Keywork - First Build Check

[unTER]

Codename "Keywork" is my first foray into unRAID server building and I'd like to make it last and serve me well. Because I'd like to have fun with this more than I want to worry too much about budget, I've tried to combine some over-the-top specs with a modest entry into storage space and fancy mods. Please help me check over my specs and break a few ties I have with myself. I will be forever grateful for your advice and hope to provide back to this community in the future. Thank you to everyone who came before me and posted their builds. It's been truly inspiring and exciting.

 

Goals:

• Media manager, streaming, transcoding when necessary
  
• Download manager
  
• AFP and/or SMB Shares
  
• Time Machine Backups
  
• iTunes Server
  
• Ability to play with and run add-ons/plugins
  
• Build a strong machine now that will last while allowing for modest storage growth
  
• Try to minimize power usage where possible
  
• Noise isn't an issue unless it's obnoxiously loud through the walls
  

 

Keywork Proposed Build - Newegg prices included. Some components cheaper through Amazon.

 

unRAID: Free to start then Plus registration for sure ($69)

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230 V2 Ivy Bridge 3.3GHz ($389.98 w/ motherboard combo)

CPU Fan: Stock fan - Possible future upgrade: COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 EVO RR-212E-20PK-R2 or COOLER MASTER GeminII S524

Motherboard: SUPERMICRO MBD-X9SCM-F-O (see CPU for combo price)

RAM: Kingston 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM ECC Unbuffered ($74.99) | 4GB: 2 x Kingston 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM ECC Unbuffered 1600 ($25.99 x 2 = $51.98) | Update: I went with 8GB: 2 x Kingston 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM ECC Unbuffered 1600 ($43.99 x 2 = $87.98). In December 2013, I added 16GB more: 2 x Kingston 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM ECC Unbuffered 1600 ($69 x 2 = $138 @ eBay).

Case: Fractal Design Define R4 ($122.98 after shipping) LIAN LI PC-A04B ($79.99) - May add an 80mm case fan to the back.

Drive Cage(s): None

Power Supply: PC Power and Cooling Silencer Mk III Series 400W 80 Plus Bronze ($63.98) or CORSAIR CX500M 500W ($69.99) or SILVERSTONE ST45SF-G 450W 80 Plus Gold ($107.56) or SeaSonic Platinum Series SS-400FL2 Active PFC F3 400W 80 Plus Platinum ($120) or SeaSonic SS-520FL 520W Fanless 80 Plus Platinum ($158.18) or KINGWIN STR-500 500W Fanless 80 Plus Platinum ($159.99) / Rosewill SilentNight Series SilentNight-500 500W ($159.99) - The list is whittled down thanks to Ford Prefect for pointing out this motherboard's need for an EPS12V SSI compliant connector, which I confirmed in the motherboard manual in one of their warnings. Update: I ended up getting the SeaSonic SSR-450RM 450W ($87.04)

SATA Expansion Card(s): VGA and dual NIC integrated. In December 2013, I added an LSI SAS 9211-8i 6Gb/s SAS/SATA Host Bus Adapter ($109.99 @ eBay)

Cables: The usual plus 2 x 3ware CBL-SFF8087OCF-06M Multi-lane Internal (SFF-8087) Serial ATA Breakout Cables

Fans: Stock fans - Possible future upgrades/additional fans from Noctua or comparable

UPS: CyberPower Intelligent LCD Series CP600LCD 600VA 340W ($64.99)

 

Boot Drive: SanDisk Cruzer Fit 16GB USB

Parity Drive: Western Digital Red WD30EFRX 3TB ($159.99)

Data Drives: Start with 3 x Western Digital Red WD30EFRX 3TB (319.98) - I added a repurposed WD Black 1TB HDD. Also, in December 2013, I added another 3TB Red for only $68.39.

Cache Drive: No cache drive to start. Considering SSD since it can be mounted behind the Fractal Define R4 motherboard plate, leaving a hard drive bay free. Maybe SAMSUNG 840 Series MZ-7TD120KW Western Digital Black WD5003AZEX 500GB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s ($64.99)

Total Drive Capacity: 6TB to start, now 9TB

 

Update #1: Added Silverstone PSU and SeaSonic Fanless PSU.

Update #2: Struck my original single 8GB RAM and added 2x4GB RAM for dual channeling.

Update #3: Updated PSU list with new knowledge of EPS12V SSI motherboard requirement.

Update #4: Updated my list with everything I ended up purchasing. Purchase amounts are close but not accurate.

