Just hoping I could get some opinion on the following unRAID server build:

 

Case: Antec Three Hundred $70

PSU: Corsair 650TX $110

MB: ABIT AB9 Pro $85

CPU: Intel Celeron 430 (recycled)

RAM: Kingston KVR800D2N5K2/1G $25

VGA: ?

HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F1 1TB $180 ea

 

Unfortunately, I don't have any spare video cards at home so recommendations for an inexpensive and low-powered card are welcome (Newegg preferred). The USB flash drive w/unRAID, I'll just buy from Lime Tech.

 

Is it possible to boot up my choice of motherboard without a graphics card? For the initial build, I could borrow one from another PC and once it's up and running, remove the card. If it needs a video card to function, though, I'd rather buy one now instead of not have a functioning server until one is shipped to me.

 

Comments, suggestions, violent reactions?

 

Thanks!

How about THIS one.

 

It is good to get a PCI vs PCI-E card so that your PCI-E slot is open to use with an additional SATA controller in the future.

If I recall correctly, some have had problems getting this Abit AB9 Pro board to run headless.  Installing a cheap video card like the one mentioned is probably your best choice.

I bought the very same videocard bjp999 suggested for my AB9 Pro, it worked like a charm. 

Thanks for the suggestions. Just bought the video card.

 

@Equilibrium

Out of curiosity, can you list the specs for your unRAID server (and power draw, if you have it)? Thanks!

 

Upon further consideration, I just realized that I wouldn't be able to fit 16 hard drives in the case. I think the max I'll upgrade this to would be 9 HDDs, with 3 1TB HDDs initially. What do you think of the Antec EA430 as a replacement to the Corsair 650TX?

 

Again, thanks for all the help!

Here is the parts list of my unRAID server. It's still a work in progress, I just finished building it. I'm not sure on the power draw though.

 

• $109.99 --- PC Power & Cooling S610EPS EPS12V 610W Power Supply
  
• $74.64 ---- Cooler Master Centurion 590 - bought locally from MicroCenter
  
• $69.99 ---- ABIT AB9 Pro Motherboard
  
• $69.99 ---- Intel Pentium E2180 Allendale 2.0GHz 1MB L2 Cache 65W Dual-Core CPU
  
• $69.99 ---- Patriot Extreme Performance 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 800 SDRAM Memory
  
• $9.99 ----- ATi Rage 8MB PCI Video Card
  
• Free - 3x - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS 320GB 16MB Cache Hard Drives
   
  
• Free ------ Scythe NINJA PLUS Rev.B Fanless CPU Cooler
  
• Free ------ Scythe S-FLEX SFF21D 800 RPM 33.5 CFM 120mm Fan (Replaces rear case fan)
  
• Free ------ 1GB USB Flash Drive
  
• Free ------ unRAID Basic
  

With my Centurion 590...

I replaced the rear fan with the front LED Fan from the 4 in 3. This way I always have light by the back of the machine when I go there. I did not use the 4 in 3.. I used the iStar SATA Removables.

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16816215046

 

I took the back fan and put it on top to exhaust the hot air out top.

I put the same scythe fan on top to have 2 120MM's on top, 1 on back. Works pretty good....

Although the scythe fans do not move as much air as the cooler masters.

I would not put the scythe fan in the back of the case.

 

In my case I also taped up the side 120MM vents, the 80MM vent on the right side, turned the power supply upside down so it was pulling air from inside the case and taped up the bottom grill so air was not sucked in from the floor.

 

Worked out great, even in the heat of the summer, drives stay in spec.

Slowly buying parts for my unRAID build.

 

On Newegg:

Abit AB9 Pro retail - $84.99

Abit AB9 Pro open-box - $59.99

 

Shipping is the same for both ($10.17). Would you guys take a chance on the open-box version or should I just spring the extra $25 for the brand-new one? Only thing I'd really need is the backplate. SATA cables, I've already got plenty.

Ive purchased open box items from newegg before.

