Pimp Your Rig

[Mike Souter]

This is the latest server I finished for a client.  It is basically a 15 Bay Budget Build with a healthy budget.

 

Hardware:

Mobo: Biostar A760G M2+

CPU: Sempron 140

RAM: 2 GB Kingston ValueRAM DDR2 800

PSU: Corsair 500CX

SATA Cards:

  Supermicro AOC-SASLP-MV8

  PCIe x1 SIL3132

Cables: SAS-SATA Forward Breakout x 2, generic SATA

Power Splitters and adapters: Molex Splitters x 3, SATA to Molex adapters x 3

Drive Bays: Icy Dock MB-455SPF 5-in-3 x 3

Case: Antec Nine Hundred Two

Drives: precleared 2 TB WD EARS w/ jumpers x 8

USB Drive: 2 GB Lexar Firefly preconfigured with unRAID Pro license by LimeTech.  Running unRAID 4.6-rc5.

 

The new part of this build for me was discovering these SATA to Molex adapters.  They are nice and clean, and let you make use of some of those SATA power cables that generally go unused in builds with hot swap cages or backplanes.

 

 

As the proud new owner I can endorse the comments - this thing is sweet... quiet as a mouse, and I'm merrily filling my shares now.  Very nice job....!!!

[Tom899]

My First build!! I want to thank everyone in the forum for helping me understand what this is all about, helping me select parts, and helping me with my many questions, and I'm not done asking! Ha-ha!

I decided on a "LIAN LI PC-V354B Black Aluminum MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case" because I travel between Michigan and Arizona and wanted light and small (relatively speaking). This case holds (7) 3.5" drives, (2) 2.5" drives, and you can probably mount another 3.5" drive in the optical drive area. It is very well built. It comes with (2) 120mm fans in front and (1) 140mm fan on top. I added another 120mm fan in the rear. It also has a nice variable fan controller circuit that accepts all the fans. The drives are staying cool in the low to mid 30’s. I’m using unmenu and a few other add-ons and everything is working great! I'm having some problems understanding the Share settings but I think I’m getting it now.

Thanks again for all your help!

Tom

Case - LIAN LI PC-V354B Black Aluminum MicroATX Mini Tower http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112300

Motherboard - ASUS M4A785T-M http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131609

CPU - AMD Sempron 140 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103698

Power Supply - CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139017

RAM - Kingston 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134785

Flash Drive - Lexar JumpDrive FireFly 2GB USB 2.0 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820191269

SATA Cables - Monoprice 18inch SATA3 Cable w/Locking Latch - UV Green http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10226&cs_id=1022602&p_id=4544&seq=1&format=2

Hard Drives (1) Parity, (5) Data - WD 2TB Caviar Green SATA WD20EARS

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Intellipower-Desktop-WD20EARS/dp/B002ZCXK0I/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1292173505&sr=1-3

Hard Drive - (1) Cache - WD Caviar Black 1TB WD1002FAEX http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Caviar-Desktop-WD1002FAEX/dp/B0036Q7MV0/ref=sr_1_9?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1292173630&sr=1-9

[nmotion96]

My First build!! I want to thank everyone in the forum for helping me understand what this is all about, helping me select parts, and helping me with my many questions, and I'm not done asking! Ha-ha!

I decided on a "LIAN LI PC-V354B Black Aluminum MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case" because I travel between Michigan and Arizona and wanted light and small (relatively speaking). This case holds (7) 3.5" drives, (2) 2.5" drives, and you can probably mount another 3.5" drive in the optical drive area. It is very well built. It comes with (2) 120mm fans in front and (1) 140mm fan on top. I added another 120mm fan in the rear. It also has a nice variable fan controller circuit that accepts all the fans. The drives are staying cool in the low to mid 30’s. I’m using unmenu and a few other add-ons and everything is working great! I'm having some problems understanding the Share settings but I think I’m getting it now.

Thanks again for all your help!

