Three years ago I took an old Dell and turned it into a Windows Home Server. I finally ran out of disk space and physical space to put anything else in so this is my replacement. My main goal was to keep this cheap and then Ill go big on my next one. My total cost for everything shipped and after rebates and coupons and such was under $275 (without drives of course) so I think I achieved that. I based it on one of Raj's Prototype Designs and replaced certain out of stock items as I went.

 

OS at time of building: 4.7

CPU: AMD Sempron 140

Motherboard: AsRock 880GM-LE

RAM: Kingston ValueRAM 2GB

Case: Antec 300

Drive Cage(s): XIGMATEK CCA-EMFCB-U01 4 in 3 (replaced the fan with an Antec tricool)

Power Supply: CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 V2 430W

SATA Expansion Card(s): 2 port SATA2 Serial ATA II PCI-Express RAID Controller Card (Silicon Image SIL3132)

Cables: Monoprice

Fans: Antec TriCool 120mm

 

Parity Drive: 2TB Hitachi Coolspin

Data Drives: (3) 2TB Hitachi Coolspin (6) 1TB WD Green drive from old WHS

Cache Drive: None

Total Drive Capacity: 12TB

 

Primary Use: Media storage

Likes: Everything has been very smooth so far.

Dislikes: None at the moment

Add Ons Used: unMenu, apcupsd, preclear

Future Plans: Go Bigger and Badder

 

Boot (peak): 180 W

Idle (avg):

Active (avg): 100 W

Light use (avg):

 

 

 

 

Other notes:

I removed the mesh from the top 3 drive covers and cut out rectangular holes to allow for better airflow for the 4 in 3. Also replaced the fan on the 4 in 3 to match the other fans.

Im not super happy with my cable management skills but it has been 10+ years since Ive built a computer so I can live with it.

 

One question for you all. Im not using a side fan so I was wondering if I should cover the side fan spot with something and if so what?

 

 

Nice looking. I noticed you have a bottom mount power supply like I do. I see some people install them up side down but I'm not entirely sure.

 

 

 

One question for you all. Im not using a side fan so I was wondering if I should cover the side fan spot with something and if so what?

 

 

I covered the vent with duct tape from the inside, this ensures all air entering the case comes over the drives which provides the best cooling.

I noticed you have a bottom mount power supply like I do. I see some people install them up side down but I'm not entirely sure.

 

 

This helps pull in more air from the front over the drives, thus helping keep them cooler.  This is ok with unRAID where the cpu and graphics card dont generate much heat, and you dont need to worry too much about providing the power supply with a cool air supply.

 

One question for you all. Im not using a side fan so I was wondering if I should cover the side fan spot with something and if so what?

 

 

I covered the vent with duct tape from the inside, this ensures all air entering the case comes over the drives which provides the best cooling.

 

Thanks for the info.

I personally mounted my PSU fan side down so it was pulling in and exhausting out its own air. With the 3 fans in front of my case its pulling enough air in and I'm not worried about air being sucked in and sucked out low since heat rises and cool air tends to go lower.

 

I just scotched tape some paper over my side and top holes from the inside. Works and its easily removed in a minute.

 

Nice wire job you have there.

Yes, +1 on the wiring job. Very inspiring

Thanks for all the input. I just made a "patch" with some Gorilla tape that I put over the side vent on the inside. Its black so you dont notice from the outside. The rest of my data is almost done being copied over and I'll finally be done. For now