Update #5: Added another WD Red 3TB HDD after hitting on a Tigerdirect deal for $68.39 final price.

Update #6: Added LSI SATA HBA and more RAM, as I plan on running unRAID and others VMs on ESXi now.

[Ford Prefect]

...running RAM in DUAL-Channel mode is preferred...I'd get a 2x4GB kit.

 

 

[unTER]

...running RAM in DUAL-Channel mode is preferred...I'd get a 2x4GB kit.

Makes sense. I'll grab two of either Kingston 2GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM ECC Unbuffered 1600 ($25.99 each) or Kingston 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM ECC Unbuffered 1600 ($47.57 each). I'll probably do 2 x 2GB for now.

 

Any thoughts on the power supply or my choice of processor/motherboard? Thanks!

[Ford Prefect]

I actually do not recall, that the mobo will work with a single module at all...consult the manual, I'd suggest.

 

...4GB in total for unRAID should be fine..however, for going ESXi in the future (which technically you could with your build), you'll need 8GB+ (16GB recommended).

 

There are kits, meaning a pair of two modules, already paired by the manufacturer.

Sometimes, two single modules of the same model are cheaper than a kit....however, a kit will without doubt play nicely in dual-channel mode.

If one module in a kit goes rosak, you'll be required to RMA the complete kit.

IMHO you don't need to go for the intel certified version (which is more expensive), when staying with Kingston Value RAM.

 

[Ford Prefect]

For the PSUs I cannot vouch.

 

The board can be tricky...it requires a EPS12V SSI compliant connector...see: http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=26573.0

A Sesonic should be a safe bet, AFAIR

[unTER]

For the PSUs I cannot vouch.

 

The board can be tricky...it requires a EPS12V SSI compliant connector...see: http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=26573.0

A Sesonic should be a safe bet, AFAIR

Very good to know! I will review that closely.

 

Regarding the memory, the manual says:

The motherboard will support one DIMM module or three DIMM modules installed, but it is recommended that a balanced DIMM population (installed in pairs) are followed for best performance.

 

So I'm going to for sure do a pair. I'm struggling to find a two-stick kit of RAM that is DDR3 1600, ECC, Unbuffered. Newegg is selling the regular 2GB Kingston and "Intel certified" 2GB Kingston both for $25.99, so I figured I'd go with two of the Intel one.

[Ford Prefect]

So I'm going to for sure do a pair. I'm struggling to find a two-stick kit of RAM that is DDR3 1600, ECC, Unbuffered. Newegg is selling the regular 2GB Kingston and "Intel c  ::)ertified" 2GB Kingston both for $25.99, so I figured I'd go with two of the Intel one.

 

...right, looks like there is none.

 

The only 2x kit with in 1600 that I could find is a 2x4GB from Crucial: http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?IMODULE=CT2KIT51272BD160B

[unTER]

Okay, I think I'm going to get the SeaSonic Platinum Series SS-400FL2 Active PFC F3 400W 80 Plus Platinum. I don't see myself needing more than 400W now or in the distant future.

 

Update: Yeah, I'm very PSU indecisive. I think I'll actually pay less and go with the SeaSonic SSR-450RM 450W, as it too will meet the SSI EPS 12V requirement. I don't need fancy fanless.

 

And I think I'll stick with the WD Reds and no cache drive to begin with.

[doorunrun]

I just started looking for a new case. My pick after reviewing the sub-forum on cases with lots of 5.25" bays is the Antec Nine Hundred case:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=11-129-021&Tpk=N82E16811129021

That's 9 drive bays, plenty of room for expansion, IMHO, and the use of 5-in-3 cages. It doesn't seem to be mentioned much here on the unRAID forum, so maybe there's something really wrong with it! Consider the price at $112 delivered. OK, you'll have to deal with some sort of drive adapters if you don't want to get the cages now. Huge fans!

As you might suspect, I'm itchin' to pull the trigger.

 

For PreClearing dives with ease, I suggest you get a hot-swap mobile rack for SATA HDD's. (Since you'll have lots of bays with that Antec case!)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817997016

 

Cables: Get at least one Mobo USB Header-to-USB Socket adapter so you can mount the unRAID USB stick inside the case.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812200294

Edit.......I see the mobo has a USB connector on it.......cool!

 

Cheers!

 

[unTER]

I ended up getting the Western Digital Black WD5003AZEX 500GB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s ($64.99) for a cache drive, SeaSonic SSR-450RM 450W ($87.04), and LIAN LI PC-A04B ($79.99) for my case. I don't need anything too huge, so this will serve me well for a while.