htpc media server or external encloser

[Wicked Klown]

Ok so in the next 6 months or so I planning on adding more space. I was thinking either going with a Norco 4020, 6 1TB HDDs, Highpoint RaidRocket 2680 and a few other items. I was also thinking about going with 2 Icy Dock 4 bay eSata encloser with 8 1TB HDDs. The second option cost less and has more space. Have a hard time picking which of the two I should do. If I go with the second option I would have 10TBs of space.

[BossBorot]

is hot swap required by you both the Norco 4020 and that icy dock have it which push them up around the $300 range.

Personally I like the Norco 450/470 for tons of space for disks on the cheap but it doesn't have hot swap and can only fit 15* hard drives compared to the 4020 for a third of the price.

Also what os are you using on this box?

*http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=603184&page=14 read the end of the 14th and beginning of the 15th page of posts you can buy the needed part direct from norco for $15

[Wicked Klown]

Don't really need hot-swap just thought it would be nice. I like the layout of the 470. As for the OS not really sure yet. Was thinknig of sticking with Vista as this will be my HTPC yet networked to others for streaming.

[BossBorot]

is thing going to be a front end, a back end, or both? Noise and space might be an issue if you plan on putting this by your tv

[Wicked Klown]

Most likely I'll have it in my computer room with a 30' HDMI cable run to my AVR. Right now my HTPC is running x64 Vista Ultimate with media browser. My back-up rig is running x32 Vista Home Premium with media browser watching the folders on my HTPC. I was hoping to be able to keep doing it that way. Most the parts I'll be using is in my sig right now. If I go with the HighPoint set up I plan to either run Raid5 or JBOD. Media Browser is able to watch multi-folders and list them as just one.

[Wicked Klown]

Was wondering should I go raid5 or do JBOD. Also would it be better to get the F2 5400rpm HDD or the F3 7200rpm HDD. Was thinking of get a total of 10 1tb HDDs plus the two I already have.

[BossBorot]

If you are going to use a non storage server related OS meaning not using Unraid, Freenas, or WHS I would go for hardware raid instead of JBOD for a level of data security.

As for 5400rpm vs 7200rpm I would go 5400rpm so long as you are not going to be gaming on the computer. 5400rpm drives saturate gigabit ethernet and can more then handle high bitrate file playback to multiple clients. If you are going to be gaming on this computer grab one smaller 7200rpm drive and use it for system and games then grab 5400 drives for general storage.

Personally I like backend servers for media streaming to boxes throughout the house with frontends on the tv. You can use cheaper hardware in most cases so long as you trust parity or duplication. On the front end side of things you can also use much smaller cases, however this approach requires an additional computer

[Wicked Klown]

I would love to make the HTPC I have now in to just a server. However it comes down to money. So it sound like I should go with the Highpoint 4320 instead of the 2680. Also should run raid5 for parity instead of JBOD.