A less expensive alternative to the Lian Li is http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119152

Same 9-bay design, but $50 less... and I like that the weight of the PSU is at the bottom.  But you'll need a 3rd cage... so you actually only save $30.  And you'll  want to cover up the side and top vents unless you use them for exhaust.

 

The Centurion 590 already comes with one 4-in-3 drive cage so he just needs two more drive cages to house a total of 12 drives.

ILoveJedd,

 

I feel like you've really dialed into my needs...  Thank you...  So, looking at your suggested build:

 

$50 - Case:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119152

$44 - Two Cages:  http://www.sundialmicro.com/cooler_master_4in3_device-stb3t4e3gp_1975_1348.html (delay until needed)

$100 - Power Supply:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

$110 - Motherboard w/ 6 SATA ports:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182162 (official unRAID board)

$40 - Processor:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116039

$53 - RAM:  http://shop.kingston.com/partsinfo.asp?ktcpartno=KVR1066D3N7K2/2G

$169 - unRaid Pro Twin Pack:  http://lime-technology.com/?page_id=44

$390 - 3 1.5TB Hard Disks: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148337

 

Total:  $956

 

Does anyone foresee any issues with this build (aside from my incompetence?  ) 

 

Thanks,

 

Russell

From my perspective you are spending $50 to $80 more than you need, but you are within 10% of what I'd spend, so I wouldn't quibble.

 

Be sure to enable the variable speed CPU fan controls on the mobo, or else the stock fan on the Celeron heatsink sounds like a jet engine.

Is the "unofficial" official UnRaid Motherboard any good?

 

Motherboard w/ 6 SATA ports:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182162 (official unRAID board)

 

There aren't many reviews anywhere that I can find... and on newegg, 67% of buyers rated it "Very Poor".

 

Thanks,

 

Russell

Is the "unofficial" official UnRaid Motherboard any good?

 

Motherboard w/ 6 SATA ports:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182162 (official unRAID board)

 

There aren't many reviews anywhere that I can find... and on newegg, 67% of buyers rated it "Very Poor".

 

Thanks,

 

Russell

 

The official motherboard was probably tested extensively prior to Tom using them so I'd take a guess the answer's yes. Seriously, are you willing to sell and provide support for a product that doesn't work properly? Supermicro primarily makes workstation and server class boards. Take a look around this forum. You'll likely notice that Supermicro is well-regarded by members who are also IT professionals.

 

If you read the reviews, you'll notice one of them initially tried to use DDR2 RAM instead of DDR3. That by itself leads me to think the guy didn't do his research beforehand and has no idea what he's doing despite his boasting. The other reviewer who can't get video working wasn't very specific with his problem. It's possible it was just a driver issue with the operating system (probably Windows), and as such, isn't likely to affect unRAID operation.

 

I will comment that if you really want to expand to 15 drives then just consider buying the Noreco case right off the bat. You get all the drive bays and fans you need ready to go (at least I think you do).

 

Now;

Do those Cooler Master drive adapters have a filter in the front of them for the fan?? If so, then ignore what I'm posting here.

 

If not, then here is something to think about. The front 5.25" covers down the front of the Centurion 590 case are vented and filtered. So, I would consider something like these adapters;

 

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=32328&vpn=SCY-HDSX4&manufacture=Scythe

 

installed in this case

 

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

 

Then, put say 2 x 120mm fans (probably about 50cfm each) into the case blowing out and cover the rest of the holes with packing tape or duct tape. Cover the hole on the bottom for the power supply and instead install the power supply upside down. It's supposed to intake air from under the case but instead put it in so it intakes from inside the case. It still screws in but only with 2 or 3 screws instead of the normal 4. This way, the air flows through the filters on the front, over the drives first and then out the fans at the back. The front cover of that case also just pulls off. I would block off the open area with a piece of cardboard and just keep trimming it down as you add each drive.

