[skippy]

Hi my fellow xbmc'ers,

I just had my desktop go south on me. It just about ruined my week since it was the desktop that runs all my htpc media, argus live tv database and mysql databases for XBMC.

I am looking for suggestions on better, cheaper, compatibility. I looked for a desktop I can buy off the shelf at the local stores ( staples, costco, walmart ). I didn't see anything that was that spectacular, mainly nothing more than 2 internal hd spaces. I want this build to evolve into my nas that has room for storage to expand.

Here as my attempt at a decent mid-range desktop, flexraid build. I would have went unRaid, however, the wife and I need the ability to use the desktop for daily tasks, email, facebook, spreadsheets, photos, tax prep, occasional transcoding to mp4 etc. It will run sabd, mysql, couchpotato, and sickbeard. I don't know much about unRaid, but I didn't think I can use it within Windows.

[video card] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0049MP...PDKIKX0DER - 31.99
[bluray burner] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007YWM...BWN1Q1U6E6 - 74.99
[card reader] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003AVN...PDKIKX0DER - 13.49
[cpu cooler] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002G1Y...PDKIKX0DER - 28.07
[cpu] https://www.newegg.com/amd-ryzen-5-3400g...6819113570 - 148.99
[mobo] https://www.newegg.com/asrock-x570-phant...6813157915 - 139.99
[ram] https://www.newegg.com/corsair-16gb-288-...6820233852 - 69.99
[case] http://www.amazon.com/Technologies-Class...pg__header - 99.99
[flexraid] - (Data Protection + Storage Pooling) edition - $60
[unraid] Unraid Pro License - $129.00

Pre-owned
[psu] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G0W...00_s00_i00. I can return if another would be preferred.
[hdd] http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6822148834 ( already own ) . I am going to use this as my os drive as well as some media streaming.
[windows 7 license]

The RAM is compatible, see http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Mem...70a-d3.pdf
CPU is compatible, see http://www.gigabyte.us/support-downloads...x?pid=3908

The CPU fan is quite large but appears to be able to fit as well.

08/31/2020 - I replaced the mobo, ram and cpu, last one got corrupted and drives / LAN was unable to be detected.  Since initial build this server has become a dedicated UNRAID server.  I am really happy with the unRaid setup.

Build Photos:

[pyrospawn]

How about the NZXT H2 Classic case for $10 cheaper with more built in HDD drive bays with top hot swap capable SATA HDD Dock. I find this feature useful when transfer data from another drive over to server/pc.
http://www.amazon.com/NZXT-Technologies-...=nzxt+case

[skippy]

How about the NZXT H2 Classic case for $10 cheaper with more built in HDD drive bays with top hot swap capable SATA HDD Dock. I find this feature useful when transfer data from another drive over to server/pc.

Yes, I like the look of the case, of course, I like that it has the hot swappable drive spot. Can the drive case be rotated? It looked like it could in one of the photos of the white case. I was thinking it would better if the drives could be slid in from the side rather than through the center where the cpu/gpu or something else may interfere with putting in a new drive. Will the mobo I selected support the hot swap feature?

[pyrospawn]

Not sure if the drive case can be rotated or not, have not tried that. The drive is actually insert from front of case, open front cover, you see 2 fans, with tabs on the side of it, squeeze tabs, remove fans, and pull out hdd. Not sure about your mobo, I recently did a built with i3 and the Asrock Extreme4 (micro center special), and the hotswap works very well with it. Plugged drive in even after windows already booted up, and it recognized new drive inserted. Hot swap drive bay is connected through SATA port on mobo.

[skippy]

Sweet, since it has more internal hdd spots, hot swappable drive bay, and I can put in hdd from the front of the case that makes it pretty easy to add drives. It's $10 cheaper too! Thank you.

Updated the first post to reflect the new changes.

[skippy]

Ordered all the components today. The waiting game begins. I cancelled my dish network subscription last week too! My last project will be to wire the house with ethernet. I owe my wife big time, she has been super patient with me tinkering and getting everything right.

[skippy]

Build Photos added to original post.

[pyrospawn]

Build look great! Thank you for sharing the build photos.

[Lsv1]

Hey how's this build working out so far for you?

I am 24 hours from building my Flexraid box and would like to know if you've continued and how it's been.

Also did you go Flexraid Linux, OSX or Windows?

Regards,

Lsv

[j2048b]

I saw this thread and wanted to know how easy flexraid osx is? Or is it complicated to initiate or set up?

[skippy]

Hey how's this build working out so far for you?

I am 24 hours from building my Flexraid box and would like to know if you've continued and how it's been.

Also did you go Flexraid Linux, OSX or Windows?

Regards,

Lsv

I ended up putting Windows on it, since my wife mainly uses it for her daily desktop. It's been working out great, the system is really stable. I record my OTA tv shows to it, and stream to my various HTPCs at home. My intention was to put flexraid on it, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

[booker88]

I saw this thread and wanted to know how easy flexraid osx is? Or is it complicated to initiate or set up?

I used to have it on windows and it was pretty easy to setup & maintain. I recently migrated my server to kubuntu and discovered that flexraid is a bit more finicky under linux. Not sure how Flexraid will be under OSX.. but pay close attention to the "locale" settings.

I had characters from different languages in the filenames for some of our media, because of a varied collection of movies & anime. Not sure why I bothered with it originally. Anyways, after messing around with adjusting locale/utf settings in flexraid over a few day I just gave up and renamed all the files that were giving me problems.