What's Best for a HTPC for the Future?

[Sir Topham Hatt]

Hello

At the moment I have a SilverStone LC17 case which holds six hard drives. However I am nearly at full capacity so didn't know what to do next.

I was looking at some server type things like this:

Until I discovered the drive cages each have a fan behind them. This means noise. The HTPC at the moment is in the lounge near the TV so isn't tucked away in a garage where noise isn't an issue.

Can anyone give me any pointers as to what I would be looking at? Would it just be easier to have the PC somewhere else? I just like having it there so I can turn it off and on as required. I'm not going to have the case full for a very long time but I can imagine getting another couple of hard drives soon which makes my system full.

Thanks

[cybertimber2008]

If you want do have it somewhere else - As far as turning it on and off, I got a Windows Media Center remote (that is also XMBC compatible) and as long as the system is in sleep (and maybe hibernate), I can turn the computer on and off at will, so technically mine could be anywhere, as long as I have the IR sensor near the tv. A USB extender or a USB --> CAT5 -->USB adapter would work tell too.

If you already have a HTPC that works for you and is quiet, why not get a NAS or something and migrate most of your media over to it, and then fill up the HTPC again?

[Dick Montage]

I wouldn't ever dream of combining my media server with my media player.

Slap that as a server in your office/cuboard/wherever and get a dedicated playback PC.

[threetonesun]

Are they all 2TB drives in it? I would never want my computer with media in the same room as my TV... it sits in the office, and it seems like that's the most logical thing for you to do too.

[Sir Topham Hatt]

Yeah, all 2TB drives.

I don't have the biggest of places but I don't want to have to go to another room to turn the PC on, then have to walk back to the lounge to watch it. I basically have a PC connected to my TV which holds all my home movies and such which works great but wanted to easily increase the storage.

Also, hard to find an affordable 10TB - 20TB NAS. Plus, I'd want something that I can increase the storage again. The above unit could potentially hold 30TB of data, 45TB if I invested in 3TB drives, which will last me for a long time.

I don't really need it all now, it's just the company that makes the above will be selling them off soon so would be investing a few hundred pounds in getting one.

[deactivated_]

I have two of these in my HTPC: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817998146

Instead of lots noisy little 40mm fans, this has one pretty quiet 80mm fan for 4 HDs, and still retains the tray/swap aspect that is kind of nice to have.

[Sir Topham Hatt]

Does that slot into two 5.25" bays?

If so, then I need to buy a new case :p Or recycle my old one!

[deactivated_]

Does that slot into two 5.25" bays?

If so, then I need to buy a new case :p Or recycle my old one!

It's three 5.25" bays.