I've decided to build myself a storage server, and I've played around with my test server for a while.

Now I'm ready to go out an buy new hardware for a dedicated unraid server, but I'm not sure if everything would work right?

 

I've looked at the unraid.me setup, and look through the compatibility page and gotten some inspiration from those.

Though I work in IT, I'm no hardware wizard, so feel free to correct me if my build is wrong somehow.

 

Motherboard: ASUS M4A79XTD EVO (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131402&Tpk=ASUS%20M4A79XTD%20EVO%7cASUS%20M4A79XTD%7cM4A79XTD%20EVO)

CPU: AMD Sempron 145 (http://shop.amd.com/US/All/Detail/Processor/SDX145HBGMBOX)

RAM: Kingston 1GB DDR3 1333MHz Value

PSU: Corsair Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 (http://www.corsair.com/power-supply-units/enthusiast-series-power-supply-units/enthusiast-series-tx650-v2-80-plus-bronze-certified-650-watt-high-performance-power-supply.html) OR Corsair Gaming Series GS800 (http://www.corsair.com/power-supply-units/gaming-series-power-supply-units/gs800w.html)

 

That is the basic setup. For starters, I'll make due with the onboard SATA, but I really want to be able to run a 21 drive setup on this hardware, so I'll add 2 x SUPERMICRO AOC-SASLP-MV8 PCI Express x4 SAS RAID Controller which should yield another 16 slots.

 

What I'm not sure about is:

1:The CPU, does it fit the motherboard? The motherboard is AM3 and so is the CPU, but the CPU isn't listed as "supported" by the motherboard. Shouldn't the correct socket be enough?

 

2: The PSU. I've made sure both CPU's are single railed, but I'm concerned about the wattage and amp's. As I've said, I'd really want the setup to be able to run 21 drives. Drives will be Green Drives, either 2 TB or 3TB and 5200rpm or 7200rpm's. Electrics ain't my strong side, but let's say both PSU's have the exact same efficiency, but one is 650w and another is 800w. They would draw the exact same watt when running at Xwatt? Only difference would be that one can deliver 800w while the other can do 650w max. Which one would be the most economical to buy?

 

3: As I read it, the motherboard should be able to accomodate 2 PCIe cards (the supermicro ones) at maximum x8 right? (The supermicro ones only require x4, so I should be good?)

 

4: Last but not least, I would require some kind of graphics card to configure the server wouldn't I? Should I just buy a cheap PCI card somewhere?

 

Hope you can help me.

Not all CPU's are listed for motherboards. The board I bought lists AM3 but only lists being compatible with Phenom, I used the Sempron 145 and it works fine.

 

As far as the PSU, the 650 and the 800 will draw the same amount with the same configuration. The difference is the 800 has the ability to draw more and output more.

 

Yes, you would be fine with the 2 PCiE slots.

 

Yes you'll need a graphics card, any graphics card will work as its only going to run a text console.

Thaaaank you

 

Now I just gotta convince the misses that I need some new parts... Why is it that that is always the hardest part?

Because it wouldn't be fun if it wasn't!

 

Genetically wired different, atleast in the case of my wife she fully appreciates how awesome it is to have all our media ready to go and available to every computer and device in the house.... Unfortunately, she doesn't give a rats hind regions how it works or what is  needed. So new parts are either:

 

1. Drastically exaggerated to make it sound like without it the server is going to implode

 

or

 

2. Justified with a present of equal value to her

 

She likes option 2, I like option 1.

 

Again, we are at an impasse

 

 

Edit: I must add, she gave me crap for a week about the $200 it cost me to build the unraid server, yes, thats right, $200 for all new components(except hard drives). She quit giving me crap after my brother told me about his new computer, which has roughly the same specs as the server I built, only has a faster processor and beefy GPU, and spent $1200 more than me,

 

Now she is glad I could build it on the cheap, so I suppose, for once....I WIN!!!!

I should try that Influencer

 

I've read here (http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/ASUS-M4A79XTD-EVO-Motherboard/825/6), that the motherboards NIC is connected to the system with a PCI-Express x1 lane. Does this mean that it utilizes one of the two PCI-Express x1 slots available, or does it have it's own separate PCI-E x1 lane?

 

Also, is there any problems with the RTL8112L chipset? From what I can see on the wiki, it is listed on some approved motherboards.

If its listed as compatible then it should work fine.

 

I highly doubt it would take up one of the slots available, most likely uses a switching chip that will allow both to work on the same lane.