I've run into a snag in my first UnRAID build. The motherboard I was going to use is now out of stock.

 

ASUS C60M1-I - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131843

 

After reading here on the forums, I'm glad I didn't pull the trigger as it probably would have been underpowered for my wants/needs.

This is what I currently have received:

 

1) BitFenix Prodigy Midnight Black - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811345016

2) CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 430W - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

3) CORSAIR XMS3 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145252

4) I have 3x 2TB data drives (2 of which are nearly full and 1 is blank), with the intend of going UnRAID Plus with 1x 2TB parity, 1x 150GB Raptor cache, 2x 2TB data with 2 more drives later this year.

 

The first half of my order has come in and now I'm just missing a mobo + cpu. This is a budget build that I was intending to try and run several addons (Plex and couchpotato), with 3 XBMC clients. I also intend to start ripping my Blu-Ray content, if that's a factor. If its not obvious, I am a noob when it comes to UnRAID and XBMC.

 

I'm open to other suggestions, my only requirements are under $200 for both CPU and mITX motherboard.

 

Thanks,

Several of us are using the mITX mobo in this build. You could substitute a cheaper CPU if you must stay <$200.

I've been looking into itx builds as well... but from my research C60M1-I is not good enough for plex and couchpotato. so it is a good thing that you didn't get C60M1-I for that purprose.

 

As trurl pointed out, a lot of people are using i3-3220T for low power consumption (35W) and pretty powerful.

 

However... I've been looking at G630T instead..  It is cheaper than i3-3220T.. same power consumption (35W). .

 

If you don't care too much about the power consumption and low on budget, I'd go with Celeron G1610. It's 55W and it's about $50 over at newegg.. and it should be powerful enough for transcoding (plex) and sab + cp + sb set up.

ASRock FM2A85X-ITX + AMD A4-5300 = $155 plus shipping

 

ASRock FM2A85X-ITX + AMD A6-5400K = $175 plus shipping

 

Those prices are at Newegg, could possibly find them cheaper elsewhere. I use the latter combo.

 

Edit: You're going to want more RAM I'd imagine.

Thanks for the quick replies.

 

I did read thru that build (trurl) and think that I can afford alittle better then the G1610 (jangjong).

Trurl, what are you using all your power for?

I was wondering if anyone was running AMD (greeny).

 

How do you guys think these 2 different mobo/cpu combos compare? Which is better?

 

ASRock FM2A85X-ITX +  AMD A6-5400K Trinity 3.6GHz

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157357

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113282

ASUS P8H77-I + Intel Pentium G630T Sandy Bridge 2.3GHz

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131841

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116407

 

Should I been looking at 4 or 8GB RAM?

Trurl, what are you using all your power for?

I only have 450W, which I suppose is overkill since I only (and will ever) have 7 drives in this build, but most of us with small form factor builds are probably overpowered.

 

Cache, parity, 5 data are all my Plus license allows. Currently have >50% free space from 1x3TB + 4x2TB = 11TB.

LOL

I was referring to CPU power...

Thanks for the quick replies.

 

I did read thru that build (trurl) and think that I can afford alittle better then the G1610 (jangjong).

Trurl, what are you using all your power for?

I was wondering if anyone was running AMD (greeny).

 

How do you guys think these 2 different mobo/cpu combos compare? Which is better?

 

ASRock FM2A85X-ITX +  AMD A6-5400K Trinity 3.6GHz

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157357

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113282

ASUS P8H77-I + Intel Pentium G630T Sandy Bridge 2.3GHz

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131841

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116407

 

Should I been looking at 4 or 8GB RAM?

 

Obviously I'm a little biased, but I'd suggest the FM2A85X-ITX +  AMD A6-5400K combo since that's exactly what I use. The mobo comes with 7 SATAIII ports, while the ASUS board comes with only 2 SATAIII ports + 4 SATAII ports. As for the CPU comparison I'd point you here: http://cpuboss.com/cpus/Intel-Pentium-G630T-vs-AMD-A6-5400K

 

As you can see the A6-5400K uses more power but it's more powerful in return. You won't have a problem with 430W PSU (I use the exact same PSU), however the Intel CPU will obviously use less power. If electricity costs are important to you, then perhaps you'd consider the Intel instead. If you do decide to go Intel, I'd suggest going for a P8H77-I + i3-3220T combo. It's a little over $200 most likely, but gives you better performance than the G630T.

 

As for RAM, I'd start with 4GB and if you find that you need more you can always upgrade. Hope that helps!

LOL

I was referring to CPU power...

Plex was the main justification (or perhaps rationalization) for upgrading my initial build.

 

There is nothing from that build in my current build but some of the drives. I am using the old parts for a Windows 7 build for a friend who hasn't had a new PC since the early days of XP.

Hey Ogmosic, I'm the one who's build trurl referred to.  Prices might have changed a little (most likely dropping) since my build, but I only paid $228 for the P8H77-I and i3-3220T combo.  I am doing pretty much what you are looking to do with your build.  I run SimpleFeatures, unmenu, Plex, SAB, SickBeard, and CouchPotato and I can vouch that it all works great on that mobo + CPU combo.

 

Bonus is also lower power comsumption.  I don't have a Kill-A-Watt to measure precisely, but going by the load readouts from the UPS, this build consumes about 60W at idle (cache drive spun up, parity and data drives spun down), and 75W at load with all drives spun up.