New Home Setup- Looking For Ideas

[Jubby]

Hello everyone. I've been really interested in upgrading my home system and working towards a network. I want to get our (wife and mine) data off our PC laptops and onto a reliable high-powered system. I have a fairly intermediate knowledge of computers, software, and hardware information. I'm looking for suggestions or ideas. I really don't know where to start in making a decision for hardware or software as the possibilities are endless.
My basic idea- have both active laptops that my wife and I use be reporting/in contact with a main computer/server type piece of high-powered hardware. I'm open on hardware and OS.
Background- I've worked with PCs and Windows based software for over 15 years, but everything else is not entirely foreign. I'm trying to keep it from being overtly expensive, but I'm not very worried about price (US). I'm willing to build from ground-up.
Any/all ideas, questions, and suggestions welcome.

 

[TB]

If I'm understanding you correctly, you're physically working on the laptops but using the "high powered system" as a central storage server? If that's the case, you certainly don't need anything overly powerful as the server, it really only need good (and redundant!) storage.

Also, I assume you already have the laptops?

 

[Jubby]

If I'm understanding you correctly, you're physically working on the laptops but using the "high powered system" as a central storage server? If that's the case, you certainly don't need anything overly powerful as the server, it really only need good (and redundant!) storage.

Also, I assume you already have the laptops?

I already have the laptops. I wouldn't mind moving the items that need more "power" to the new computer. My wife plays games (like the Sims, etc) that stretch her laptop's capabilities and I'd rather get something that'd cover everything.

Good point on the redundancy- I know I could work on a RAID, but how much is too much? Or am I moving in the wrong direction?

At this point I have a 'pie in the sky' idea (as mentioned prior), but help brings reality.

 

[wfooshee]

Computers for computers' sake is not going to get you anywhere. Define what you need, then design to meet that need.

So far your needs are pretty vague. "High powered system." "Reporting/in contact with." "Moving the items."

You want gaming machines? That's a lot different from large storage or an application server. That said, most laptops are lousy gaming machines.

The laptops will not be "power-upped" by being "in touch with" a more powerful system. They're still just laptops, doing whatever they could do before.

Do you want more storage that the laptops can access? Do you want redundant storage, i.e. stuff is here and stuff is there. That's not the same thing as fault-tolerant storage, which is where you get into RAID technology. And a good storage system has completely different priorities from a machine that plays games, and contains different technology.

So you need to more clearly define what you want beyond the two separate laptops. Shared storage? Secure storage (i.e. secrets?) Daily backups? Media server? Games?

Think about what you want it to do, and the hardware and software to do that will become clearer.

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

What I would do :

Getting a standard gaming computer :

i5-3570k
Generic motherboard such as MSI Z77A-G45
8 giga of ram DDR3-1600
GTX660Ti
128gb SSD
1to HD 7200 rpm
A well ventilated pc case, depending on your taste. I would get a NZXT Phantom but it's a bit pricy and you can find cheaper alternative that works as well.
A 600w Power supply. A knowned brand is the best.

With a computer like that you can do pretty much anything that an average pc user do. Gaming with good graphics, working, etc..

Then for your Network, I would put a 2to NAS on your network with movies/series/pics/documents that you can access with any computer in your house even if you "main" computer is shutdown.

 

[Jubby]

i5-3570k
Generic motherboard such as MSI Z77A-G45
8 giga of ram DDR3-1600
GTX660Ti
128gb SSD
1to HD 7200 rpm
A well ventilated pc case, depending on your taste. I would get a NZXT Phantom but it's a bit pricy and you can find cheaper alternative that works as well.
A 600w Power supply. A knowned brand is the best.

Then for your Network, I would put a 2to NAS on your network with movies/series/pics/documents that you can access with any computer in your house even if you "main" computer is shutdown.

That sounds like a decent (if not good) starting point, but not knowing enough about the hardware alternatives, I'm wondering if anyone has any input on choices of hardware that they would prefer or suggest if we use this basic platform.

Also, would a proper NAS be a better alternative as opposed to just additional strong internal HDs (potentially using a RAID) in the tower that can be mapped across the network? I know more than enough about the technology- but zero experience with it.

 

[djinline]

As for a reliable internal HDD I would look for either Seagate SV35 or Western Digital Red. Both models are designed for 24/7 use. Here is a roundup review which includes both drives in 2TB capacity, but they are also available in 1TB and 3TB sizes. Seagate Pipeline HD and Constellation are also designed for 24/7 use.

Getting at least 80+ Silver certificated power supply for your setup wouldn't be bad either. Here's more info on 80+ technology.