Small and cheap home file/media server

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Corvac

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Hi there

I am looking at building a small and cheap (if possible) little media server.

I would like to install this next to my TV, and use the box to do the following:
1. Run downloads
2. Stream videos via HDMI to TV (Running PLEX or similar software)
3. Be used as a file backup device (RAID not required) - Backing up laptop once a week.

I was looking at some of the mini-itx cases, but they seem to either be noisy or very expensive.

Any advice? I am very out of touch when it comes to hardware, so please excuse (and assume) my ignorance. That being said I am going to try my hand at a Linux installation so I am not looking at any software costs for the rig.

Am I going to be better off just buying a PS3, and perhaps have a connection to a raspberry pi and an external hard-drive?

Getting a gaming console is on the horizon, but I wanted a quick replacement for the old laptop that we used to have streaming shows. (it has died a horrible screaming death of failed hard-drive)
 
I use an HP N40L microserver for precisely those requirements. Backs up my various PCs and laptops around the house; operates as my primary media centre in the lounge; hosts all of my content for streaming to other devices around the house; and acts as a central storage unit for my home office...
 
Thanks for the blazingly fast response.

I was actually looking at the microserver, but hoping to get something cheaper, as I have a much lighter hardware requirement than most. It looks like the N40L is no longer stocked anywhere (that I could quickly find), and the N54L at WOOT is at R2 400. Then with a 1T harddrive, I am pushing R3 000.

This puts me again firmly into "just buy a PS3, and get it to connect to an external" territory....
 
Corvac said:
Thanks for the blazingly fast response.

I was actually looking at the microserver, but hoping to get something cheaper, as I have a much lighter hardware requirement than most. It looks like the N40L is no longer stocked anywhere (that I could quickly find), and the N54L at WOOT is at R2 400. Then with a 1T harddrive, I am pushing R3 000.

This puts me again firmly into "just buy a PS3, and get it to connect to an external" territory....
Click to expand...

I have the PS3 setup.

I like it but there are a few things:

1: The PS3 has the copyright protection built in. At the moment there is a bit of an issue with blueray rips where the sound cuts out. Older more 'rough' media centres don't have this.
2:I have noticed with the full HD content there is often a jitter, but I am streaming over wireless. I think its the hardware, will still have to test over LAN
3: Netflix and other services only work if you are logged in to the PSN. So If they have downtime you can't use those services.
 
It's very unlikely that you will find anything (new) in the form factor you want for less than the price of the Microserver.
 
What about building a server up? I have looked around a bit and found some epic mini chasis, but it seems always at a much higher cost than the off the shelf microserver. Is this simply how the hardware is priced? Or will I be able to get a similar priced machine if I look for the right components?

Ps. Thanks for the responses so far... very helpfull!
 
What about a basic NUC with external drives? Or a RPi?
 
You can always build a NAS with an AMD E350 (integrated into motherboard) - eg. http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18&products_id=712
Then you just need a case, RAM, PSU and hard drives.

The advantage of that CPU and motherboard combo is that you don't need another dedicated graphics card to use it as a HTPC!

Update:
I hope that combo is still available, because like Wootware lists it as EoL !
 
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Pada said:
You can always build a NAS with an AMD E350 (integrated into motherboard) - eg. http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18&products_id=712
Then you just need a case, RAM, PSU and hard drives.

The advantage of that CPU and motherboard combo is that you don't need another dedicated graphics card to use it as a HTPC!

Update:
I hope that combo is still available, because like Wootware lists it as EoL !
Click to expand...

Problem is finding a nice case to put it in. Found this awesome one on eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/JONSBO-U1-H...4263?pt=US_Computer_Cases&hash=item4ad1754847), but with shipping it's like R1,000 and then you still need a PSU. You can also get those Lian-Li ones, but they also pricey.
 
Those E350s struggle a bit with XBMC skins (even with decent RAM) and some 1080p content. Moving forward the E350s also won't be the best choice. They're good bang for the buck for downloaded content up to 1080, but beware that you might still get choppy playback at that resolution depending on how it was encoded, and it is notorious for choppy playback of streaming HD content as they often fall back on the processor with flash and silverlight streams from content providers like Netflix. I've read reports of the E350 struggling considerably with Netflix 720p content.

If you intend the box to be multipurpose including HTPC then the E350 is probably not the best bet...
 
I assume that the Intel D2700DC will have the same performance issues as the AMD E350?
 
Pada said:
Thanks DJ. I didn't realize that AMD CPU was so limited!
Click to expand...

It will run XBMC and up to a certain limit with HD content it is fine, but for streaming HD it's not right, and it's just not suitable for a future-proof system at all...

Corvac said:
I assume that the Intel D2700DC will have the same performance issues as the AMD E350?
Click to expand...

That's even worse than the E350. Most integrated Intel boards are severely limited in the sense that you won't run a Linux distro at all, so your only bet is Windows, and even then these cheap boards struggle quite a bit. Even the 2800MT variants aren't really the best bet for HTPCs.

In terms of integrated boards, they are limited. That's just the nature of them. Luckily the new Nvidia tech like the Tegra K1 is going to be released to the public (hopefully) soon. They're incredible little things at a really good price point, but only available to devs at the moment. Why not rather buy a decent board, i3 processor, some ram, and a box, and build it yourself? Works out slightly more expensive on the CPU front but at least you can be sure that you won't need a new HTPC when tech changes on the media front and you can be sure that your BR and mkv files will always work. Also means you don't need to worry about if you ever decide to go for a Netflix subscription or similar.

I am busy putting together a company that will sell preconfigured XBMC media boxes at a really decent price, in beautiful boxes. If you can hold off a little (about 2 months) then I'll organise one for you at a discount. Alternatively, if you don't want to wait that long, PM me with your budget and I'll see what I can put together as a once-off kinda thing for you...
 
Another consideration when future-proofing your HTPC build is the consideration for deinterlacing of live content. I know that MultiChoice are considering media centre box integration at some point. I also know of a new provider readying themselves to hit the SA shores. You have to consider that at some point you might want to be able to capture your tv content which will require deinterlacing, and therefore a better CPU, or at least a better integrated graphics system like the i3 affords.

In addition, if you're running Windows you'll get decent BR support and those small, integrated boards just won't cut it...until things like the Jetson K1 are released. I know that Lenovo are introducing their range of smart TVs with the K1 system running Android OS. Quite a cool system if that hits SA shores...
 
So sounds like HP Proliant N54L might be challenged. Added a GT210 card to system. But havent used it as struggling to connect win xp desktops to Windows home server 2011.
 
Using hpn54l and playing fine on samsung tv via serviio.
 
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