HTPC / Server Components - Any Thoughts?

minutellim · January 7, 2016

This will be primarily used as a Plex box and storage. I will also use it to host my personal web projects and things. I will be running Ubuntu Server with Samba, Apache, MySql, etc. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I was hoping to get the cost down a little bit, but I can justify the price point if there's no way to cut costs. I was hoping to go with this motherboard (ASRock B150M-ITX), but it is not listed on PCPartPicker. Is this just not a well-known board? Anyone see any problems with it?

Thanks,

Michael

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 3.7GHz Dual-Core Processor ($128.80 @ Amazon)

Motherboard: ASRock H170M-ITX/ac Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard ($102.98 @ Newegg)

Memory: Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($69.99 @ Adorama)

Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($44.98 @ OutletPC)

Storage: Western Digital Red 2TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($84.00 @ Amazon)

Case: Fractal Design Node 304 Mini ITX Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($38.98 @ Newegg)

Total: $539.72

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-06 21:31 EST-0500

StackUnderflow · January 7, 2016

Given your component and CPU choice (assuming use with low profile cooler), you can fit this into a much smaller case (12-15L, Sugo 13 (small), RVZ01/2, Node 202 (console like), etc..., your current case is 20L). But for some of these cases you have to get a SFX power supply.

If you don't have a GPU, there are even smaller cases than the ones I listed above (all those cases support 10.5in dual slot GPU (up to titan x))

FAQBytes · January 7, 2016

You could always go used, but new does carry warranty. One suggestion I do have is if you plan to have a couple dozen people on your sites at a time, it might be worth looking at used RAM off Ebay, as 16 GB is a little low for that purpose.

EDIT: NOPE!!!! Not worth getting consumer RAM off Ebay.

minutellim · January 7, 2016

This will be used for storage as well. I haven't looked at all of the cases you mentioned, but I like the idea of being able to add storage as I need it. I would like it to have a 2.5" for SSD and at least 2x 3.5" slots for HDDs. If I ever need more storage than that, it will be a couple of years down the road, and I could just build a dedicated NAS.

I have looked at the RVZ line, but I don't really like the whole "Raven" branding, but it's still an option, I suppose. I also don't like the looks of any case I have seen with a full-size 5.25" bay for the optical drive. I just really like the look of the seamless front..

As for the personal projects I mentioned, there should never be more than myself on them. If they ever get to that point, I will use a dedicated host.