Before the launch of the LX195, it was pretty easy to figure out which of HPs two MediaSmart Server models would be the right fit for you. Since the only difference was the amount of disk space, all you needed to ask yourself was a single question, "Do I want the 500GB model or the 1TB model?" 

Today it's not quite so simple. For starters, HP has two completely different types of MediaSmart Servers: the EX and the LX, both with different capabilities and features. On top of that, the two models in the EX line now have more significant hardware differences that make it harder than a simple "big or small" question would be.

If you're on the hunt for a MediaSmart Server of your very own, this guide will help you decide which of the three current MediaSmart Server models, either the EX495, EX490, and LX195, is the best choice for your needs.

EX or LX? Big or Small? There's a MediaSmart Server for all!

Before we dive into specifics, we first need to get a basic understanding of the differences between the varying MediaSmart Server options. Though we'll talk about how these factors affect you more specifically, here's a breakdown of each model's hardware specifications:

	EX495	EX490	LX195
Intel Processor Type	Pentium E5200	Celeron 450	Atom 230
Number of cores	2	1	1
Processor speed	2.5Ghz	2.2 Ghz	1.6 Ghz
Memory	2GB	2GB	1GB
Network	10/100/1000 Ethernet	10/100/1000 Ethernet	10/100/1000 Ethernet
USB Ports	4	4	4
eSATA	1	1	1
Drive bays	4 (3 open)	4 (3 open)	1 (0 open)
Hard Drive	1 x 1.5TB 7200RPM SATA	1 x 1TB 7200 RPM	1 x 640MB  7200RPM
MSRP	$699	$549	$399

The big decision.. EX or LX?

Aside from the hardware differences, there are several software differences between the EX and LX product line that may influence your decision. These could change as HP offers software updates to LX customers, but until that happens, here are the software differences to be aware of:

	LX195	EX490/495
Mac "bare-metal" recovery		x
Home Server Console	2.5 look	3.0 look
Media Collector	Simple	Advanced
Media Collector for Mac	No	Yes
HP Video Converter	Simple	Advanced
Console Access from Macs	No	Yes
Web-based Server Homepage	No	Yes

How do you choose between the LX and EX series? For starters, if you know how an Atom 230 differs from the other Intel processors, then I doubt the LX-195 is for you. That said, if you saw technical specifications and simply glazed over them, then the LX-195 may just be up your alley.

For enthusiasts like me, the LX-195 is a tough sell, but technical interests aside, the LX195 will serve the needs of the majority of PC users at an extremely attractive price. At street prices with rebates and other offerings, most should find the LX-195 priced around $300. Given the entry level EX product starts at $549, you could pick up an LX-195 and a beefy external hard drive all while saving $150. 

If your goal is to simply back up one or two PCs and Macs, I wouldn't hesitate looking at the LX-195. That said, if you add up the amount of disk space currently in use (not the size of the hard drive in each, but the amount of data on those drives) in each computer, and it's over 500GB total, odds are you either have more than two computers or have a lot of digital photos, music, and videos. That much digital content would make you a "media enthusiast," which means you'd be best served by the EX line; odds are, your storage needs are going to grow quickly. The EX line will be more appealing to you because of the easy "internal" expansion. Adding new storage is simpler, and since it's internal, you don't have to have to look at several external drives hanging off your home server. 

Those who primarily use a Mac for day to day computing should consider the EX line of MediaSmart Servers. Being able to access the console and use the Media Collector is well worth the extra investment, and the ability to restore a Mac from scratch is pretty handy, too.

LX-195 Checklist - If you answer yes to any of the following statements, go to the EX line.

• I consider myself a media enthusiast.
• I have over 500GB of data.
• I have more than two computers to back up.
• I primarily use a Mac.
• I want the server to automatically find my photos, music, and videos.
• I plan on heavily using the iStream application for iPhone.

The EX Line: Two Servers, One Standout

When I set out to make this guide, I had a gut feeling it would be difficult to narrow down what kind of person should get the EX490 and who should get the EX495. I've sliced and diced the two HP MediaSmart Server EX products in seven different directions, deeply considered the feature set and hardware of each, and have gone through painstaking lengths to match each one to a certain user. In the end, it was actually easier than I thought; there's one EX server that stands out as the right solution for most considering an EX Server - the EX490. Does that mean the EX495 doesn't have its place? Of course not, but it does mean choosing between the two should be fairly simple.

The EX490 and EX495 are identical from a software perspective, meaning they both sport the same HP Video Converter, the same Mac features, the same Media Collector, etc. In the end, there are three differences between these two products. 

1. The EX495 has a faster, dual core processor. 
2. The EX495 ships with 1.5TB of space instead of 1TB.
3. The EX495 is $150 more (MSRP).

So, the decision here is, "Do you drop the extra Benjamin-and-a-half on those two differences, or not?"

The EX490... It's a server, after all.

As a tech enthusiast I want to recommend the model with the faster processor and bigger hard drive, but the practical side of me has difficulty recommending buying horsepower for the sake of having more horsepower. If that additional oomph doesn't translate into a real world benefit for you, then what's the point? 

According to HP, everything should be faster on the EX495, like virus-scanning (if you run AV software on your MSS, file duplication, video encoding, user interface, and network throughput. I haven't had any hands on time with the 490 personally to do any real-world comparisons against the 495, and comparing the EX485/7 and EX495 isn't quite as fair since the 495 UI is filled with more eye candy.  That said, after months with the EX485, I can't say the responsiveness was ever an issue given how I use it, but there are use cases when the dual-core processor in the 495 may be advantageous (see "expanders" below).

