Help wanted - Home media server

[Mobius1X]

Hello everyone!

 

A friend of mine is looking to build a new home media server, and asked me for help on parts. I've only ever built desktops, so I am not in a good position to recommend anything to him. He has 4-5 HDDs he plans to use, and a case already, I just need help on parts. His budget isn't super low, but also not very high. Thank you in advance!

[Vitalius]

Define the budget a little more specifically please. $500-$700 is what I'm feeling like it's near. 

Does he have a plan for RAID or anything?
What kind of HDDs are they, specifically?
What all does he want the server to be able to do? i.e. stream media, backup files, etc.

All these things matter.

[kichilron]

It really depends on what else he wants to do with it.

 

Is it really just a Media-Server - or should it be used to be hooked up as a Media Centre to a screen as well?

 

If it's just for storage and maybe Media-Streaming it can be very very cheap to build one together, but the other variables must be known.

[Mobius1X]

Define the budget a little more specifically please. $500-$700 is what I'm feeling like it's near. 

Does he have a plan for RAID or anything?

What kind of HDDs are they, specifically?

What all does he want the server to be able to do? i.e. stream media, backup files, etc.

All these things matter.

 

 

It really depends on what else he wants to do with it.

 

Is it really just a Media-Server - or should it be used to be hooked up as a Media Centre to a screen as well?

 

If it's just for storage and maybe Media-Streaming it can be very very cheap to build one together, but the other variables must be known.

 

His budget is sitting around $400-500.

 

He doesn't plan on RAIDing at all, I'm not sure why. The HDDs are 1TB Seagates (not sure on specifics other than that).

 

The only thing the server will be doing is storing media files/streaming to a Gigabyte BRIX he said he'll be using as the HTPC.

[Vitalius]

His budget is sitting around $400-500.

 

He doesn't plan on RAIDing at all, I'm not sure why. The HDDs are 1TB Seagates (not sure on specifics other than that).

 

The only thing the server will be doing is storing media files/streaming to a Gigabyte BRIX he said he'll be using as the HTPC.

One last question that I forgot to ask. Location? I assume US, but could be wrong. 

Assuming US, that makes this fairly easy. 

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Celeron G1620 2.7GHz Dual-Core Processor  ($44.98 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H61M-S1 Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard  ($47.99 @ Amazon) 

Memory: A-Data XPG V1.0 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($39.99 @ Newegg) 

Power Supply: EVGA 430W 80+ Certified ATX Power Supply  ($34.99 @ Amazon) 

Total: $167.95

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-22 12:05 EDT-0400

 

Nothing else is really needed. This will be able to handle anything he wants to do. Use Amahi for the OS. It's free & versatile.

[brob]

Hello everyone!

 

A friend of mine is looking to build a new home media server, and asked me for help on parts. I've only ever built desktops, so I am not in a good position to recommend anything to him. He has 4-5 HDDs he plans to use, and a case already, I just need help on parts. His budget isn't super low, but also not very high. Thank you in advance!

 

Case form factor? Is a psu required?