Most of the time I received everything in the box. Recently a motherboard I purchased only hasd the motherboard, nothing else. No backplate or anything.

 

So, you are taking a gamble on the open box.

Thanks. I guess I'll just go with the retail version. Hopefully, they'll have it on sale again.

 

Additional questions:

Given the following choices, which PSU would you buy?

Antec EA500 $75

Antec NeoHE-500 $85

Corsair 450VX $70

Corsair 550VX $85

Corsair 520HX $95

PC Power and Cooling PPCS500 $80

 

Also, is there any noticeable performance benefit to getting 2x1GB instead of 2x512MB of RAM?

 

Case: Antec Three Hundred $70

PSU: ??

MB: ABIT AB9 Pro $85

CPU: Intel Celeron 430 (recycled)

RAM: ??

VGA: ATI Rage 8MB (bought)

HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F1 1TB $180 ea (initial 3 HDDs, max 9 HDDs)

 

Thanks again!

I have the Corsair 550VX & haven't had any problems. I'm running 16 drives & this power supply handles the start up surge just fine.

I like the corsair 520HX, However.

 

This is onsale with a good rebate for about the same pricing.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL070108&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL070108-_-PowerSupplies-_-L8B-_-17703005

 

 

> Also, is there any noticeable performance benefit to getting 2x1GB instead of 2x512MB of RAM?

 

Go with as much ram as you can afford up to 4G if possible.

OCZ generally is around $99 for 4GB with usually a $30 rebate, You have patriot below, that's fine.

 

I think the extra ram is worth it in the long run for cache and adding packages. Then again, I'm far from a minimalist.

1G is all that is required. In today's day and age I would not spend money on 512MB sticks.

If I had them, then I would use them until I absolutely needed the larger amount of ram.

But if I were spending the money on a build I would get what was affordable within my budget.

 

As 3rd parrty enhancements are made to the system, ram will be the deciding factor later on.

 

I have a Corsair 550VX powering my main rig (Antec P182, Intel Q6600, 4GB RAM) and I'm very happy with it. That's the reason why half the list consists of Corsair PSUs. One thing I did regret about getting the 550VX was cable management. The side of the Antec P182 dedicated for cable management looks like a veritable snake nest, something that could have been avoided had I gotten a modular PSU.

 

That's a good point on the RAM, though. Given my budget constraints, I think I'll go buy just one stick of RAM, whichever capacity I settle on.

 

Currently, I'm left with only $120 for PSU and RAM. Right now, I'm really looking at just two scenarios:

1. Corsair 450VX $70 + 2GB DDR2 $50 (more RAM at the expense of PSU)

2. Corsair 520HX $95 + 1GB DDR2 $25 (modular PSU but less RAM)

 

Another option that I'm considering:

3. Antec NeoHE-430 $70 + 2GB DDR2 $50 (modular PSU and more RAM, but how is build quality compared to Corsair?)

 

I'm currently partial to option 2. It's a lot easier (not to mention less expensive) to upgrade/replace the RAM than it is to switch PSUs. Option 3 would have been ideal, but I've read a bunch of complaints regarding Antec PSUs, hence, I'm hesitant to choose it.

 

Any thoughts?

 

addendum:

The server will be kept inside the bedroom, right beside the bed (it's a very small room) so noise is also a consideration. I don't expect it to be near silent (which the P182 build is), but a low hum is acceptable.

Ive purchased open box items from newegg before.

Most of the time I received everything in the box. Recently a motherboard I purchased only hasd the motherboard, nothing else. No backplate or anything.

 

So, you are taking a gamble on the open box.

 

It certainly seems that open box motherboards at Newegg do not come with anything but the motherboard - no backplate or anything.  Here is a quote from the pictures page ...

 

"The pictures shown are from the NEW version of this item. If you purchase this Open box product you will receive an OEM BAREBONE, meaning it is just the item itself. Accessory items are NOT INCLUDED with Open box products. Accessories are shown in the pictures so that customers will know what is missing from the item."

