[SOLVED] NAS vs Use "old" HTPC. Please advise.

[osubuckeye]

I have an HTPC I built about 8 years ago that has been largely relegated to network shared storage for a handful of kids shows and movies not found in streaming services. Very little content is served from that PC through PLEX and Infuse to the family TV and some tablets. Since the i3 iGPU can't drive 4k, it is really just used as a network drive. No need for accessing outside the home.

What I DO need, is some sort of longer term storage/backup for my growing collection of 4k family videos and photos. I find that the collection grows about 1TB per year. Long term, it is likely that I'll need to get a proper NAS. But for now, I figured I could strip the storage HDD from the HTPC and put in dual 8 - 10TB drives to mirror each other as a safe backup.

The specs on the existing system:
ASRock H67M-ITX
i3 2100T @ 2.5Ghz
4Gb RAM
Case has room for 3 3.5" HDDs

I don't know anything about setting up RAID storage or whether I should forget this adventure and simply grab one of these off-the-shelf NAS boxes. For example, do I need to be concerned that this MOBO or CPU can't deal with drives that large, or properly handle RAID? Dedicated NAS boxes will be 150-300 that I could save if I am able to use this system.

 

[kanewolf]

I have an HTPC I built about 8 years ago that has been largely relegated to network shared storage for a handful of kids shows and movies not found in streaming services. Very little content is served from that PC through PLEX and Infuse to the family TV and some tablets. Since the i3 iGPU can't drive 4k, it is really just used as a network drive. No need for accessing outside the home.

What I DO need, is some sort of longer term storage/backup for my growing collection of 4k family videos and photos. I find that the collection grows about 1TB per year. Long term, it is likely that I'll need to get a proper NAS. But for now, I figured I could strip the storage HDD from the HTPC and put in dual 8 - 10TB drives to mirror each other as a safe backup.

The specs on the existing system:
ASRock H67M-ITX
i3 2100T @ 2.5Ghz
4Gb RAM
Case has room for 3 3.5" HDDs

I don't know anything about setting up RAID storage or whether I should forget this adventure and simply grab one of these off-the-shelf NAS boxes. For example, do I need to be concerned that this MOBO or CPU can't deal with drives that large, or properly handle RAID? Dedicated NAS boxes will be 150-300 that I could save if I am able to use this system.

First, RAID is not sufficient protection for you irreplaceable 4K family video. You need 3 independent copies, one of which is saved off-site. That protects you from fire, theft, hardware failure, etc. So your PC can be copy 1, a NAS can be copy 2 but you still need copy 3 off site. That can be cloud storage if you have high upload bandwidth or it can be USB drive(s) in a safe deposit box, or at a friends house, etc.

 

[USAFRet]

First, put the word and concept RAID out of your head.
It does not do or protect what you think it does.

For the actual device, your old system is fine. I used to use that until I upgraded to an actual NAS.

That whole backup thing is a concept rather than a specific device.
So...
PC = Copy 1
NAS or central PC = Copy 2
Other offline storage = Copy 3

For your central movie library, that will be between Copy 2 & 3.
Your actual PC's will be on Copy 1, 2 and 3.
For actual family videos and other irreplaceable data, a whole other Copy 3 or 4. SOme offsite place, refreshed once in a while.