Collecting some product links to build a tiny server suitable for running at home. The main goal is for it to be quiet and power efficient.

Server

Mini ITX Case

• M350 Universal Mini-ITX PC Enclosure $39.50
• PicoPSU-150-XT + 100W Adapter Power Kit $69.50

Intel 80gb SSD

• Intel 320 Series 80 GB SSD $170.48
• Power consumption while idle: 100mW
• Power consumption while active: 150mW

Intel Atom Dual-Core Motherboard

• Intel Atom D525 Mini ITX Motherboard/CPU Combo $79
• CPU: Intel Atom D525@ 1.8GHz (Dual Core)
• 2×204pin SO-DIMM DDR3 800
• 2 SATA 2.0Gb/s Ports
• Ports: 2 x PS/2, Serial, VGA, 4 x USB 2.0,
• Dimensions: 6.7" x 6.7"

4gb RAM

• Kingston 2GB DDR3 204-Pin SODIMM Laptop Memory $15.66 each
• 2x Kingston 2gb DDR3 1333

Benchmarks

Power Usage

• 15-20W under normal conditions
• +5W when hard drive is writing

Hard Drive

• Writes at 93 MB/s
• Reads at 185 MB/s
• +5 watts when writing Compare to previous server with spinning SATA hard drives
• Writes at 42 MB/s
• Reads at 44 MB/s
• +30 watts when writing

[aaron@nybble ~]$ dd if=/dev/zero bs=1024k of=tstfile count=4096
4096+0 records in
4096+0 records out
4294967296 bytes (4.3 GB) copied, 45.7889 s, 93.8 MB/s
[aaron@nybble ~]$ 
[aaron@nybble ~]$ dd if=tstfile bs=1024k of=/dev/null
4096+0 records in
4096+0 records out
4294967296 bytes (4.3 GB) copied, 23.2265 s, 185 MB/s
[aaron@nybble ~]$ 

Small computer for powering a TV

Barebones System

• Foxconn nT535-0h0w-B-A-NA Intel Atom D525 - $159.99

4 GB RAM

• Crucial Technology CT51264BC1067 4 GB 204-pin SODIMM DDR3 - $23.43

80/40 GB Intel SSD

• Intel 320 Series 80 GB SATA 3.0 - $147.31
• Intel 320 Series 40 GB SATA 3.0 - $84.99

USB Ethernet Adapter

• Cisco-Linksys USB Ethernet Adapter - $25.99

Printer/Scanner

• Brother MFC7460DN Ethernet Monochrome Printer with Scanner, Copier & Fax

Wireless

• Airport Extreme - $173 Wifi hotspot
• Airport Express - $99 for wireless audio to receiver

Old Thoughts

I was considering getting a server motherboard for the dual NICs, but Wraithan pointed out that it'd be cheaper to use an external USB NIC instead.