Having some fun with computer prices, I figured that it would cost me anywhere from $3.42 to $3.88 per DVD to back up every DVD to a server which would then allow any DVD to be served up anywhere in the house over the network. $3.42 - $3.88 per DVD doesn't really sound like too much unless you figure that I have 1,045 DVDs at the current moment.
As hard drive prices go down though, the price per DVD drops drastically. For example, right now, I'm assuming $110 per 300 gig hard drive and $194 for a 400 gig hard drive. Obviously, the 300 gig drive gives me the best bang for the buck and seems to be the way to go, but by doing so, I max out the server at 1,380 DVDs. Whereas a step up to 400 gigs per drive allows me up to 1,840 DVDs.
Right now, Frys has a 300 gig drive for $100, so that brings my price per DVD down from $3.42 to $3.25. If I can find 400 gig drives for $160, the price per DVD goes down to $3.22. And...the lowest I've seen 500 gig drives for is $230, figuring that, I could get the price per DVD down to $3.30 and also store a whopping 2,300 DVDs on the server. These numbers were all assuming only one parity disk, so if two drives failed at once, all would be lost.
Assuming 2 parity drives (RAID 6), the price per DVD goes up from $3.42 to $3.58. It's all a bunch of numbers and I really have no plan on building this, but it would be nice. It would consist of a server motherboard with a PCI-X slot, a capable processor (dual-core), at least a gig of RAM, and powering all the drives - the Areca ARC-1170 24 port SATA II controller card. Keep dreaming.
But still, interesting stuff. Has to be the cheapest way to do it all. 24 port card, 24 300 gig drives, storage of 6.6 TB, any DVD available at any time.
But then again, I'm saving for a new car and looking to get a place of my own first. Then the real toys can start to be built. I have to figure out if this Areca card allows me to expand as I go. Start with 3 drives (2 parity + 1 storage) and then just add on from there. Buying one drive per month would be a good way to go. Prices come down, spreads out the cost. Initial investment: $2,859.
URL: Newegg.com - Buy Computer Parts, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras, and Electronics
As hard drive prices go down though, the price per DVD drops drastically. For example, right now, I'm assuming $110 per 300 gig hard drive and $194 for a 400 gig hard drive. Obviously, the 300 gig drive gives me the best bang for the buck and seems to be the way to go, but by doing so, I max out the server at 1,380 DVDs. Whereas a step up to 400 gigs per drive allows me up to 1,840 DVDs.
Right now, Frys has a 300 gig drive for $100, so that brings my price per DVD down from $3.42 to $3.25. If I can find 400 gig drives for $160, the price per DVD goes down to $3.22. And...the lowest I've seen 500 gig drives for is $230, figuring that, I could get the price per DVD down to $3.30 and also store a whopping 2,300 DVDs on the server. These numbers were all assuming only one parity disk, so if two drives failed at once, all would be lost.
Assuming 2 parity drives (RAID 6), the price per DVD goes up from $3.42 to $3.58. It's all a bunch of numbers and I really have no plan on building this, but it would be nice. It would consist of a server motherboard with a PCI-X slot, a capable processor (dual-core), at least a gig of RAM, and powering all the drives - the Areca ARC-1170 24 port SATA II controller card. Keep dreaming.
But still, interesting stuff. Has to be the cheapest way to do it all. 24 port card, 24 300 gig drives, storage of 6.6 TB, any DVD available at any time.
But then again, I'm saving for a new car and looking to get a place of my own first. Then the real toys can start to be built. I have to figure out if this Areca card allows me to expand as I go. Start with 3 drives (2 parity + 1 storage) and then just add on from there. Buying one drive per month would be a good way to go. Prices come down, spreads out the cost. Initial investment: $2,859.
URL: Newegg.com - Buy Computer Parts, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras, and Electronics
posted by Blake | 18:15
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