Tom

Case - LIAN LI PC-V354B Black Aluminum MicroATX Mini Tower http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112300

Motherboard - ASUS M4A785T-M http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131609

CPU - AMD Sempron 140 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103698

Power Supply - CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139017

RAM - Kingston 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134785

Flash Drive - Lexar JumpDrive FireFly 2GB USB 2.0 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820191269

SATA Cables - Monoprice 18inch SATA3 Cable w/Locking Latch - UV Green http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10226&cs_id=1022602&p_id=4544&seq=1&format=2

Hard Drives (1) Parity, (4) Data - WD 2TB Caviar Green SATA WD20EARS

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Intellipower-Desktop-WD20EARS/dp/B002ZCXK0I/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1292173505&sr=1-3

Hard Drive - (1) Cache - WD Caviar Black 1TB WD1002FAEX http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Caviar-Desktop-WD1002FAEX/dp/B0036Q7MV0/ref=sr_1_9?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1292173630&sr=1-9

 

I just finish my 2nd unraid with the same case.  What are your thoughts on mounting the PS that way?  Its better for cabling but the fan facing the case wall.  I mounted mine with the fan facing the motherboard.

[Tom899]

My First build!! I want to thank everyone in the forum for helping me understand what this is all about, helping me select parts, and helping me with my many questions, and I'm not done asking! Ha-ha!

I decided on a "LIAN LI PC-V354B Black Aluminum MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case" because I travel between Michigan and Arizona and wanted light and small (relatively speaking). This case holds (7) 3.5" drives, (2) 2.5" drives, and you can probably mount another 3.5" drive in the optical drive area. It is very well built. It comes with (2) 120mm fans in front and (1) 140mm fan on top. I added another 120mm fan in the rear. It also has a nice variable fan controller circuit that accepts all the fans. The drives are staying cool in the low to mid 30’s. I’m using unmenu and a few other add-ons and everything is working great! I'm having some problems understanding the Share settings but I think I’m getting it now.

Thanks again for all your help!

Tom

Case - LIAN LI PC-V354B Black Aluminum MicroATX Mini Tower http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112300

Motherboard - ASUS M4A785T-M http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131609

CPU - AMD Sempron 140 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103698

Power Supply - CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139017

RAM - Kingston 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134785

Flash Drive - Lexar JumpDrive FireFly 2GB USB 2.0 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820191269

SATA Cables - Monoprice 18inch SATA3 Cable w/Locking Latch - UV Green http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10226&cs_id=1022602&p_id=4544&seq=1&format=2

Hard Drives (1) Parity, (4) Data - WD 2TB Caviar Green SATA WD20EARS

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Intellipower-Desktop-WD20EARS/dp/B002ZCXK0I/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1292173505&sr=1-3

Hard Drive - (1) Cache - WD Caviar Black 1TB WD1002FAEX http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Caviar-Desktop-WD1002FAEX/dp/B0036Q7MV0/ref=sr_1_9?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1292173630&sr=1-9

 

I just finish my 2nd unraid with the same case.  What are your thoughts on mounting the PS that way?  Its better for cabling but the fan facing the case wall.  I mounted mine with the fan facing the motherboard.

I'm still up in the air on which way might be better? It's an intake so I thought it might not matter. Also the instructions show the fan in this direction, but that just might be for illustration reasons. Probably the way you did it is the safer way?

[Rajahal]

I would have the fan facing the motherboard.  That way it can pull hot air off the cpu and exhaust it out the back of the case.

 

Looks like a really nice, portable build!

[Userpaul]

Here are a few pictures  of my build, unfortunately this build took a two months to complete because I had to order two fan covers from Italy!!

I added two fans under each of my 8 port sata cards as they seemed to get very hot.

The first few pics are of the testing and pre clearing of the hdd's

I changed / upgraded the psu.

I have mounted the fan controller outside  the box and I am controlling the fans on the cpu. heat pipes, fans mounted under the sata cards and the fans on the door. I have temperature sensors on the sata cards and heat pipes.

