So I'm moving to a new place relatively soon, and we will be switching from Satellite to Cable (and from AT&T internet to Cox). Currently, we rely on our landlord's WiFi (they live on the other half of our side-by-side). This new place will have no such amenities. So:

I'll start by picking up a Cisco DPC3010 8x4 used off Amazon for $22. So that will feed into a Linksys ea4500 which, unfortunately, must act as a simple WAP/switch since it's got a dead WAN port. Now, here's where I'm having trouble deciding what's actually ideal for me.

So I'm debating an HP Proliant DL160 g6 with dual l5520s. I won't actually be using any RAID features; it will function as a storage server (probably will have the OS (Windows Server 2012, free to all students) vs CentOS, but almost certainly going with Windows) on a 2TB hdd + 3x4TB HDDs, but I will only be adding them as I run out of storage. This box will also serve as the DHCP, VPN, and simple FTP + backup location for other computers/devices in the house. Which brings me to what I will be storing: My main computer (fm1 a55 board with an a8-3870k running Win8) serves as a good frontend for media collection. It's got a BluRay burner and software to rip my collection for digital storage. It's got a TV tuner (hauppauge 2250, currently) and takes in tons and tons of raw video. The problem I have with it is that when I use MCE Buddy (a nice version of Handbrake for file conversion), it tends to BSOD after several hours of running at 100% converting files (and my backlog is extensive), but there's no good way to throttle the CPU usage down. Bigger cooler, open side of case didn't help. In short, it's really not capable of downsizing the raw video files into compressed HD in its current state. Thus, the new backend. I'd script the Recorded TV folder to dump files onto the server which would take advantage of the 2x quad core processors to rip them up into much smaller, more manageable files and then take advantage of being, well, you know...a server. I'll probably take the cheap way out and add Plex for remote viewing if my VPN throughput isn't sufficient for streaming (and I assume it will not be).

So now that the modem, DHCP, and access point are set, what else could we want? Well, for starters, we could use a better DVR than the Hauppauge 2250, so let's go grab an HDHomerun Prime so that all the DVR content is in high def. Also, it's DLNA compatible, so we can pull those tuners in from our ancient DSM Media Lounge and, with the help of HDHRFling, on my Roku 2xs.

Now at this point, I've got almost everything I want, except that pesky cable box that's going to cost $10-12/month. Which model should I let Cox charge me for. None of them, because the Samsung GX-SM530CF lets you rent a CableCard (just like with the HDHomerun Prime) for ~$2 month (so it pays for itself in about a year), has a full web browser, access to many streaming apps, and access to all your own home content...in addition to all your encrypted cable channels. It also supports AllShare Cast (basically AirPlay with a compatible iPhone app), and this is your cable box; no changing inputs is required. And the same remote jumps from Amazon to Netflix back to ESPN with no TV input change required). You do lose the OnDemand features, but at this point, I think that's an even trade for the amount of storage and inner-connectivity of all the pieces.

Noticeably lacking is an HTPC, but my ideal build there would roughly double my budget (this whole setup, minus what I already own, is teetering on the $500 brim).

What say ye, Tech Board? Is the backend better served by some other hardware (or software) at a better price (perhaps a simple NAS + leaving raw video files as are and skimming the collection eventually, albeit likely 1-2 years from being required)? Is an HDHomerun Prime + Samsung GX-SM530CF worth the 2-year breakeven point (assuming a single set-top box otherwise. Divide 24 months/# of cable boxes otherwise required, but I'm basing it off of 1).