I'm looking to upgrade my home media server and would like to do it affordably by reusing some components. Currently, I have an old pre-built computer that I've been using, but it's been giving me some issues. I want to build a new server that can run 24/7 with software like OpenMediaVault, Emby, Radarr, and Sonarr while also handling 4K encoding. I got a friend's unused i3-13100 CPU, which will be the starting point for my build. Unfortunately, it doesn't fit my current motherboard, so I'm eager to put together something new. I also have 32GB of DDR4 RAM (2x16GB @ 2666MHz) and an SSD from my old computer. Plus, I have 20TB of external hard drives for media storage. I'm unsure whether to reuse my old 240W HP PCC002 power supply. Given all this, can I build a capable media server for under $500? Any advice would be really appreciated, especially since I'm still trying to learn about this process.
1 Answer
First off, you need to check if your new motherboard has enough SATA ports and if your power supply can handle it. Since you have a good amount of external storage, you shouldn't need a ton of internal drive space. Prices for NVMe drives have been crazy recently, so I'd suggest sticking with standard HDDs if you need more capacity. Given your CPU and RAM, you should be able to keep things well within your budget if you shop smart!
Yeah, definitely focus on grabbing a budget-friendly motherboard! As long as it fits the CPU and has enough connectivity options for your drives, you should be all set. And don't forget about the case; you need something that has good airflow for 24/7 operation.