For the server hardware, there are plenty of quiet, low energy consumption x86 boxes available. I have one based on an Intel Atom CPU -- it's not silent, because it has a fan, but it's quiet and it's located well outside my listening areas. Running full tilt it draws 23w, and using power management software to put it into suspend takes it down to 2w when not serving music. It cost around $275 several years ago. Go to newegg.com and search on barebones systems and look at the offerings from Foxconn, Shuttle, and similar manufacturers. If you're not in the US there is probably something similar where you are.
Moving files over the network as you rip batches of CDs is easy. A Win 8 laptop is often not the ideal system for serving music, because you're rebooting for the weekly Windows security updates, or maybe you'll take it somewhere, etc. As for ruining the internal drive, how many disks are you talking about? I've done a few hundred on a laptop drive with no signs of degradation of the drive. If you have thousands of CDs that could be more problematic, so external CD drives start to make sense. Of course, ripping and tagging is an investment of time, so make one or more backup copies of your music library on USB external drive(s), and keep at least one off-site, rotating it in for backups on a regular basis. Nothing high-end, but music anywhere I want it, and it's '100% wind powered' (http://www.cleancurrents.com/). 'MSI single-core Atom mini-desktop' (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856167032) ('Debian' (http://www.debian.org/) Squeeze 6.0.x) feeding: Living room: 'SB Touch' (http://www.stereophile.com/mediaservers/logitech_squeezebox_touch_network_music_player/index.html) > 'NAD C325 BEE' (http://nadelectronics.com/products/hifi-amplifiers/C-325BEE-Stereo-Integrated-Amplifier?products/hifi-amplifiers/C325BEE-Stereo-Integrated-Amplifier) > 'Vandersteen 1' (http://www.vandersteen.com/pages/1clit.html); Kitchen/Dining: 'SB2' (http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20050428023747/http://www.slimdevices.com/) > 'AudioSource Amp100' (http://www.amazon.com/AudioSource-AMP-100-2-Channel-Bridgeable-Amplifier/dp/B00026BQJ6) > 2 pair of 'Polk RC60i' (http://www.polkaudio.com/customaudio/rci/index.php?s=rc60i); Basement: 'SB2' (http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20050428023747/http://www.slimdevices.com/) > 'JVC JA-S44' (http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=204813) > 'ESS Tempest LS8' (http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/205237-ess_tempest_ls_8_speakers/); Bedroom: 'SB Radio' (http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-audio-receivers-dars/logitech-squeezebox-radio-black/4505-6470_7-33770452.html); Study: 'Squeezelite local player' (http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?97046-Announce-Squeezelite-a-small-headless-squeezeplay-emulator-for-linux-(alsa-only)&highlight=squeezelite) > 'Klipsch ProMedia 2.0' (http://www.klipsch.com/promedia-ultra-2-0-computer-speaker-system); Backyard deck: 'SB Receiver' (http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.php/Receiver) > 'AudioSource Amp100' (http://www.amazon.com/AudioSource-AMP-100-2-Channel-Bridgeable-Amplifier/dp/B00026BQJ6) > 'Polk Atrium 45' (http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/atrium/index.php#atrium45); Kid's bedroom: 'Boom' (http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.php/Squeezebox_Boom); Roaming controllers: Retina iPad with Squeezepad & iPeng, iPod touch with iPeng, 3 'SB Duet Controllers' (http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.php/Controller), various SB infrared remotes, 'Nokia N800' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_N800); In the bullpen (boxed up and ready to use if one of the above quits): 'SB3' (http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20051210015952/http://slimdevices.com/) and one more 'SB Receiver' (http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.php/Receiver) http://www.last.fm/user/aubuti/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ aubuti's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2074 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=98057 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
