4 TB in a redundant RAID, however looking at the 3TB drive costs I am thinking 6TB with 3 drives in software RAID5.
I would really like to find an affordable SMALL case as well.

I have been looking at mini and mico ATX boards to see what is there, making the whole setup small would be ideal, I don't want a large tower kicking around any more, I was also thinking I could use the system directly connected to a TV as an endpoint.

Anyone seen any interesting SMALL cases that can accommodate at least 3 drives, maybe 4?
Also any killer deals on CPU and MB kicking around?

[Thorin]

A question: what do you plan to do with your old NAS?  Is it going to be the backup for your RAID array in this box?

And sorry, I can't answer for the small cases or CPU/MB deals, other than to say the combos seem to save a bit of money.

[Lazybones]

Not sure what I will do with the old NAS... It isn't much more than a 2TB drive in a case.. The read/write performance is fairly poor on it..


I found a great case however not in stock, or nearly out. IDEAL for a build it your self NAS or Media server.

Fractal Design Array R2 Black Mini ITX Storage Computer Case 1X2.5INT 6X3.5INT 140mm Fan 300W PSU
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=53545&vpn=ARRAY-R2&manufacture=Fractal%20Design&promoid=1360

[Lazybones]

Second pick for a case at the moment is this one below, much less specialized but the price is right and it isn't overly big.

Fractal Design Core 1000 mATX Computer Case
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=58341&vpn=FD-CA-CORE-1000-BL&manufacture=Fractal%20Design&promoid=1360

[Tom]

I really like that first case for a storage box. The second one has 2 3.5" bays, which really isn't that great. Sure you can get a 2x5.25" to 3x3.5" adapter but those cost $50 or more.

[Lazybones]

5.25 to 3.5 rails are only about $3 to $6

I really only need a total of 3 or 4 3.5In drives.

Edit: after reading more closely and on another site I see the drive problem now. It will really only just fit 3 3.5 drives, which is enough but a bit limiting.

Looks like newegg.ca also stocks the first case which has two issues, price and lots of screws.

[Mags]

How about this one: http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product/product06.php?pr_index=625&cl_index=1&sc_index=25&ss_index=62&g=spec

Suppose to be good if you can find it: http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product/product06.php?pr_index=624&cl_index=1&sc_index=25&ss_index=62&g=spec

Good price and the drive space : http://www.bitfenix.com/global/en/products/chassis/prodigy/

Course if you want to be cool: http://www.pugetsystems.com/aquarium-computer.php?utm_source=Puget+Systems+Press&utm_campaign=89e0a82f6a-PRESS_01_09_2011&utm_medium=email

[Melbosa]

He LIVES!

Only advise I'd give is check out the air flow designs in the small cases.  I tried the small form factor cases in the past and had drives burn out because the airflow in the small cases wasn't designed properly.

[Lazybones]

Good price and the drive space : http://www.bitfenix.com/global/en/products/chassis/prodigy/

Hmm it appears that NCIX has a stock problem on BOTH of the cases I like the most.

[Tom]

Good price and the drive space : http://www.bitfenix.com/global/en/products/chassis/prodigy/

Hmm it appears that NCIX has a stock problem on BOTH of the cases I like the most.

I've found on some stuff they say they stock, they really don't. Some more obscure or niche stuff is full filled on demand from suppliers. Sometimes its marked clearly as such, but not always.

[Thorin]

Both the train and the aquarium cases are cool, nice find Mags!

[Tom]

Waii I get to be the resurrector today.

LIAN LI PC-Q25B:
http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product/product06.php?pr_index=584&cl_index=1&sc_index=25&ss_index=64&g=f
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112339

Super slick looking, its a Lian-Li, so the quality should be there, its not too horribly expensive, and it has 7 HDD bays. Would make for a very slick 10TB file server (7x2TB RAID6).

Makes me drool. If only there was one with 8 3.5" bays, and one 2.5".  That would be perfect.

The fractal design node seems to be the successor to the Array case?
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=75056&vpn=FD%2DCA%2DNODE%2D304%2DBL&manufacture=Fractal%20Design

Also a nice case, but only has 6 bays.

[Lazybones]

Hmm that LIAN LI is not bad...

I have had to shelve the rebuild for now... I dumping some more ram into my desktop and running the Linux media server under Hyper-V is working very well at the moment... I would love to get them separated and to increase my home storage but I have opted to purge old media and make space for now.

[Thorin]

Waii I get to be the resurrector today.

LIAN LI PC-Q25B:
http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product/product06.php?pr_index=584&cl_index=1&sc_index=25&ss_index=64&g=f
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112339

Super slick looking, its a Lian-Li, so the quality should be there, its not too horribly expensive, and it has 7 HDD bays. Would make for a very slick 10TB file server (7x2TB RAID6).

Makes me drool. If only there was one with 8 3.5" bays, and one 2.5".  That would be perfect.

The fractal design node seems to be the successor to the Array case?
http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=75056&vpn=FD%2DCA%2DNODE%2D304%2DBL&manufacture=Fractal%20Design

Also a nice case, but only has 6 bays.

porn for hardware nerds?

[Tom]

Hmm that LIAN LI is not bad...

I have had to shelve the rebuild for now... I dumping some more ram into my desktop and running the Linux media server under Hyper-V is working very well at the moment... I would love to get them separated and to increase my home storage but I have opted to purge old media and make space for now.

Yeah, I've got a build in mind for that case, but it's going to have to wait till I actually need it. Which might be a while

http://secure.newegg.ca/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=15917409

Thats what I have in mind. Note, you could build a nice little nas box for 1/3 the cost of that config. But that config gets you ECC ram, and support for the LSI SAS cards I have (most desktop boards don't support them at all).

porn for hardware nerds?

See above. (and the stack of 7 2TB harddrives that are on my desk, 1 3TB, and 2 more WD 2TB Green drives that I will never stick in a RAID array, ever).