I am upgrading from my Dell Optiplex GX280 (3 drives) to a "real" unraid machine. I will using the CPU and memory from the dell with these parts:

 

Case: CM590 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119152

MOBO:  ECS 945GCT-M/1333 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135068

PSU:  SeaSonic M12II SS-500GM 500Whttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151056

 

I will be running around 6 drives so I think the PSU will be enough after reading some other posts here and I wanted modular.

I also need to find a CPU fan since I will not be able use the one from the Dell. I know I also will need some case fans but I think this is a good start.

 

Does it look ok???

 

I am already at $220 shipped and was hoping not to go to much higher since I stll have to spend $70 more for the unraid license....not complaining its a GREAT program

My recommendation would be, if possible, spend a lil more on the motherboard.

Look at the Abit AB9 PRO. It has 9 internal SATA connectors.

 

Where this saves you is in upgrading later on. Instead of spending money on a controller later, you will have it already in your machine.

 

CM690 holds 9 drives in trayless removables.

ABIT AB9 Supports 9 SATA drives from the get go. (+1 externally).

 

The only downside is needing a video card. A cheap pci card in some spare parts bin works.

I grabbed something used off eBay for $9.00.

I happen to take apart any old machines I see on the curb for garbage.

Great source of screws. cables, old pci video cards LOL!!!

 

 

> I also need to find a CPU fan since I will not be able use the one from the Dell.

I just usually grab one off eBay.

 

> I know I also will need some case fans but I think this is a good start.

They have coolermaster fans on newegg too.

I use two on the top, I block the side vents with clear plastic packing tape for now.

I expect one day I may add two more fans.

 

It's a great case!

 

I have a seasonic 500 watt with 7 drives running fine. I expect to add two more drives without an issue.

 

Does anyone know if there is a rack mount kit for the  Centurion 590?

My recommendation would be, if possible, spend a lil more on the motherboard.

Look at the Abit AB9 PRO. It has 9 internal SATA connectors.

 

Where this saves you is in upgrading later on. Instead of spending money on a controller later, you will have it already in your machine.

 

CM690 holds 9 drives in trayless removables.

ABIT AB9 Supports 9 SATA drives from the get go. (+1 externally).

 

The only downside is needing a video card. A cheap pci card in some spare parts bin works.

I grabbed something used off eBay for $9.00.

I happen to take apart any old machines I see on the curb for garbage.

Great source of screws. cables, old pci video cards LOL!!!

 

 

> I also need to find a CPU fan since I will not be able use the one from the Dell.

I just usually grab one off eBay.

 

> I know I also will need some case fans but I think this is a good start.

They have coolermaster fans on newegg too.

I use two on the top, I block the side vents with clear plastic packing tape for now.

I expect one day I may add two more fans.

 

It's a great case!

 

I have a seasonic 500 watt with 7 drives running fine. I expect to add two more drives without an issue.

 

Thanks for the reply!!!!

 

Your right I am going with the Abit...lets just hope I don't have problems with the memory I already have

 

Thanks for the "tape" tip.

 

The PSU worries me a bit if I plan to upgrade past 8 or 9 drives....I have a 850W non-modular CM PSU at work that I can swap out if I need to. I would rather use a modular PSU but if it's not powerful enough..oh well...I don't have any more money 

 

Thanks again!!!

Does anyone know if there is a rack mount kit for the  Centurion 590?

 

It's not that kind of case that lends it self well to rack mountng.

Besides there are no places to put any rack mounts..

Notice the top of the case has two fo the 4 fan vents.

The side as the other two. In a rack this would be choked.

Thanks for the "tape" tip.

 

The PSU worries me a bit if I plan to upgrade past 8 or 9 drives....I have a 850W non-modular CM PSU at work that I can swap out if I need to. I would rather use a modular PSU but if it's not powerful enough..oh well...I don't have any more money  Cheesy

 

There was a long thread regarding this case and how and where to tape it up to force flow through the front of the drives.

Do a search. It all turned out well

 

In the end I have 9 removable SATA's which are all fanless.

The 3 120MM fans (1 in back, 2 on top) have sufficient draw to pull air in from all the slots and keep the drives in good temperature in comparison to ambient air.

 

As far as PSU, you'll do OK up until around 12 drives or so.  What matters is how many amps on the 12v line.

The whole split rail vs single rail.  Tom uses the PC Power and Cooling 610 watts model without problem.

Thanks so much for your help...ordering now

WeeboTech,

 

Just got my case and it looks great...still waiting on the motherboard and PSU.

 

One question though, You are not using the 4 in 3 holder that came with the case???

 

Just curious as to why.

 

Right now I have a Lian Li EX-23N: http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product/product06.php?pr_index=41&cl_index=2&sc_index=5&ss_index=12 which holds 3 of my drives and the case came with something similar. Is there a reason I should not use them???

I do not use the 4 in 3 cages that come with the systems.

 

They are actually idle in the box (which is in storage).

My reason.. I like the trayless removable sata units.

 

Considering I've just built the larger unit only a few short months ago.. I've averaged the growth of about a disk or so a month.

