My apologies upfront, I have spent the better part of the last 3 days searching these forums as well as xbmc forums for some build advice, and was hoping for some help. I am running into to many posts/builds with discontinued parts. So, with that being said, if this has been posted somewhere else please accept my apology and point me in the right direction, otherwise, all help is much appreciated!!!

 

A Little background info:

I am looking to start from scratch on my HTPC setup, and I would like to start correctly, or hopefully correctly  I want to setup a 12HDD unRAID server that I build and work from their. I have no experience with unRAID beyond reading up on it the last week or so, but decided that is seems to be what I am looking for! That being said, after reading this forum, the Greenleaf builds and the XBMC builds I decided to "try" to follow this build:

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?pid=886478%23pid886478#post886478

 

Now to answer the questions this forum asks:

What is your budget?  $300-$400 without unRAID license (PRO)

How many drives do you want your server to be able to support and how much capacity do you need? 12, I plan to use about 6 at the beginning

Is expandability important to you?  If so, what's your long term goal? 12, possibly swapping out everything to 3TB drives if I ever need it

Are you interested in running any unRAID Add Ons (see here)?  SABnzbd, SickBeard, CouchPotato, MySQL (for xbmc)

Do you want to run green/low power drives or faster 7200 rpm drives?  Mixed drives, but anything I buy would be green drives moving forward.

Do you have any spare parts laying around that you would like to apply towards your build?  2x2TB (one for parity), 2x1.5TB, 2x1TB HDDs, 500GB 7200RPM drive for cache. Nothing else

If you already have parts in mind, please oh pretty please post links to them so that we don't have to look them up.

1. Case: Xigmatek Utgard CPC-T90DB-U01 Micro-ATX (Doesn't exist anymore, an replacement ideas?)

2. Mobo+iGPU: ASUS M4A88T-M LE AM3 HD4250 Micro-ATX (Doesn't exist anymore, an replacement ideas?)

3. CPU: SEMPRON 145 SDX145HBGMBOX 2.8GHz Single-Core AM3 45W (Still exists, but it is powerful enough to run SAB, Sick, Couch and MySQL? If not, thoughts?)

4. PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-430CX 430W 80Plus certified ATX12V (Still exists, is this fine with upgraded components?)

5. RAM: Kingston ValueRAM 1GB (1x1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1066Mhz CL7 (Doesn't exist anymore, I was thinking about 4GB, any reason to go 8GB or is 2, 4 sufficient for what I am looking for?)

 

Hopefully the above is at least a starting point, and if I am missing anything PLEASE let me know. The part thing is killing me and I want to make sure I don't get to low of parts to do what I want, and would love to be able to find parts that still exist.

Just a quick answer for part of your question.

 

The sempron will run everything fine, it may be worthwhile to bump it up to a dual-core for added speed since the virtual filesystem can slow down transfer speeds. If the majority of your data will be added via Sab, you most likely would never notice the difference though( I know this because I use a sempron and have no speed issues.)

 

You'll want to go with atleast 2 gb with those addons, I use 8 and have never gotten close to using it all, but its cheap so I'd probably go with 4 if I were you.

 

I'll check and see what I can find on a case and mb when I get home, others will probably chime in too!

Just a quick answer for part of your question.

 

Thanks for the response, its been bugging me because I am a nerd (Windows world), so typically I can just get away with figuring it out as I go. I am just new to the unRAID thing and new to the NAS thing, so I don't want to buy parts, then return them because someone is to slow, or causing to much heat or so forth.

 

If you think 8 is required I could do it, but since it is only a NAS with MySQL, SAB, Sick and Couch, I figured 4 would be sufficient.

 

That being said, I look forward to seeing if you have any luck finding anything and, if you use any of the above software, a quick question.

 

Can you easily update the software or is it manual since this is installed on unRAID?

So, for the processor something like? ($59.99)

AMD Athlon II X2 260 Regor 3.2GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103873

That processor will do, honestly like I said the sempron will do fine for pretty much everything, just some users have reported slower transfer speeds with lower clocked processors due to the virtual filesystem.

