Projects

Media Server

Requirements

This project is more at a conceptual stage right now. I still need to think through what my ideal configuration and functionality is. I also need to understand a bit more on network storage and networks.

It is interesting to see that some people already have Media Server and Media Player separately. I think it makes sense, since you don't actually want all that storage and the power required for TV recording in your living room as a big box just to heat up the room.

Media Server’s main function will probably be storage. If so, it has to be 24x7 up and running for immediate accessibility. So, generally it can be just a plain network storage device, rather than a full fledged PC. At the same time for a small incremental price - it can be a PC and you can put it for couple other things.

FUNCTIONALITY

a) storage (currently I don’t need more than 0.5 TB)

b) music server for CD playback, Internet radio - touchscreen

c) TV recording (occasionally - from coaxial RF cable box output and over Firewire)

d) backup drive (currently an external 250 GB drive)

e) optional: home automation tasks

f) optional: remote PC access from outside (uploading pictures when on vacation, file access anytime anywhere)

Design: It doesn’t need to be nice looking, yet it should have an easy access to ports and inside the case. The case should be in ATX size for better flexibility. The case should be a fanless solution ideally, but since I will be building it from existing parts - it should just assure proper cooling for the 24x7 operation.

Noise: Shouldn’t be too loud, yet don’t need to be completely silent.

TV recording:. Internal single analog TV tuner for recording from the cable box and potentially one HDTV tuner for OTA recording.

Audio: SPDIF output with at least 5.1 channels.

Hardware

Overall I am planning to reuse most of the parts of my initial DELL PC and of the existing HTPC.

I am also thinking of adding an LCD touchscreen on the wall as a monitor for the Media Server. I have not tried it out myself, but it kind of looks cool to easily and with few clicks select the music you want to play.

Remote: I recommend an RF (not IR) remote, with which you should be able to control your PC in another room as well as have learning capabilities and replace your remotes in the living room.

Home Office PC, a third one, where you would do all the uploading of pictures, home videos (you will need a USB or card reader for that) and do all the cataloging, editing, renaming, etc. For video editing you will need a good processor and memory.

Case:

existing DELL 9600

Card Reader:

existing 17-in-one card reader

Motherboard:

existing DELL motherboard

support SATA drives

onboard VGA

onboard Gigabit LAN

onboard digital audio in SPDIF minimum 5.1

CPU:

existing Pentium D 3.0 GHz

RAM:

1 GB

Video Card:

onboard VGA (compatible with LCD touchscreen)

Audio Card:

onboard SPDIF 5.1

HDTV Tuner:

yes

TV Tuner:

yes

Hard Drive:

80 GB 10,000 rpm Raptor drive for the OS

2 x 250 GB 7,600 rpm Maxtor drives (no RAID)

Optical Drive:

CD/DVD Write

CPU Cooler:

yes

GPU Cooler

yes

Case fan:

yes

Power Supply:

minimum 350W

Network:

Gigabit LAN onboard

Acoustic Mat:

maybe

PCI-E Raiser

no

Monitor:

LCD Touchscreen

Keyboard:

wireless RF keyboard for remote access

Mouse:

mouse pen for the LCD touchscreen

Remote:

maybe later, RF remote for home automation tasks

Other Known Configurations

ASUS A8N-E Motherboard,
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core,
1 x 100 GB drive for OS,
6 x Samsung Spinpoint 250 GB SATA II 3Gb/s NCQ HDD 8 MB Cache, (*No Raid)
2 x Terratec Cinergy 2400i DT MCE Edition (Dual Tuners = 4 in total)