home media server/pc

[nebo21xx]

so I am looking at buying another pc to run my plex server for my home media. I am kinda tech savvy but having issues finding something to meet my needs. I currently view my plex server on two tvs, xbox and a phone and the server(s) are run off two separate computers (due to lack of storage); one is on a laptop with an external HDD the other is off my main PC.

 

My goals are as follows:

-migrate all my data onto one system

-easy to setup and maintain as a network drive

-have enough space to back up devices

 

I've read about NAS but I'm not that comfortable using NAS or setting up a NAS. So for a low tech solution some suggestions to be able to run Plex/Network drive for my home network.

 

I'm leaning towards the PC option but I have not been able to find a small enough case that is unobtrusive in the corner but has the ability to mount multiple HDDs inside the case (goal is to get rid of the external HDD).

 

Please help.

[TheCherryKing]

14 minutes ago, nebo21xx said:

so I am looking at buying another pc to run my plex server for my home media. I am kinda tech savvy but having issues finding something to meet my needs. I currently view my plex server on two tvs, xbox and a phone and the server(s) are run off two separate computers (due to lack of storage); one is on a laptop with an external HDD the other is off my main PC.

 

My goals are as follows:

-migrate all my data onto one system

-easy to setup and maintain as a network drive

-have enough space to back up devices

 

I've read about NAS but I'm not that comfortable using NAS or setting up a NAS. So for a low tech solution some suggestions to be able to run Plex/Network drive for my home network.

 

I'm leaning towards the PC option but I have not been able to find a small enough case that is unobtrusive in the corner but has the ability to mount multiple HDDs inside the case (goal is to get rid of the external HDD).

 

Please help.

How many hard disks do you intend on using?

[nebo21xx]

one for the OS and a much larger (4-6 TB) SATA of course. I don't need a lightening fast gaming rig. Just need something comparable to where I can store my stuff. I'm even looking at refurbished.

[TheCherryKing]

1 minute ago, nebo21xx said:

one for the OS and a much larger (4-6 TB) SATA of course. I don't need a lightening fast gaming rig. Just need something comparable to where I can store my stuff. I'm even looking at refurbished.

I do not recommend using any storage medium that has been refurbished. Since you have decided to use SATA drives you will need a motherboard with many SATA ports. What is your budget for the motherboard?

[nebo21xx]

Looking at no more than $200-400 for the total rig. Don't need a monitor or anything else.

[MedievalMatt]

5 minutes ago, TheCherryKing said:

I do not recommend using any storage medium that has been refurbished. Since you have decided to use SATA drives you will need a motherboard with many SATA ports. What is your budget for the motherboard?

 

Im going to have to agree with this.  bought 12TB in used 2TB datacenter drives... all failed within 6 months.

[MedievalMatt]

4 minutes ago, nebo21xx said:

Looking at no more than $200-400 for the total rig. Don't need a monitor or anything else.

Depending on your streaming needs.  I used to use an A10-7870K in my plex server... with a software RAID 5 totalling 8TB.   Worked fine for losless DVD Rips.  Lossless BluRays were a different story... anything you need to transcode on the fly with Plex, it uses the CPU...and uses it like a 5 dollar hooker(A LOT!!!!).  if you get me.

 

Upgraded to R7 1700.... best decision i ever made (specs in Sig)

[nebo21xx]

so what would you guys suggest? I do have friends and I'm comfortable enough doing most things with PCs to build it but not savvy enough to do a boot on a blank drive for an OS. (Most Ive done is switch out CPUs on an old AMD system about 8 years ago)

[nebo21xx]

not too concerned with DVD rips because my plan would be to set it up on my network as a drive as well. Rip from my main PC and migrate it to the server.

[MedievalMatt]

7 minutes ago, nebo21xx said:

so what would you guys suggest? I do have friends and I'm comfortable enough doing most things with PCs to build it but not savvy enough to do a boot on a blank drive for an OS. (Most Ive done is switch out CPUs on an old AMD system about 8 years ago)

Id find a used like FX 8320 or 9590 system for pretty cheap..... and use that... you can get PCI-e cards to expand your SATA options for like $50  which would let you do software RAID pretty good.  assuming you already have the drives.

 

the HDD/SSDs are going to be the single most expensive part of this.

Im out $800 in HDDs.  the rest of the system cost me $750 brand new.

 

 

on the subject of the DVD rips.... to do 8TB, while working my job and taking care of my family with a single BluRay drive... took 10 months of my life.  Id serviously recommend more than 1 drive so you can rip multiple DVD/BluRays at once.  They can be USB, or internal doesnt matter.  but if you plan on digitizing a lot of stuff like i did.... youll thank me for saving you 5 months of work.

[TheCherryKing]

I highly recommend you look into purchasing an older server with an Intel Xeon processor and lots of drive bays.

[Shura]

9 hours ago, nebo21xx said:

so I am looking at buying another pc to run my plex server for my home media. I am kinda tech savvy but having issues finding something to meet my needs. I currently view my plex server on two tvs, xbox and a phone and the server(s) are run off two separate computers (due to lack of storage); one is on a laptop with an external HDD the other is off my main PC.

 

My goals are as follows:

-migrate all my data onto one system

-easy to setup and maintain as a network drive

-have enough space to back up devices

 

I've read about NAS but I'm not that comfortable using NAS or setting up a NAS. So for a low tech solution some suggestions to be able to run Plex/Network drive for my home network.

 

I'm leaning towards the PC option but I have not been able to find a small enough case that is unobtrusive in the corner but has the ability to mount multiple HDDs inside the case (goal is to get rid of the external HDD).

 

Please help.

Instead of buying an off the shelf NAS, I suggest looking at building your own(everything is the same as a normal PC but you just use a different OS instead of windows) The OS I recommend and the one I use in my own system is Openmediavault, it has PLEX support, I personally use it with Emby as I feel it offers a lot more options.

 

Okay so for build, you can build a PC but buying a used dell is cheaper. This one for example would cost you $150 for the whole thing, and it's an i7 with 8GB ram, while this PC has a dedicated GPU, you can remove it and just use the igpu on the CPU since that's all you need.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Optiplex-790-Mid-Tower-3-40GHz-Core-i7-2600-8gb-500gb-DVD-ROM/382202560953?_trkparms=aid%3D888007%26algo%3DDISC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D41451%26meid%3Dce2e4f85b5514d0c957b8ae8ed44a939%26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D2%26sd%3D322667606972&_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982

 

Once you have the system, just download the ISO to install openmediavault from their site and follow the instructions, OMV uses a web interface so it's pretty easy to setup and get running, there are also lots of guides on youtube and written guides that make the whole process pretty simple.

 

I run my server on an AM1 5350 system, 4GB Ram with a 4TB media drive and a 4TB backup drive. The i7 2600 is 200% faster in everywhere compared to my CPU and even then I have 3-4 connections to my server at all times streaming media from the server to Kodi through the emby(plex alternative but OMV supports PLEX too). The streaming isn't just using local network, I travel and currently access the media on the sever daily from half way across the world and no issues whatsoever.

[nebo21xx]

Thanks for that info. All you guys have helped