Not all due to downloading or ripping.. it's just that I had allot of other lil nas boxes and other spindles that I'm consolidating.

 

Considering how much I'm adding, it would be a pain to have to shut the machine down, disconnect the 4 in 3 cage to add a drive, then put it back in place. With the trayless removables, I literally power down, insert, close, power up, and I'm done hardware wise.

 

I do not even mess with screws anymore other then to remove older drives from service and add them to my unRAID.

 

I've also had a failure and a questionable drive. So the trayless have been a godsend on replacing and testing out the questionable drive.

 

Cool, understood.

 

What am I looking at price wise to fill up this case with those....where did you get yours???

Also, FWIW..

 

This is the case I just bought for a unRAID development box.

it does not hold umpteen drives, but that's not what I wanted anyway.

What I wanted was the ability to move parts in and out of the development box as quick as possible.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811165125

Cool, understood.

 

What am I looking at price wise to fill up this case with those....where did you get yours???

 

How many drives and at what cost in maintenance ?

 

The iStar singles are cheap $15.00 the only caveats are.

1 drive per bay, The key lock does not shut off power and the drives stick a lil, so you wiggle it a lil.

Still for the price to me it's worth it.

 

Then there are the 3 in 2's and the 5 in 3's are a higher cost.

Right now I'm going to be testing the 5 in 3s.

 

I have some other 3 in 2's that I like alot, but they have special cables for interfacing the power.

 

 

I have 9 of these in a centurion 590

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816215046

 

What I like is they are open, no lil fans spinning.. I put 3 120MM fans in the case, block certain vents and the machine is cool -n- quiet.

 

I should also add.  They can take MOLEX OR SATA power. Dampen Vibrations, and the vent on the front of them is larger then any other trayless removable I've seen. I think this has some merit as the others I've seen have grills which seem to be choked a bit by the drive. this model has more open air flowing.

 

I've tried the addonics and the kingwin/connectland version.

 

Is anyone running the Abit AB9 PRO with unRAID?  There's a lot of bad reviews on this board.  I'd love it for it's price and SATA ports, but it seems like many of them have problems.

My bad.  I posted before looking.    Perusing the Motherboard forum, revealed my answers.  It seems a few people have used this board with unRAID and it has proven to be finicky.  Might be worth the effort, but you might encounter some problems.

It's finicky about memory. Choose recommended memory and it will function fine.

I had to manually set my memory to 266mhz because the default settings put the memory at 272mhz. Other then that the board has been solid.

 

How will you know if the memory has problems??? I installed the memory from my Dell Optiplex GX280 and booted it up..not into Unraid or anything but into the BIOS and all that. I am not ready to set everything up yet...have to get some money together for so more drives and the PRO unraid license. What can I do as a test to make sure my memory is compatible??

 

 

Thanks!!!!!

How will you know if the memory has problems??? I installed the memory from my Dell Optiplex GX280 and booted it up..not into Unraid or anything but into the BIOS and all that. I am not ready to set everything up yet...have to get some money together for so more drives and the PRO unraid license. What can I do as a test to make sure my memory is compatible??

 

 

Thanks!!!!!

Load the free version of unRAID on a USB flash drive.  Boot it up, the initial "boot-menu" has a memory test option.

Run the full test overnight...

 

Joe L.

Thanks Joe...totally missed that

WeeboTech,

 

For the time being I am going to use the Lian-Li 3 in 2 and the 4 in 3 cage that came with the case for my drives until I can get some of those trayless units. Both of the cages have fans and my question is should I cover the unused HD slots in the front of the case with the packing tape to force more air into the cages thru the front??

 

 

Thanks,

my question is should I cover the unused HD slots in the front of the case with the packing tape to force more air into the cages thru the front??

if you have 120MM fans blowing right on the hard drive then you can probably get away with taping the unused vents.

However, if it were mine, I would tape it or block it with cardboard inside just to be sure that air does not flow where I do not want it.

 

I say try it out both ways. chances are you may see a slight difference by blocking unused vents.

Thanks I will give it a try. The Lian-Li only has a 80mm fan but the 4 in 3 has a 120. I will let you know what happens.

WeeboTech,

 

Sorry to keep bothering you 

 

The Seasonic PSU seems to be pulling in air thru the bottom fan and blowing out thru the back,and since the 590 case has the PSU on the bottom is that a problem if I keep my case on the floor. Should I keep it elevated somehow so the fan has some clearance to pull in air.

 

Thanks,

WeeboTech,

 

Sorry to keep bothering you 

 

The Seasonic PSU seems to be pulling in air thru the bottom fan and blowing out thru the back,and since the 590 case has the PSU on the bottom is that a problem if I keep my case on the floor. Should I keep it elevated somehow so the fan has some clearance to pull in air.

 

Thanks,

 

Just flip the PS over.

Yeah I thought when I first installed it that I tried that but it fit better with the fan down and there is an opening in the case at the bottom so it just made sense to me to have it at the bottom. I should probably give it another try 

 

Thanks,

Just flip the PS over.

 

This is exactly what I did... Before I covered the bottom vent with clear packing tape.

I have enough dust around, don't need it being sucked in from the bottom vent.