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File Server CPU upgrade? (Core 2 Duo --> ??)

the_guitarboy

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xentr_thread_starter
My current "server" is a Dell Optiplex 755 with a Core 2 Duo @ 2.33Ghz and 4GB RAM. It's main use is hosting movies/tv shows to my PS3 upstairs. The ONLY struggle for this machine when i'm streaming a 720/1080p blu ray and something downloads and tries to unrar...stuttt tt tttee eeerrrrrr.

Server Build:
Linux Mint w/ Greyhole + Snapraid
Couchpotato
Sickbeard (NZBDrone is looking better and better)
SabNZB+

What are my options for a low power (this is very important as it's on 24/7) and a little more HP? A Q6600 is an option but they are still kinda expensive compared to a FM2 CPU and then i'm stuck on skt 755.
 
My current "server" is a Dell Optiplex 755 with a Core 2 Duo @ 2.33Ghz and 4GB RAM. It's main use is hosting movies/tv shows to my PS3 upstairs. The ONLY struggle for this machine when i'm streaming a 720/1080p blu ray and something downloads and tries to unrar...stuttt tt tttee eeerrrrrr.

Server Build:
Linux Mint w/ Greyhole + Snapraid
Couchpotato
Sickbeard (NZBDrone is looking better and better)
SabNZB+

What are my options for a low power (this is very important as it's on 24/7) and a little more HP? A Q6600 is an option but they are still kinda expensive compared to a FM2 CPU and then i'm stuck on skt 755.

That machine shouldn't have any issues with what you are asking from it.

How is your network setup?
 
xentr_thread_starter
That machine shouldn't have any issues with what you are asking from it.

How is your network setup?

It sits at 100% on both cores when streaming via Mencoder or VLC to the PS3 using PS3 Media SErver. If another slightly intensive tasks like unraring a large file happens at the same time I get stuttering during playback. It doesn't happen often but enough that a CPU upgrade would be nice.

Or is there a way to offload the Mencoder/VLC usage to a GPU?

Network = Gigabit wired through Cat 5e through the entire house.
 
It sits at 100% on both cores when streaming via Mencoder or VLC to the PS3 using PS3 Media SErver. If another slightly intensive tasks like unraring a large file happens at the same time I get stuttering during playback. It doesn't happen often but enough that a CPU upgrade would be nice.

Or is there a way to offload the Mencoder/VLC usage to a GPU?

Network = Gigabit wired through Cat 5e through the entire house.

Ah so your streaming to the PS3.. That no matter what you do is going to be a network and cpu hog. Your better off building a small htpc system and watch stuff directly.

I used to use a PS3 for my media needs but realized the headache and resources to do it was simply not worth it.

The nice thing with a htpc is that it supports DVXA/2 which is DirectX Video Acceleration which gets offloaded to the GPU.
 
xentr_thread_starter
Ah so your streaming to the PS3.. That no matter what you do is going to be a network and cpu hog. Your better off building a small htpc system and watch stuff directly.

I used to use a PS3 for my media needs but realized the headache and resources to do it was simply not worth it.

The nice thing with a htpc is that it supports DVXA/2 which is DirectX Video Acceleration which gets offloaded to the GPU.

I've thought about it but the PS3 is just so easy to use and PS3 Media Server works extremely well most of the time.

Setting up a HTPC would require me to teach the wife how to use it...I don't want to do that :censored:
 
I've thought about it but the PS3 is just so easy to use and PS3 Media Server works extremely well most of the time.

Setting up a HTPC would require me to teach the wife how to use it...I don't want to do that :censored:

XBMC is VERY easy to use. My girlfriend figured it out and it can be setup so easily for TV Shows and movies.

It keeps track of what she's watched and what she hasn't so she knows. It'll give her a episode breakdown so she can read about it a bit... etc etc.
 
xentr_thread_starter
XBMC is VERY easy to use. My girlfriend figured it out and it can be setup so easily for TV Shows and movies.

It keeps track of what she's watched and what she hasn't so she knows. It'll give her a episode breakdown so she can read about it a bit... etc etc.

Maybe it's time to try XBMC again...but this would also require me to grab some new hdd's as i'm running about 6 1TB drives in the server which sits in the garage, which allows it to be 1/2 out of the case. It looks like a freakin spaghetti monster with all the drives and wires sitting out side of it. I don't have the room for anything bigger than an ITX machine for an HTPC.

I remember having issues outputting an HDMI signal to my TV from a computer, it always had lots of overscan.
 
I can't imagine using anything other than XBMC for a media front end. Especially if you are using Sickbeard. It can automatically download the nfos and thumbnails for your TV & movies. It can also send notifcations to XBMC and automatically update your library. So XBMC could stay open 24/7 and always be up to date.

Overscan would have been an issue w/ drivers. You can remedy if in AMD CCC or Nvidia Control Panel if it still occurs. But I personally haven't seen it happen in a few years.

I don't see why you would need to buy new HDDs. You can still use your server as is. Unless you were planning on moving the server to the living room instead of doing a seperate HTPC.
 
Maybe it's time to try XBMC again...but this would also require me to grab some new hdd's as i'm running about 6 1TB drives in the server which sits in the garage, which allows it to be 1/2 out of the case. It looks like a freakin spaghetti monster with all the drives and wires sitting out side of it. I don't have the room for anything bigger than an ITX machine for an HTPC.

I remember having issues outputting an HDMI signal to my TV from a computer, it always had lots of overscan.

You'd only need 1 drive for a HTPC to boot into a OS and everything else can be shared across the network.
 

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