I have one of the original servers running all ATA drives.  I need to upgrade the machine because I'm out of space.  Do you think it's cost effective to continue with this machine?  For example, I'm using the old ATA drive enclosures and I'm not sure the original MB includes any SATA connectors.  So, at a minimum, I'd probably need to add new SATA drive enclosures and find a SATA card.  Thoughts? 

Depends... What is the amount of storage you have right now and what is the amount you want to end up with in your new system ?

 

Sounds like you could be up for a complete overhaul based on the age though..

The nice thing about unraid is the ability to move the software and the license to newer hardware whenever. Given what you've said, I think I would use this opportunity to build a new rig, and transfer data over the network. You could have 6TB of protected storage using the free license on 3 3TB drives, copy a large chunk of data (or all of it, you don't say what capacity you have right now) and then move your license over and add a cache drive and other data drives.

 

It would be nice to have a summary of what you are running right now (motherboard, cpu, ram, case, drive size list) in order to do a comparative cost summary.

I have about 2.5 TB right now.  I'm using the original Intel MB (bought from LT).  I've forgotten the specs over the years but it's a low-end Celeron I think.

 

I probably need 5 TB.  I may have a couple 500GB drives laying around (my parity is 500).  Maybe I can get by for now and convert to something different later.  If my drive enclosures and MB were SATA, there'd be no issue.   

 

This system has been rock solid for several years now.  Only had to replace the PS's.  Nice design.

I have about 2.5 TB right now.  I'm using the original Intel MB (bought from LT).  I've forgotten the specs over the years but it's a low-end Celeron I think.

 

I probably need 5 TB.  I may have a couple 500GB drives laying around (my parity is 500).  Maybe I can get by for now and convert to something different later.  If my drive enclosures and MB were SATA, there'd be no issue.   

 

This system has been rock solid for several years now.  Only had to replace the PS's.  Nice design.

The original Intel MB has two SATA ports.  You could put a 2TB pairty drive and a 2TB data drive.

 

It would be slower than a current MB, as you'll be limited by the old PCI bus.  If you just add a 2TB parity drive and a 2TB data drive you'll gain 2TB of space with the new 2TB data drive, and if you then re-assign the old parity drive as  an additional data drive you'll grow by a total of 2.5TB.    If you put a pair of 3TB drives on the server, you'll grow by 3.5TB (note, I've not tested if the on-board ports support 3TB drives)

 

Now, that might allow you the time to shop for a new SATA based MB.  The difficult part will be that most of your current disks will not be usable as there will not be IDE ports for them.

 

I am in the same situation, as I too have an original Intel based server purchased from lime-tech, filled with mostly IDE drives. (small by today's standard)  A pair of 3TB drives would be nearly equivalent.

I do have a pair of 1TB SATA drives on those two SATA ports on the motherboard...  (and a completely separate second server with all SATA drives)

 

Good luck in your decision.  You do have room for growth in your existing server, but can certainly plan for the future.

 

Joe L.