I'm planning to build a file server PC of sorts...

It will have four 1TB HDD's running RAID 0 or 1 ( I haven't decided yet...)

I'm curious to know which is better to connect this file server to my gaming PC... Gigabit CAT5 or FiberOptic Cabling?

Which can I get faster transfer speeds from? The length of the cabling will be under 50 feet as both of the computers will be in the same room.

This network will be a closed network directly from my Gaming rig to the file server, the file server will have no connection to the internet.

Your suggestions and knowledge on both types of network connections is appreciated as it's my weaker side of computers.

--\/@eLeN2oo1

Fiber Op for a home file server? Talk about overkill.

You'll be fine getting some gigabit NIC's(most motherboards now-a-days come with them standard But you'll want to double check your models, of course) and some cat6 and you're set. Heck of a lot cheaper than setting up a Fiber Op. line over such a short distance. 50ft of cat6 is gonna cost you upwards of $25 and that same distance in Fibre Optic line will is going to run you $100+ depending on the connector. On top of that, finding a non-PCI-X Fibre Optic NIC for less than $100 is gonna be a real adventure.

Edit: Just in case you were curious, the cheapest PCI-E Fibre Optic NICs I've been able to find all start right around $400. Of course I could be looking in all the wrong places...

the raw throughput of Gigabit LAN is ~120MB/s... assuming with overhead and such you only get about 70% of this, it's still 84MB/s

RAID 0 on a file server is a very bad idea. Don't ask me how I know.

mmm... I'd probably go with RAID 10 or 5

use D-Link Extreme Gigabit Wireless Router, perfect file sharing with speed up to 70 mb/s

It's a bad idea if you have inadaquate backup proceedures, RAID 0+1 would be great

It's settled then, I'll run RAID 0+1 with the built in RAID software on the motherboard.

I'll probably buy four 1TB HDD's and run them RAID 0+1 and get 2TB total... thats how it works right? It cuts your total storage space in half because it's duplicating the data right?

As far as the networking could I run TWO CAT6(e) cables from my computer to the server? Both of the motherboards have two gigabit network connections Could I combine them and have them act as one connection? ( Bridging the connection I believe it's called? )

If not then 1 cable should do fine .

--\/@eLeN2oo1

As I stated I don't want this server connected to the internet or through wireless, I want it securely connected to my computer and only my computer.

Thank you for the idea though that looks like one smoking fast router!

--\/@eLeN2oo1

A network storage box just for one PC seems a bit strange to me.

What kind of files will you be serving?

Main purpose is to keep files off my Gaming Rig. My music collection, artwork collection and photoshop files are beginning to take up far too much space and it's time to have a dedicated file store.

--\/@eLeN2oo1

Just use standard gigabit. You're going to be limited by your hard drives 99% of the time anyway.

So what's the advantage of building a PC to serve your files, over say, getting an external enclosure of some description?

Do you know of a External Hard Drive enclosure capable of holding FOUR 1 Terabyte Hard Drives? If so please post me a link

Also I'd be limited by USB transfer speeds, unless it has a built in gigabyte network port.

--\/@eLeN2oo1

Drobo? or This?

OMG the Venus T5 is perfect for what I'm looking for, THANKS!

--\/@eLeN2oo1

Heh, still dont get why you need them in a seperate place but go jammin for saving the day

I've got the Venus T5 holding all my media files for my MCE rig. 5x 500GB drives, it rocks. You will probably like it too. The fans are a bit loud though.