Setting up a server / NAS

[antipop]

Hi all,

I'm currently setting up a home theater around an Apple TV (got it for free :) ). I was thinking about using a server to host my videos. I would use it to stream the videos to the Apple TV and also to convert the video if needed. I want it to be as silent and small as possible (I'm thinking hiding it in a closet).

I've some hardware leftover that I can use and I'm looking at the missing pieces. I've an IC7 (chipset fan is dead though), 2*256 DDR RAM and a P4 2.4GHz (easily oc'ed to 3,2 on air). I've various HDD but I think i'm going to buy nex sata drive (500GB). I've an old case but it's quite crappy and I'd like to get a new one.

What do I need to get, add, dump? Any advice?

Thanks

[antipop]

Also what about upgrading the cpu/mobo? Is there a need for that ? I'm willingto do it if I get more perf (useful if I want to encode videos) for cheap though. I don't plan on shelling a lot on this

[Serra]

I imagine your setup would be more than fine, just make sure you have tons of hard drive space. Encoding/decoding are the only somewhat intensive tasks, and with an non-OC'd opty 170 I was able to create a VMWare XP machine with only 1 processor and 128MB of RAM and was able to do seamless H.264 decoding while performing other tasks in the background, so I think pretty well any CPU/mobo combo should be up to the task.

[antipop]

Thank so I just need to buy some hard drive, I was thinking about starting with just a one or two 500Gb that should be more than enough (+ a small one for the OS). For the case, I was thinking of an Antec P182, is it a recommended one or is it too expensive?
Last but not least, I was thinking of a wifi n card to sync with the apple tv.