31/07/17 will add pictures soon as photobucket now wants fees for hosting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 31, 2017 by Userpaul
photo bucket charging for hosting pics

[Blofeld]

whew, very nice build! The sheer number of drives in there looks badazz...and what with the outside fan controller, I mean, it's as geeky as can be - lovin' it!

[Userpaul]

whew, very nice build! The sheer number of drives in there looks badazz...and what with the outside fan controller, I mean, it's as geeky as can be - lovin' it!

 

Thanks

I'm currently ordering another 3 X 2TB hdd's but I will only connect 2 of them the other one I am going to keep as a spare which will be installed into the bottom hdd cage ready to connect if another drive fails.

TBH I would have liked to have the fan controller mounted in the front but the Sharkoon fan covers would not allow it unless i wanted to do some serious work with a cutting tool

 

[gfjardim]

Userpaul, where did you get those sata power cables?

 

Ps: very nice job, this case is a monster!

[Userpaul]

Userpaul, where did you get those sata power cables?

 

Ps: very nice job, this case is a monster!

 

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/nzxt-cb-44sata-black-braid-sleeved-molex-to-4-sata-cable-200mm

 

Expensive but well worth it IMO 

[prostuff1]

If your in the US try Monoprice

[papnikol]

I added two fans under each of my 8 port sata cards as they seemed to get very hot.

 

Userpaul, it seems your rig has created a lot of envy

which 8 port sata cards are you using? I myself am using the saslp-mv8 and they get quite hot. so, i was wondering where you got those fans that fit underneath the saslp?

 

UPDATE: i found some in amazon.co.uk ( i live in europe using  keywords: pci + fan)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=pci+fan&x=0&y=0

So i am just wondering if yours is silent? if yes i would rather buy the same type as yours than a fan about which i know nothing...

[Tom899]

I would have the fan facing the motherboard.  That way it can pull hot air off the cpu and exhaust it out the back of the case.

 

Looks like a really nice, portable build!

 

Thanks! I think your reasoning on the fan direction makes sense. I will turn it around. Again thanks for your help through this, it's working great! Makes me want to build another one!

[Userpaul]

I added two fans under each of my 8 port sata cards as they seemed to get very hot.

 

Userpaul, it seems your rig has created a lot of envy

which 8 port sata cards are you using? I myself am using the saslp-mv8 and they get quite hot. so, i was wondering where you got those fans that fit underneath the saslp?

 

UPDATE: i found some in amazon.co.uk ( i live in europe using  keywords: pci + fan)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=pci+fan&x=0&y=0

So i am just wondering if yours is silent? if yes i would rather buy the same type as yours than a fan about which i know nothing...

 

I have the same cards as you

 

I bought mine from the local Maplin store just up the road (impulse purchase). Whilst I was preclearing my HDD's I noticed that the saslp-mv8 cards got very very hot so I had a fan propped on the psu cooling them down. These are the fans. http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=28679

Both fans are controlled with the Skythe fan speed controller and I have a temp sensor on each card. The fans reduce the temps of the cards by around 20 C

The advantage of having the fans managed by the Skythe controller is I can strike a balance between fan speed and noise level. I would describe the noise level at maximum speed as irritating but not overly loud. I think fan noise can be a little subjective  

Ultimately I plan to install a small fan onto the heatsink and I am currently looking at kits to do that.

 

[papnikol]

I added two fans under each of my 8 port sata cards as they seemed to get very hot.

 

Userpaul, it seems your rig has created a lot of envy

which 8 port sata cards are you using? I myself am using the saslp-mv8 and they get quite hot. so, i was wondering where you got those fans that fit underneath the saslp?

 

UPDATE: i found some in amazon.co.uk ( i live in europe using  keywords: pci + fan)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=pci+fan&x=0&y=0

So i am just wondering if yours is silent? if yes i would rather buy the same type as yours than a fan about which i know nothing...