 

I have bought OEM drives (you get just the bare drive), and I have also bought an open box SATA PCI-E controller which said it MAY not contain aall accessoriies.  (It actually came looking like it was brand new, with all accessories included.)  I think with a motherboard they are pretty clear that it is just the motherboard.  If you have some old backplates and a little time, you'd probably be able to make something work.

1 stick of ram may not be adequate for performance.

You loose dual channel support and it may be harder to add a second chip later.

Usually dual channel support requires matching or near matching ram specs otherwise issues crop up.

 

The AB9 PRO is picky about ram, so don't take this lightly. Quality ram is key.

If your budget is that constrained go with the 2X512MB of quality ram.

 

Ask yourself how much you will be adding to this machine later on and if the modular power supply is worth the expense.

For cooling and upgrading it may be.

The problem with "mobo only" purchases is that there is often a lot of other stuff you need that you may end up paying for anyway.  My mobo came with six SATA cables, for example.  Yeah, they aren't expensive, but that alone must be worth about $10.  I also got various other cables, screws, etc. that I needed that easily add up to what I would have saved by going with a bare kit.

 

If you have a big box of miscellaneous parts sitting around, go for the bare board, otherwise get a retail board.

 

 

Bill

1 stick of ram may not be adequate for performance.

You loose dual channel support and it may be harder to add a second chip later.

Usually dual channel support requires matching or near matching ram specs otherwise issues crop up.

 

The AB9 PRO is picky about ram, so don't take this lightly. Quality ram is key.

If your budget is that constrained go with the 2X512MB of quality ram.

I'm planning on getting Kingston ValueRAM KVR800D2N5 modules. I checked Kingston's website and they're supposed to be compatible with the AB9 Pro.

 

Ask yourself how much you will be adding to this machine later on and if the modular power supply is worth the expense.

For cooling and upgrading it may be.

Initial build would be 3 HDDs. Only upgrade would be the addition of 6 HDDs and two 120mm fans for the front. The 450VX has 6 SATA and 6 molex connectors so I'd need to get 3 molex to SATA adapters. The 520HX comes with 4 SATA and 8 molex connectors. However, an email to Corsair would net you extra power supply cables so that's 12 SATA, with no need for adapters.

 

The problem with "mobo only" purchases is that there is often a lot of other stuff you need that you may end up paying for anyway.  My mobo came with six SATA cables, for example.  Yeah, they aren't expensive, but that alone must be worth about $10.  I also got various other cables, screws, etc. that I needed that easily add up to what I would have saved by going with a bare kit.

 

If you have a big box of miscellaneous parts sitting around, go for the bare board, otherwise get a retail board.

I already do have the spare SATA cables and screws. My problem is the backplate and that's usually pretty much unique to the board so I'd really have to get retail.

Additional questions:

Which is better, 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 667 or 1GB 2x512MB DDR2 800? Because with tax & shipping included, I can get both for around the same price.

In general and to a point, more memory is better than faster memory.

 

For Unraid specifically, it may depend on what you are using - the app straight up or adding packages.

 

 

Bill

There is more to memory than the speed (e.g., 667, 800).  There is also the timings (e.g., 4-4-4-12 vs 5-5-5-15).  Figuring out which speed / timings combination are best is a bit complicated.

 

All that being said, I cannot think of any good reason to pick 1G of 800MHz memory over 2G of 667MHz memory for unRAID.  Even if you were doing a processing intensive task, the speed difference would be VERY hard to tell.  And having twice as much RAM for use in caching and loading other software is definitely worthwhile.

I'll nod to more memory will serve you better then faster memory.

The more memory you have, the less the system needs to access the physical hard drive.

Okay, thanks. Bought the 2GB. On Windows, I know more memory is usually better than faster memory for most applications (less need to access swap file). I just didn't know how unRAID utilizes memory so I wasn't sure if it would take advantage of the extra memory.