Help building htpc/router/server

[scottyboy87]

Hi my name is Scott I'm looking to build a htpc that will also serve as a end router/server if possible.

 

I need to run kodi on my TV 1080p and be able to play the odd game at ps3 quality graphics. Ie upto 720p at 30fps. Would also like to run to 2 monitors if possible so if wife is watching something on TV I can still play my game on another monitor if possible.

 

I also want to stick HDD into it for nas. Would be cool to access storage from net too as in my own cloud storage. 

 

Want 2.4ghz and 5ghz WiFi with AC to replace my standard router completely. With maybe 2 10gbit Ethernet for future proof my home network.

 

So my two main concerns are power usage and noise. As it will be based in my lounge area.

 

I have 2 micro atx PC at the moment both have MSI z97-g43. One with 4770k and other with g3258. Both have 8gb ram. I have 1 r9 270x and an evga 800w power supply. 128gb m.2 ssd , 1tb HDD and 2tb HDD at the moment but guest I would change these for 1 larger capacity HDD.

I also have old q6600 CPU and 4g ddr2 ram and more hits like this but its old like atom netbook hardware from like 2010.

 

Anyway I don't mind buying and selling parts to get what I need.

 

I don't know if this system just from windows would be the best idea or running it through VM.

 

As I said some basic gaming and kodi with file server. Need file server to be quick as wife is photographer and will be backing up her SLR daily.

 

My preference small as possible, quite as possible, quick and energy efficient will be on 24/7.

 

Would love for some ideas and input on this.

 

Thanks in advance

 

 

 

 

 

 

[glitchmaster0001]

9 minutes ago, scottyboy87 said:

Hi my name is Scott I'm looking to build a htpc that will also serve as a end router/server if possible.

 

I need to run kodi on my TV 1080p and be able to play the odd game at ps3 quality graphics. Ie upto 720p at 30fps. Would also like to run to 2 monitors if possible so if wife is watching something on TV I can still play my game on another monitor if possible.

 

I also want to stick HDD into it for nas. Would be cool to access storage from net too as in my own cloud storage. 

 

Want 2.4ghz and 5ghz WiFi with AC to replace my standard router completely. With maybe 2 10gbit Ethernet for future proof my home network.

 

So my two main concerns are power usage and noise. As it will be based in my lounge area.

 

I have 2 mini itx PC at the moment both have MSI z97-g43. One with 4770k and other with g3258. Both have 8gb ram. I have 1 r9 270x and an evga 800w power supply. 128gb m.2 ssd , 1tb HDD and 2tb HDD at the moment but guest I would change these for 1 larger capacity HDD.

I also have old q6600 CPU and 4g ddr2 ram and more hits like this but its old like atom netbook hardware from like 2010.

 

Anyway I don't mind buying and selling parts to get what I need.

 

I don't know if this system just from windows would be the best idea or running it through VM.

 

As I said some basic gaming and kodi with file server. Need file server to be quick as wife is photographer and will be backing up her SLR daily.

 

My preference small as possible, quite as possible, quick and energy efficient will be on 24/7.

 

Would love for some ideas and input on this.

 

Thanks in advance

 

 

 

 

 

 

do an embedded style system using a i3 CPU and a mini itx server board or mini itx consumer board on the low end chipset 

[Mikensan]

Unless you want your data to be protected from corruption at almost the highest level possible (on a sngle machine) - which it sounds like most data will be movies - then you have a lot of easy solutions. Only thing to really buy is a wifi card and NIC.

 

Because you want to game and essentially use this like a desktop, I'd suggest not running everything in its own virtual machine via ESXi etc.. No reason to separate everything out for a home scenario (only the router).

 

Throw on Windows Server 2012 (if you have an EDU account, it's free via dreamspark or just buy it for ~$25 from reddit resellers)

Then install Plex

Configure Storage Spaces (Or FlexRAID)

Throw on whatever file sharing software you want (WAMP + OwnCloud for example)

Install Hyper-V role

Create a virtual machine, give it access to your wifi card / NIC and install whatever router OS you want

^Alternative: do this with vbox, I believe you can dedicate the wifi nic. You'll want an additional NIC for your WAN.

 

Really the only "hard" part is the router. I would really recommend separating the router from you main computer - anytime you need to restart the base system for any reason, your whole network goes down. If you can, use the G3258 to build a mini-itx solution.