 

I have the same cards as you

 

I bought mine from the local Maplin store just up the road (impulse purchase). Whilst I was preclearing my HDD's I noticed that the saslp-mv8 cards got very very hot so I had a fan propped on the psu cooling them down. These are the fans. http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=28679

Both fans are controlled with the Skythe fan speed controller and I have a temp sensor on each card. The fans reduce the temps of the cards by around 20 C

The advantage of having the fans managed by the Skythe controller is I can strike a balance between fan speed and noise level.

I plan to install a small fan onto the heatsink and I am currently looking at kits to do that.

 

 

thanx for the info

unfortunately this creates more questions (at least to me):

1. the temp sensor is something that comes with the fan speed controller or something you bought separately?

2. i have never had a fan controller but i was thinking of buying one. How does it work? does it provide power straight to the fan thus working like a dimmer?

[Userpaul]

thanx for the info

unfortunately this creates more questions (at least to me):

1. the temp sensor is something that comes with the fan speed controller or something you bought separately?

2. i have never had a fan controller but i was thinking of buying one. How does it work? does it provide power straight to the fan thus working like a dimmer?

Here is a link to the manufactures site http://www.scythe-usa.com/product/acc/077/km03_detail.html

All the info you need is there.The ultimate goal is to have temperature controlled fans and there is a thread regarding this here..http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=5548.0

 

[Tom899]

I would have the fan facing the motherboard.  That way it can pull hot air off the cpu and exhaust it out the back of the case.

 

Looks like a really nice, portable build!

Raj- quick question! I couldn't stand seeing an empty slot in my hard drive cage so I just ordered another drive, but also had to order your recommended SATA PCI express card from Monoprice. Will the MB and OS automatically recognize this card or will I have to hook a monitor up and go back into the BIOS to configure it?

Thanks,

Tom

 

[Rajahal]

I would have the fan facing the motherboard.  That way it can pull hot air off the cpu and exhaust it out the back of the case.

 

Looks like a really nice, portable build!

Raj- quick question! I couldn't stand seeing an empty slot in my hard drive cage so I just ordered another drive, but also had to order your recommended SATA PCI express card from Monoprice. Will the MB and OS automatically recognize this card or will I have to hook a monitor up and go back into the BIOS to configure it?

Thanks,

Tom

 

That card has always been plug and play for me (except the one time that I got a defective one).  My guess is that you won't need to mess around in BIOS at all.  The only thing that might happen is that your motherboard might assign the new drive to the top of the boot priority list.  In that case you would need to go into BIOS and reset the USB flash drive to be the first on the boot list.

[prostuff1]

That card has always been plug and play for me (except the one time that I got a defective one).  My guess is that you won't need to mess around in BIOS at all.  The only thing that might happen is that your motherboard might assign the new drive to the top of the boot priority list.  In that case you would need to go into BIOS and reset the USB flash drive to be the first on the boot list.

 

I have one of the above cards in a system I am building for a client and it worked no problem.  did not have to change a thing to get it to see the drives.  I can add the drives to unRAID and everything works fine.

[Tom899]

I would have the fan facing the motherboard.  That way it can pull hot air off the cpu and exhaust it out the back of the case.

 

Looks like a really nice, portable build!

Raj- quick question! I couldn't stand seeing an empty slot in my hard drive cage so I just ordered another drive, but also had to order your recommended SATA PCI express card from Monoprice. Will the MB and OS automatically recognize this card or will I have to hook a monitor up and go back into the BIOS to configure it?

Thanks,

Tom

 

That card has always been plug and play for me (except the one time that I got a defective one).  My guess is that you won't need to mess around in BIOS at all.  The only thing that might happen is that your motherboard might assign the new drive to the top of the boot priority list.  In that case you would need to go into BIOS and reset the USB flash drive to be the first on the boot list.

Thanks, I'll prepare for that by hooking up a monitor, keyboard and mouse and boot to the BIOS to check.

Tom

[neilt0]

Here are a few pictures  of my build, unfortunately this build took a two months to complete because I had to order two fan covers from Italy!!

 

Nice! That case looks familar... 

 

How did you mount the top fan mount in the case? Mine is wedged in with rubber shims, but I'm thinking of drilling some holes as it's a bit loose.

