Building server for HTPC

[kmote]

Having two different machines would be ideal; servers aren't exactly known for having good HTPC qualities and vice versa. The server should be out of sight (definitely out of earshot) and out of mind.

 

[Kdar]

What orihS is getting at is that you don't NEED to do it that way. You can ALSO forget about the external/network storage and just store everything on the HTPC.

I want to make HTPC as small as possible, make it like an appliance, not a PC. Plan to hide it behind my TV, maybe similar to this:
SUGGED Blog Archive Mini-ITX (M350) Media Center Build

I also I want it to be really quiet and fan less. So no one would see it, no one would hear it.

So I want Server to do most of the things. (I also might use it as torrent box, like my web-server)..


Do you think this motherboard will work for Server? (I am interested in it because it use Atom CPU, and use less power)
Newegg.com - ECS 945GCD-M(1.0) Intel Atom 330 Intel 945GC Micro ATX Motherboard/CPU Combo - Motherboard / CPU / VGA Combo

 

[S0ULphIRE]

A really popular choice for HTPCs are Mac Minis. They're tiny but have enough oompf to stream hi-def movies. They also have 5.1 optical out and lots of USB ports to plug in external storage.
They're also not THAT expensive, well worth the end result IMO.

 

[kmote]

Do you think this motherboard will work for Server? (I am interested in it because it use Atom CPU, and use less power)
Newegg.com - ECS 945GCD-M(1.0) Intel Atom 330 Intel 945GC Micro ATX Motherboard/CPU Combo - Motherboard / CPU / VGA Combo

Atom isn't a bad idea although it will take a very long time for any power savings to pay for themselves and I would steer clear of ECS. Before buying anything though, it is important to nail down a few details such as the role(s) of the server and what you need out of it.