While all that's great, and you may get some real-world benefits from having the faster rig, most of those speed improvements will benefit tasks happening in the background. Are you going to care that your virus scan took 12 minutes longer to complete when it runs at 3AM? Are you going to notice that storage balancing took longer when you're making dinner or giving the kids a bath? Of course not.

For the most part, the MediaSmart Server is a hands-off device, chugging away doing its thing. Unlike a desktop or laptop, you're not directly interfacing with the MediaSmart Server all that often. Once it's set up to user preference, most will rarely have to enter the Home Server Console at all.

The EX495 - Who is it for?

HP positions the EX495 as the premium solution for the "digital media enthusiast," because the extra processor core and speed bump in the EX495 means it converts video with the HP Video Converter 1.5 to 2 times faster than the single core model. However, I'm not so sure that's the right person for EX495.

First, as much as I like the HP Video Converter, a real digital enthusiast probably won't abandon whatever conversion tools they're using in favor of the integrated converter... at least not entirely. Second, any media enthusiast in a hurry for a conversion to happen would rather use their quad-core Core 2, Core i5/i7, or AMD Phenom II based desktop instead.  Otherwise, the speed of the single core Celeron in the EX490 is good enough for non-time critical conversions.  

Finally, the additional 500GB hard drive space is certainly a nice improvement that everyone would be able to take advantage of.  However, if sheer space is what you're after, an EX490 and 2 additional 1TB hard drives gives you a 3TB server capable of folder duplication... for the same price as a 1.5TB single-drive EX495.

So who is the EX495 for? I'd say it's the perfect choice for four different types of people - the "Digital Media Beginners and iPhoners," the "Expanders," the "Impatients," and the "Prepared For Everythings."

"Digital Media Beginners and iPhoners"

Digital Media Beginners are those who want to start taking advantage of things like digital video streaming with an XBOX 360 or iPhone, but don't know an MP4 from an MP3. HP's drag-and-drop automatic solution that "just works" is perfect for this case. Anyone solely relying on the HP Video Converter to handle virtually all of their conversion needs will certainly benefit from the extra horsepower in the the EX495.

I call out iPhoners not because I believe they're "Digital Media Beginners" per say, but because iPhoners using the iStream App will find themselves gravitating toward the integrated Video Converter to make iPhone friendly copies of their favorite media. It may be rare that you will need a conversion to finish in a hurry, but if you drop a bunch of video files into it that you want to share with family in a few hours, the faster they're completed... the better.

"Expanders"

If you're already familiar with the Windows Home Server platform, you may very well know that its capabilities can be expanded through special Home Server add-ins and (if you're savvy enough) regular applications installed like any other Windows app. An "expander" is someone who doesn't intend to use the MSS with only the out of the box features by tossing in add-in after add-in, and plans on using it for everything from Web serving to home automation control and beyond.

The more stuff you have running, the more your system is taxed (like any other PC) so if this sounds like you, you'll be better off with the added horsepower.

"Impatients"

An "Impatient" is the kind of person that thinks and acts faster than the computer you're using. You scream "c'mon!" when waiting for your web browser to come up, booting your computer feels like five minutes instead of twenty seconds, you're constantly clicking faster than the computer can respond, and you can feel the difference between 320GB 5400RPM and 7200RPM notebook drives. If this is you, I feel your pain. I fit into this group more than any other.

For folks like us, the faster the hardware we can get, the better. Even if you're not an expander, you'll appreciate even the slightest improvement in performance. Whether that means large network transfers take a little less time to complete, clicks in the UI respond a little bit faster, or streaming a video from your server starts up that much faster, it's all appreciated. 

"Prepared for Everythings"

Do you always buy the extended warranties? Do you carry insurance for everything... including health insurance for the family pet? Do you have a "break-down" survival kit in each car and two years worth of supplies in your bomb shelter? Do you always get a new car with every option available because you may need the heated windsheild fluid nozzles someday? If you somewhat agreed to any of those statements, it's a safe bet you fit in this group.

For anyone other than "impatients," the additional horsepower in the EX495 today doesn't yield much fruit for anything other than video conversion, who knows the things HP may have in store for users tomorrow? HP is constantly improving the MediaSmart Server, and could very well add a few things down the road that may benefit more by having the faster dual-core processor. Then again, they may not.

If you're the kind of person who likes to be prepared for all possibilities, then the EX495 may give you a bit more peace of mind.

The EX490/495 checklist - If you answer yes to any of the following statements, the EX495 is for you. Otherwise, the EX490 is the way to go.

• I plan on using the HP Video Converter often, and for the majority of my conversion needs.
• I like to have the fastest machine possible "just in case."
• I like my machines to perform tasks as fast as possible.
• I plan on heavily expanding my Home Servers capabilities through the use of add-ins and other means.
• I'm getting this as a gift, and don't mind asking for the better option.
• I want the absolute best, and nothing else will do, period.

Add That Second Drive Now, Before it's Too Late

Regardless of which MediaSmart Server you choose, the LX195, EX490, or EX495, I highly recommend picking up at least one additional external (for the LX195) or internal (for the EX servers) hard drive meeting or exceeding the size of the included drive. No MediaSmart Server today ships with more than one hard drive, which means that "Folder Duplication," Windows Home Server's feature that copies data to multiple drives in the event of hard drive failure, cannot be used. Adding that second drive off the bat helps to ensure that you're getting the most protection for your valuable data.

Ready? Shop our MediaSmart Home Store, powered by Amazon, for the best prices on MediaSmart Servers and accessories.