HTPC / NAS or HTPC + NAS

[MarXX]

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this is my first post here and ill try to be as clear as possible...

current situation:
my room has currently 2 pc's and 1 laptop and 1 smartphone connected to network. current network is at 100mb/s fast ethernet.

first pc: work station / gaming station
i7 4770
GB H87 d3h
16GB ram will expand to 32GB by year end.
gtx 550ti (for now)
3 HDD's. system is 250gb, 1-2TB, 1 - 500GB
850w PSU (in prep for GTX 770)
gigabit ethernet capable motherboard
primary function is CAD/BIM using Revit 2014 and Acad and 3d max design
some gaming

second pc: HTPC
core2Quad Q8300
4GB Ram
gigabit ethernet capable motherboard
GT430 for HDMI to 32"TV
running XBMC and Media center


now my issues:
i need a NAS storage device, one that is 24/7
i am not sure if ill just create another HTPC that doubles as a NAS at the same time or to ADD another dedicated NAS.

the NAS wont be in any kind of RAID config. but may house more than 3-2TB HDD's

first off between building a PC for NAS or just buying one of those DLINK NAS, i prefer building a PC for a NAS. price difference is about 2k, in favor of DLINK. i prefer to build a PC and make it a NAS because it is also my backup PC if any of the two pc's in my room bug down. dedicated NAS may be headless.

now i am thinking of getting a GIGABYTE j1800 motherboard with built in celeron processor for the NAS.
now if this can double as HTPC i might be okay with it, since my current HTPC consumes more power than this new built in celeron. and the HTPC is pretty much on 12 hours a day, the celeron seems tempting since it is a passively cooled CPU.

OR

i keep the current configuration and simple ADD another PC dedicated to be a NAS. headless, probably will be kept inside a cabinet out of sight.

Networking:
currently its all connected to an e1000 cisco router fast ethernet.
im planning to get a GIGABIT switch and change my cables to CAT 6a to enable GIGABIT file transfer speeds. obviously this does nothing to my internet speeds.

so
pldt modem > Cisco WiFi Router > GIGABIT SWITCH> MAIN PC
> HTPC
> NAS

so i ask what is better configuration.
also ill need to know if the J1800 celeron processor is powerful enough to run an HTPC. right now the current HTPC is running okay, a bit overpowered for the task maybe.
next question, can the onboard graphics of the J1800 celeron handle 1080p or do i have to strap in the gt430 for this?

if the new NAS will double as HTPC, ill simply re task my core2Quad to do rendering and maybe overclock it a little or make it a dedicated PC for my wife. wife primarily uses photoshop, minor CAD no 3D, word, excel, facebook, etc. nothing super demanding..... and eventually this CPU would inherit my 550Ti which probably will be changed next year.


opinions?

[butitoy]

pldt modem > Cisco WiFi Router > GIGABIT SWITCH

> MAIN PC : nice plan for GTX770

> HTPC + HD770 < if dili na ganahan sa GT430 >

> TORRENT | NAS : GIGABYTE j1800 motherboard with built in celeron processor for the NAS.

[MarXX]

can the onboard graphics of the J1800 handle HTPC tasks?

[hawkshock]

Asa ta ka palit ana na mini-itx mobo boss from GIGABYTE? how much pud?

[MarXX]

3k+ daw. wasnt able to find in cebu but i guess sa manila naa pa.

[yugi]

@TS: can the onboard graphics of the J1800 handle HTPC tasks? HD movies, etc?

[Tamblot]

@TS: Care to share what is the intended use of your NAS? I have a 10TB NAS (Synology) at home that runs as my media center. Gigabit network to my Blu-ray player and TV. Same server for streaming media to mobile devices, laptops and PC.

[authencation]

@TS much better if add jd ka vc for ur NAS.. gt430 or 630 2gb.


onboard graphics on j1800 is a waste!

[MarXX]

intended use for the NAS is for storing media files. i have 10 years worth of torrent downloads which id like to keep.
aside from that, it will be a backup router by adhoc.

[bim27142]

@TS much better if add jd ka vc for ur NAS.. gt430 or 630 2gb.


onboard graphics on j1800 is a waste!

mura x1 lang ang expansion sa Gigabyte J1800.

intended use for the NAS is for storing media files. i have 10 years worth of torrent downloads which id like to keep.
aside from that, it will be a backup router by adhoc.

I think J1800 will suffice to your needs TS... not sure lang kung dili mo kamang ana ang 1080p nga mkv gyud kanang tig 10 or 20gb nga size...