New HTPC / combine old HTPC and Server

[loomdog32]

I am looking to combine my old HTPC (main Sage Server) and File Server (currently running unRaid) into one computer. I am looking to do this as I no longer have a need to have 2 separate machines as the Sage Server is my now only TV location....

old unRaid server setup
mobo - ASUS P4C-800
cpu - Pentium 4 3.4Ghz 800Mhz FSB
ram - 2x256mb DDR 2x512mb DDR
controller card - Promise TX4
sata backplane x2 - iStar 2-5.25 x 3-3.5
750gb HDD x4 - Seagate 750gb SATA HDD
1tb HDD x4 - Seagate 1tb SATA HDD
PSU - hec HP585D 585watt

old Sage server setup
mobo - ASUS P5L-VM 1394
cpu - Pentium Core 2 eXtreme X6800
ram - 4x1gb DDR2
video card - ASUS nVidia 9800GTS 256mb
audio card - ASUS Xonar
tuner card pci - Hauppauge HVR-1600
tuner card pci-e - Hauppauge HVR-1800
optical drive - LG GGC-H20L Blu-ray/HD-DVD
500gb HDD x3 - Seagate 500gb SATA HDD
psu -Thermaltake 430watt



New Computer
NEW PARTS
case - Cooler Master
mobo - DFI LP UT P35 T2R
1tb HDD x2 - Seagate 1tb SATA HDD

OLD PARTS from unRaid server
controller card - Promise TX4
sata backplane x2 - iStar 2-5.25 x 3-3.5
750gb HDD x4 - Seagate 750gb SATA HDD
1tb HDD x4 - Seagate 1tb SATA HDD

OLD PARTS from Sage server
cpu - Pentium Core 2 eXtreme X6800
ram - 4x1gb DDR2
video card - ASUS nVidia 9800GTS 256mb
audio card - ASUS Xonar
tuner card pci - Hauppauge HVR-1600
tuner card pci-e - Hauppauge HVR-1800
optical drive - LG GGC-H20L Blu-ray/HD-DVD
500gb HDD x1 - Seagate 500gb SATA HDD
psu -Thermaltake 430watt

What Im looking to do -
on the JMicro controller - optical drive and 500gb HDD for OS/Music/Pictures
on ICH9R controller - 6x 1tb HDD in RAID5 for Videos in backplanes
on TX4 controller - 4x 750gb HDD in RAID5 for Recorded TV

I would eventually like to move to a hardware controller card, but money supply isnt allowing me to do that at the moment. I only have a budget of $500 shipped. I was looking for a setup that would allow for easy upgrade to C2Q cpu...

Is this setup decent? What should I do different. I thought about this mobo instead. It only upgrades to X48 north bridge over the P35 (as far as I can tell). I dont have any TV with HDMI or a surround that does any HD format (in fact im currently using a 19" computer monitor and 2.1 computer speaker setup.. I will eventually use the 32" Olevia TV and Onkyo reciever for DTS/DD audio)

Any and all thoughts....

[Peter_h]

Couple of comments.

The promise card that you have is only a sata card. Are you intending to use onboard raid to control this? If so, I don't think that is possible.

Do yourself a favor and avoid the ICHR boards. Intel's RAID is a nightmare. They still have not gotten it right since the ICH6R boards and I would stay away. I have an ICH10R board and the RAID is still not working correctly. Do a quick google search on "iastor timeout", it is very well documented.

This problem will cause drives to fallout of the RAID array as well as system hangs in extreme cases.

If I could do it over, I woud buy a cheaper non-RAID board, and spend the money on a good RAID Card.

[loomdog32]

Ive been tring to figure out what would be a good raid solution. what is a decent board with 2 controllers (2x ports and 6x ports)..

The TX4 controller is a SATA-II controller. Its just a PCI card and cannot support multiple concurrent SATA-II speeds because of that (ive been using this card for over a year with SATA-II HDDs, so Im sure about this).. The point of using this card, is that I already have it. If i could afford a nice 12 or 16 port hardware controller card, I would (and plan on doing this sometime in the future)

I just thought ill point out what is obvious for me (hopefully most people on here too), but im looking to use RAID for parity protection not so much increased speed (although it would be nice).. If there is another solution out there (that keeps it a 1 box solution), please speak up!!

[loomdog32]

Exciting, after an electrical storm, I had multiple drive failures.... i completely lost everything on my Sage server and a 1tb drive on the unraid server... YAY..

[Apap]

Originally Posted by loomdog32

Exciting, after an electrical storm, I had multiple drive failures.... i completely lost everything on my Sage server and a 1tb drive on the unraid server... YAY..

Just another reason for a good UPS.