OK,

 

First, Thanks to everyone who has assisted in this (it had been smooth sailing for about 6 months or so).

 

I wanted a small file server, I am not chasing HUGE storage (at the moment), but want something that can store all of the photos that me and my wife take as well as hosting stuff which is useful for all PC's in the house to see.

 

OS at time of building: Originally 4.6, now 4.7

CPU: Intel E6320 (underclocked to 1.4GHz for everyday use)

Motherboard: Zotac G45ITX-B-E (Hardware RAID5 does not work on these, zotac know about the problem and continue to advertise with it)

RAM: Kingston 1333 DDR3

Case: Fractal Array R2

Fans: Using Core2 Quad cooler (copper core) and changed the 140mm Fractal design to Deepcool SF-UF140 (it can push up to 70cfm, which is probably filling the case once a second)

 

Data Drives: 3 x SG 7200rpm 1TB baracudas (2 were out of my computer and the other 2 I bought when I built)

Cache Drive: SG 7200rpm 1TB baracuda

 

Primary Use: Storing photos and hosting some media.

Likes: Size, looks, UNRAID (and support forum heroes)

Dislikes: Original fan was a super quiet fan, made obsolete by the PSU fan being noisy. [sOLVED] Replaced with something still quiet, but much more powerful.

Dislikes: Pen drives that die.

 

Future Plans: shorter SATA cables, more storage as needed

 

 

Here are a few pics, really sorry about the pics, all I had on me when it was apart was my phone.

 

Pics include: The new fan Deepcool SF-UF140 (I had to drill holes to mount it), The case with the HDD cage sitting out and the empty case (I say empty as without the HDDs in there it really does look sparse)

Pics include: With the HDD cage back in place, The front of the case and the back of the case.

Update:

 

Now copying a bit of data onto it as it is back up and running.

 

Reason I changed the fan was HDDs sitting on 44-47 degrees (depending on workload and ambient temps) but now down to 34 under load and 32 on idle thanks to the Deepcool fan. The PSU fan  is still noisier, but there is a different sound between the deepcool and fractal design fans.

Nice!

 

I am huge fan of small form factor builds. That is a very clean looking server... I like!

 

I was always scared about that case due to drives overheating. It sounds like you nipped that.

 

I also didnt like that it takes 30 min to swap a drive. but then again, how often do you change drives?

 

 

 

It might be possible that a Pico Power supply could work for you to shut that last bit of noise up.

30 mins is by far an exaggeration (which I wouldn't blame you for assuming). I have read lots of reviews of the case where they said that you remove the screws on the side panels to get the HDD cage out, etc etc. and they are going the long way around. 6 screws on top get the top panel off and then I unplug the cables from the drives, 4 screws removes the cage and they you just unscrew the HDD you want out. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but it is less than 5 mins in and 5 mins out. I have never had any of the problems that reviewers have with stuff not fitting etc, in my opinion, no review that I've seen has done it justice.

 

The noise isn't an issue for me, it lives in a spare bedroom. The fan that comes with it is amazingly quiet, but made obsolete because of the PSU. I moved it into my media PC, which come to think of it, I should show some pics of it here as well, people should enjoy it.

 

I have read of people turning this case into a LAN box and swapping out the PSU for (i think) a Seasonic pico PSU which is quieter and more designed for small form factor gaming cases and leaving out the whole HDD cage for space for a big video card. The PSU that comes with the Array R2 is made by FSP and has 2 strings of 3x SATA power cables which are perfect length for going between drives in the cage

Excuse the messy cables...It's one of those jobs I still haven't gotten around to doing.

 

I modified a 1960's dressing table by ripping apart the 2 left draws and using their fronts to make a door. I also had to cut the drawer supports out and welded together a frame (working out the exact spacing for screws etc was a nightmare). The door is on unclipping hinges. You can see my 140mm fan sitting at the bottom blowing up. Temps are really good in it. The bluray drive faces down and the tray opens out the bottom.

 

Im proud of this one.

Excuse the messy cables...It's one of those jobs I still haven't gotten around to doing.

 

I modified a 1960's dressing table by ripping apart the 2 left draws and using their fronts to make a door. I also had to cut the drawer supports out and welded together a frame (working out the exact spacing for screws etc was a nightmare). The door is on unclipping hinges. You can see my 140mm fan sitting at the bottom blowing up. Temps are really good in it. The bluray drive faces down and the tray opens out the bottom.

 

Im proud of this one.

 

Very nice...

 

I think I would have mounted everything on the door itself so it would be accessible for maintenance when the door opens - assuming it is not too heavy for the door hinges.

 

in my opinion, no review that I've seen has done it justice.

Fair enough.

 

I have yet to see one first hand.

 

 

I thought i was nuts for using an old desk for an entertainment system. I'm using the space where a chair would go for all of the AV equipment. Yours is much cleaner looking (minus the wire mess that can be cleaned up).

 

I guess that is now one of the largest PC cases  around.. it can hold a TV!

 

mm i love samsung TV's.. lol I have 2 now. thinking of a 3rd.

I think I would have mounted everything on the door itself so it would be accessible for maintenance when the door opens - assuming it is not too heavy for the door hinges.

 

The door hinges needed to be compact to allow the metal frame to slide out when need be, so they aren't even strong enough to hold the doors weight up. There were other options I could have looked at, but this was the easiest way to do it. And I don't have only needed to pull the computer out once in the last 12 months.

 

There is also nowhere near enough room on the door to mount the whole system. What you cannot see in the pic is the PSU and space for 2 HDDs behind the optical drive. Maybe if I had gone for ITX build in it and 2.5" drive I might have been able to mount it onto the door, but the way it is at the moment is that the IO panel and all cards actually have rear access. You can see the holes in the picture at the back.

Nice design!  So the optical drive opens vertically, with the tray extending beneath the cabinet?  Not sure I understand that part of it.

Nice design!  So the optical drive opens vertically, with the tray extending beneath the cabinet?

 

Exactly. Its tilted back a little bit so when the drive opens out the disk doesn't fall

Interesting.  I guess if it is working, great, but I've heard that not all tray-loading optical drives will work well at anything other than horizontal or vertical, so it might fail earlier than you expect.  Slot loading drives grab the disc better, so they should all be fine (but they fail early for other reasons).