 

Funnily enough, I also decided a while back to move my Scythe 4-in-3s to my Sharkoon case as well, for a 22-drive machine, but I haven't got around to it, as it's going to be a big job.

Does the case feel solid and sturdy, that's my only concern at the moment? And have you tried moving it? It's going to be very heavy with all those drives.

[Userpaul]

Here are a few pictures  of my build, unfortunately this build took a two months to complete because I had to order two fan covers from Italy!!

 

Nice! That case looks familar... 

 

How did you mount the top fan mount in the case? Mine is wedged in with rubber shims, but I'm thinking of drilling some holes as it's a bit loose.

 

Funnily enough, I also decided a while back to move my Scythe 4-in-3s to my Sharkoon case as well, for a 22-drive machine, but I haven't got around to it, as it's going to be a big job.

Does the case feel solid and sturdy, that's my only concern at the moment? And have you tried moving it? It's going to be very heavy with all those drives.

 

I drilled holes for the top fan mount. I would say the case is fit for purpose. My son helped me move it downstairs. I used the scythe 4-3's to save money but i'm sure at some point in the future when I have to replace a hdd i will regret taking that course..

[neilt0]

Here are a few pictures  of my build, unfortunately this build took a two months to complete because I had to order two fan covers from Italy!!

 

Nice! That case looks familar... 

 

How did you mount the top fan mount in the case? Mine is wedged in with rubber shims, but I'm thinking of drilling some holes as it's a bit loose.

 

Funnily enough, I also decided a while back to move my Scythe 4-in-3s to my Sharkoon case as well, for a 22-drive machine, but I haven't got around to it, as it's going to be a big job.

Does the case feel solid and sturdy, that's my only concern at the moment? And have you tried moving it? It's going to be very heavy with all those drives.

 

I drilled holes for the top fan mount. I would say the case is fit for purpose. My son helped me move it downstairs. I used the scythe 4-3's to save money but i'm sure at some point in the future when I have to replace a hdd i will regret taking that course..

 

Thanks. I may drill some holes in my case. I've replaced a few drives in my Scythes and it's a pain. My plan is to put my smallest and oldest drives in the 6 bays on the floor of the Sharkoon case, as they will then be easy to replace.

[sacretagent]

My First Build

 

 

Inside the thing: Font and Back

 

 

Front and Top

 

 

 

Side and front while in my desk running

 

 

Case is a NZTX, which has 2 times 4 bays good for 8 drives (with Fans)

Only 7 drives there for the moment as I have broken one of the plastics to hold the drive, I ordered 2 new ones

Added one 3 * 5.25” to 4 hotswap bay (no clue who makes them but it was the cheapest I found in Pantip Plaza)

Motherboard is an ASUS P5B-Plus Vista edition

CPU: E6550 core 2 duo

3 GB Corsair DDR2 800

6 onboard 3gbs sata ports through an intel ICH8 (I think) (parity on port 6)

2 X Adaptec 2 port PCI-X adapters (1220)

1 X JBM micro sata port (has the cache drive)

1 X Esata port on the JBM Micro too … ordered on Ebay an Esata to sata cable to get that one missing drive attached

 

8 x 1 TB EADS/EACS/EARS WD GREEN

2 x Hitatchi 7200 rpm 1 TB (1 = parity drive )

1 x 500 GB Samsung (Cache Drive )

 

PSU = Cooler Master 550 W

 

Whole thing is running Unraid Pro version 5 Beta 2

 

Puppy is now ready to get filled with data  … with my end of the year bonus, am I going to start to put 2 TB drives in the thing (Start with Exchange of the parity drive and 1 Data Drive )

Still have 2 other computers with an Intel raid 5 running but can not change those for Linux as family uses them

 

Pretty happy with my setup ... can still add one more adaptec if necessay LOL... will need another case then though

did my best to keep the wiring nice... but i am not an expert as some of you guys

 

 

[kizer]

@sacretagent

 

Can you reduce your images? They are HUGE and very hard to see.