 

It'd be nice if you could buy extra adapters exactly like the one that comes in the case because they're perfect for mounting the drives and they have a 120mm fan and still retain the filtered front cover. Maybe that other one is similar enough iif you take off the black piece in front of the fan. It's not the same from the pics but it is similar. The one that comes in the case allows each drive to be rubber grommet mounted individually.

 

On mine, I have the same case and am using drawer load drive tray adapters. I'm going to install the fans so they suck in through filters and then exhaust through the drive cages at the front with filters like these. I actually have it done but just have a bounce sheet over the fans for now held with some magnets because I still have to get the filters.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811999208

 

Anything to keep the dust out sure helps. Might as well think about this before hand because that computer will sit hidden somewhere and hidden in the corner is usually the worst spot for dust.

 

Peter

 

Filters do very little.  To be effective, they will restrict airflow too much, and bladed fans don't do well with static head.... you need squirrel-cage blowers for head applications.  The fine dust that does get through them is just as bad.  Compare a filtered versus non-filter PC in the same location for 2 years, and you'll see little difference.... both need to be vacuumed out.  Use large open-cell foam to keep the insects out... that's all you need.

 

You do better with no filters, and higher airflow to exhaust any dust that gets in .... particularly with a vertically-mounted mobo.  Volume of air is more important than filtering (in most home environments).

 

Every extra fan is another 5 Watts too.

 

But I agree 100% with mounting it upside down.... in-taking air from near the floor is bad.

You've kinda brought up something else I should know...  I'm using ILoveJed's design, since everyone seems to think it's a good balance...

 

Will I need to order additional fans, screws, heatsinks, processor gunk (they still use that?), etc to complete this build?

 

Thanks,

 

Russell

Nope.  Unless you want to make it real quiet by using 2 exhaust fans on lower speed rahter than the one it ships wil on high.

 

The CPU comes with heatsink, thermal compound, and fan.

FWIW, I built a system around the CM-590, but instead of 4 in 3 trays, I use Trayless SATA units.

With my usage I estimate drives will grow larger faster then I'll need more spindles.

 

In any case, here is my design if you want to get ideas.

I did the whole Passive front end, active back and top end for cooling.

My drive numbers are not icy cold like some others, but in the dead heat of summer, they were not much more above ambient either.

 

Don't worry about my motherboard and extraneous parts. I went all out for higher performance as my system is a bit busy and I consolidated a few different machines to a networked environment.

 

 

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=2031.msg20486#msg20486

 

 

Thank you Gentlemen for all your help,

 

I just ordered my UnRAID Pro Keys and all appropriate hardware (ILoveJedd's list) today...

 

Still no takers in Sacramento that want to build this thing for me for a few bucks? 

 

Thanks,

 

Russell

Thank you Gentlemen for all your help,

 

I just ordered my UnRAID Pro Keys and all appropriate hardware (ILoveJedd's list) today...

 

Still no takers in Sacramento that want to build this thing for me for a few bucks?   

 

Half the fun is building it yourself, piece by piece

 

Seriously!

VDTruong,

 

I assure you...  I'm not a FUN guy.

 

Anyone interested in building this?  (me = begging  )

 

Russell

I built my unRAID about 21 months ago.  I knew absolutely nothing about it - never even seen linux before.  I had never built anything computerwise - always had shops build them for me.

 

As it turned out, it proved a relatively easy operation and I learned a few things about how the system worked.  I had a few teething problems, but because I wasn't in a hurry and I had the absolutely fantastic support of the community here, I managed to resolve all my issues and move forward.  To help out, I got the shop that supplied the H/W to install the CPU and RAM (no cost).

 

As it is, I still know very little about the system (especially compared to the folks here), but it helped me to realise that a step by step process can be easily accomplished - to the degree I went and built my next windows box on my own.  That was far scarier that the unRAID build up, but I completed it with much satisfaction and without help.

 

Give it a go.  You might surprise yourself.  I did.

 

 

Flambot,

 

Thanks so much for the encouragement...  I know you're right... everyone here seems awesome...

 

I've jumped into the deep end of the pool...  but my build isn't working!  Argh!

 

See this thread:  http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=2993.0

 

Thanks,

 

Russell