which new server PC

[ukmgranger]

Hi all,

I am about to change my server PC. My current one lives in a cuppboard near my bedroom and is just too noisy (and also takes up way too much room).

Current spec is:
Intel Celeron 2.41ghz
1Gb RAM
XP Home
USB Avermedia Volar dual freeview tuner

I only use this machine for SageTV (service) control of some X10 lighting and as a file-server for a couple of USB drives.

I watch recorded & live TV from either my laptop, mac-mini or MVP.

Which of the following two machines do you think would do the job better?

Dell Studio Hybrid
or
Tranquil Silent PC

Any thoughts would be great!

[gplasky]

I would lean more towards the tranquil line. Alos look at this: Tranquil SQA-5H-2000 It's based on WIndows Home Server, and comes with 1 TB drive with room for 3 more. This will give you room to grow.

Gerry

[ukmgranger]

Originally Posted by gplasky

I would lean more towards the tranquil line. Alos look at this: Tranquil SQA-5H-2000 It's based on WIndows Home Server, and comes with 1 TB drive with room for 3 more. This will give you room to grow.

Gerry

Thanks for the info.

The SQA-5H-2000 is just a little over budget. I have a maximum spend of £400.

Do you think that the other Tranquil Silent PC that I mentioned would be able to cope with the demand of Sagetv? It does only have an intel Atom 330 in it.

[MitchSchaft]

Have you thought about the new HP ex495 WHS box? It's dual core @ 2.1GHz with 2GB ram. All you'd need is usb or network tuners if you don't already have those.

[ukmgranger]

Originally Posted by MitchSchaft

Have you thought about the new HP ex495 WHS box? It's dual core @ 2.1GHz with 2GB ram. All you'd need is usb or network tuners if you don't already have those.

Looks pretty cool. Only just over budget, but I can handle that.
The one that I found on the HP (UK) website doesn't state how many cores the CPU has (look here).

I worry a little about WHM though. Not sure if my X10 software would work with it (Domia). I assume that WHM would play nice with OSX and win7 / vista though.

[MitchSchaft]

What do you mean by x10? I run an mcontrol server off mine old ex475 for home automation. If you meant directx10, I'm not sure about that. You wouldn't want to use a WHS box for actual watching tv/videos. Just as a server for playback. It works fine with OS10 and Win7.

The ex490 has a single core, the ex495 is dual core. I couldn't find it on the UK site, though.

[ukmgranger]

Originally Posted by MitchSchaft

What do you mean by x10? I run an mcontrol server off mine old ex475 for home automation. If you meant directx10, I'm not sure about that. You wouldn't want to use a WHS box for actual watching tv/videos. Just as a server for playback. It works fine with OS10 and Win7.

The ex490 has a single core, the ex495 is dual core. I couldn't find it on the UK site, though.

X10 as in the inexpensive power-line system (not directX ) I use software from Domia called Harmony to control things, although that is basically just porch and garden lights at the moment!

[MitchSchaft]

Yeah, that'll be fine. I use the Insteon protocol, but x10 should work fine. mcontrol even has a WHS plugin if you were looking in to new automation software.

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by ukmgranger

Do you think that the other Tranquil Silent PC that I mentioned would be able to cope with the demand of Sagetv? It does only have an intel Atom 330 in it.

If you mean just recording it will do fine. As long as you're not having to transcode anything or run comskip on the server you should be fine.

Gerry

[ukmgranger]

I don't use comskip.

I do have an MVP connected though. Would this put stress on the system, or does the MVP handle all the tough stuff itself?

[MitchSchaft]

I think the server transcodes everything for the MVP.

[gplasky]

The MVP can only handle MPEG2 in it's hardware. If you're using a HD-PVR for recording then it would have to transcode and that atom (and most core duo's) won't handle it. As long as all your recordings are SD mpeg2 the MVP and server will be fine.

Gerry