After reccomendations for 2 hard drives in a raid 1 configuration in a media PC. Size probably around 200GB is suficent.

After quality and noise over price, in addition due to the case they are mounted on their side which I know kills them faster but no choice.

Edited 10 March, 201016 yr by simonsheil

After reccomendations for 2 hard drives in a raid 1 configuration in a media PC. Size probably around 200GB is suficent.

After quality and noise over price, in addition due to the case they are mounted on their side which I know kills them faster but no choice.

To be honest buddy, and having already build one, what do you need it to do, are you streaming to it or from it? using it for Media Centre etc, possible TV inputs? PVR options....?

The reason I ask, is that 200GB/400GB will not do if you looking at storing movies on it or using it as a PVR, youll use it up in no time at all....

If your streaming to it from other computers, then a small hard drive is more than sufficient and for that I would be looking at a small and very fast SSD, save on noise (none), boot up time, on average 30 seconds straight into Windows Media Centre... speed is key... Also with streaming from another computer or Networked attached storage, your looking at a wired gigabit connection, I hate wireless but thats just my opinion, you can go for a wireless N connection and still be fine I just hate interference....

So give me some clues and I will gladly point you in the right directon....

For example my setup is no bigger than a dvd player, using a hiper media HTPC case, a 60GB SSD, Quad DVB-S Tuner, Slim Line DVD drive, Gigabit ethernet connection with router, router connected to 2 other PCs and a 4GB Networked attached storage (where I store all my HD films and TV recording and music, really a must for any Home Theatre setup imo), 7.1 surround sound..... a PICOPSU (well worth the money), and so on...

Its all sound proofed aswell.....

Edited 11 March, 201016 yr by Nuriyan

Samsung Spinpoint T3's - 1TB, quiet, decently priced (~£55)