 

Look here for some cases, all have 9 external bays

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007583+600006302+600030549&QksAutoSuggestion=&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&Configurator=&IsNodeId=1&Subcategory=7&description=&hisInDesc=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=&AdvancedSearch=1&srchInDesc=

 

4 GB ram will be more than enough, I was just saying I went with 8 GB because it was cheap enough, and additional headroom never hurt. I have NEVER come close to using all 8 GB, probably at the most in the realm of using 3GB, so 4 will do fine.

 

For the power supply, without knowing the exact number of regular sata and green drives you have, I'm assuming total it will end up being 9 Green drives and 3 regular sata drives, you'll need ~32 Amps on your 12V rail, the Corsair 430 has 28 Amps. I'd bump it up to the corsair 600 or similar, which has 40 Amps on the 12V Rail.

 

big thanks again! So far this is what I am rolling so far...

 

1. Case: AZZA Helios 910 SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ($50 after $30 mail-in)

2. Mobo+iGPU: ASUS M4A88T-M LE AM3 HD4250 Micro-ATX (Doesn't exist anymore, an replacement ideas?)

3. CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 260 Regor 3.2GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core ($60)

4. PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-430CX 430W 80Plus certified ATX12V (Still exists, is this fine with upgraded components?)

5. RAM: Kingston ValueRAM 1GB (1x1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1066Mhz CL7 (Doesn't exist anymore, I was thinking about 4GB, any reason to go 8GB or is 2, 4 sufficient for what I am looking for?)

 

Everything not bold is still a question mark Regarding the PSU, It will initially have 2x2TB Greens, 2x1.5TB 7200, 2x1TB 7200 drives, and one cache drive, 320 or 500GB 7200. I am thinking 650/600 is the way to go, but want to make sure its not overkill. The price of RAM I might just get 8GB, although I can't pick that until I pick my MOBO combo.

Users here generally base their PSU purchase off of the assumption a green drive will use 2 amps and 7200 drives will use 3 amps, with 5 amps going to the motherboard. Based off that you'll be starting out needing 18 amps, and that is without headroom, I'd say 20 amps minimum.

 

Add in another 6 drives at 2 amps, thats a minimum of 30 amps without headroom. For "future proofing" I'd definitely go with the 600W PSU. Also, you stated wanting a 12HDD build, using the Helios if you were to install 5 in 3 drive cages, you could fit a max of 15 drives. Using the 600W Corsiar would allow for the extra 3 drives as well.

 

Since your using a AM3 processor, you can assume you'll be using DDR3 ram. DDR3 is cheaper than DDR2 anyways. The Kingston ValueRAM is a popular choice among unraiders so I'd go ahead and get that.

 

You haven't mentioned what expansion card you plan on running. For 12 drives a 4 Port onboard sata and a 8 port expansion card will do, keep in mind those cards are around $100. It would probably be nice to have 6 onboard sata ports for your data drives out of the gate, and you could pick up a PCI sata card for the cache drive. Then down the road when you needed to add more drives you could buy the expansion card.

Case: AZZA Helios 910 SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ($50 after $30 mail-in)

Mobo: ASRock 880GM-LE FX AM3+ AMD 880G Micro ATX ($54.99)

CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 260 Regor 3.2GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core ($60)

PSU: Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply ($59.99)

    OR

PSU: Antec NEO ECO 620C 620W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply ($59.99, but has a mail in rebate).

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) ($19.99)

 

The above is how its looking so far...

That motherboard has 6SATA ports, so that should keep me good for now, the plan is start with 6, expand to 10, expand to 12, and if need be go to 15.

 

What other parts do I actually need? Will the fans with the case be enough? Add more cooling? Is the CPU heatsink good enough?

The CPU will rarely be stressed enough to need a better heatsink, the stock one should suffice.

 

As far as case fans go, its hard to tell. It won't hurt anything to build it and monitor temps for a few days to see how it does, and possibly add fans where needed.

 

The 520W offers 40amps on the 12V rail, and if you order now you'll get it for $45 with the $10 promo code CollegeSave10.

 

The Motherboard looks good, with 6 onboard ports you could buy a single port expansion card for the cache drive, and that will do you until you need to expand, then you can get an expansion card for the rest of the build.

Build Questions:

1. Case:  AZZA Helios 910 SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ($79.99 + $30 mail-in)

2. Mobo: ASRock 880GM-LE FX AM3+ AMD 880G Micro ATX ($54.99)

3. CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 260 Regor 3.2GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core  ($59.99)

4. PSU: Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply ($54.99 + $10 off with CollegeSave10 promo code)

5. RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) ($19.99)

TOTAL: $278.64

TOTAL after rebates: $248.64

 

This is what I plan to go with... Not bad for $250.

 

Now, I need cables, cages, PCI slot expansions?

 

Should I run the cache drive off of a PCI Sata Card? Any recommended ones? Am I missing anything from the order?

 

Do I need:

Molex To 2-Molex Power Connector Cables?

4-in-3 Drive Cage? Should I do 5-in-3? Any reason to do 4 vs 5?

Molex To 4-SATA Power Connector cables?

 

Build Questions:

1. Case:  AZZA Helios 910 SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ($79.99 + $30 mail-in)

2. Mobo: ASRock 880GM-LE FX AM3+ AMD 880G Micro ATX ($54.99)

3. CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 260 Regor 3.2GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core  ($59.99)

4. PSU: Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply ($54.99 + $10 off with CollegeSave10 promo code)

5. RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) ($19.99)

TOTAL: $278.64

TOTAL after rebates: $248.64

 

This is what I plan to go with... Not bad for $250.

 

Now, I need cables, cages, PCI slot expansions?

 

Should I run the cache drive off of a PCI Sata Card? Any recommended ones? Am I missing anything from the order?

 

Do I need:

Molex To 2-Molex Power Connector Cables?

4-in-3 Drive Cage? Should I do 5-in-3? Any reason to do 4 vs 5?

Molex To 4-SATA Power Connector cables?

 

Looks good. But then the fun just starts, adding upto 12 disks will add up quickly.

That depends on your plans. If you want to go ahead and get the expansion card now, here is a thread with some suggestions:

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=12404.0

 

It also includes a couple 2 Port cards.

 

Some straight forward  regular sata cables for the 6 onboard ports. If you do go with one of the expansion cards in that thread, you'll need the breakout cables for them. I have not used one of those cards so I won't be able to tell you what cables you'll need.

 

4 in 3 provides better cooling, but 5 in 3 of course offers more density. Many users have the 5 in 3's and no problems with temps, so I'd recommend going with those.

 

See this thread for information on the various drive cages

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=12405.0

 

I believe most drive cages offer molex connectors as well as sata, so you shouldn't need any split connectors, plus the PSU you chose has 6 sata power connectors which will be enough for your starting build.

thanks again!

 

I ordered the SuperMicro CSE-M35T-1 for my bay. So I have 9 Bays to start with now. I only have 6 HDDs at the moment anyways, and the 6 SATA ports should cover me until I need to order more. I will let everyone know how my build goes! Now the fun begins right

If you have a spare PC, you can go ahead and make a unraid USB drive and get started preclearing drives, that is if you have any empty. If you do not have any empty, I'd suggest moving data around to empty one(preferably the largest) and start by preclearing that one. Then as you get done preclearing, move data over, and start preclearing the next. This way when you get your parts and start the build, when your ready to fire it up, your ready to go!

I don't have the spare PC but do have all my drives backed up and ready to go!

If you want 12 disks, you mean 12 datadisks? Then I would go for a 8 port controller. Makes you a total of 14 ports, 12x data, 1 parity and 1 cache drive. Try to get a flashed M1015 of e-bay, or maybe here.