So I've been sitting on this build for months(saving money and trying to allocate time). I think I'm ready, but I'm concerned there may be newer/better hardware choices considering it's been months since I put this together.

 

I'm basically wondering if any new components came out that would be better choices than what I have. I'm looking to virtualize(home security cameras, torrenting, testing), serve media to multiple rooms, run plex, be hot swap capable.

Thanks.

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/kingfeta/saved/tCJTwP

 

 

Looks fine -- an excellent system overall.

 

Obviously (as I'm sure you're aware) you don't actually need the add-in cards for the additional SATA ports for your initial build, assuming you're only buying the drives you've listed.    But it certainly doesn't hurt anything to go ahead and set up the case so all 24 bays are active ... makes adding storage trivial in the future with no need to open the case.

 

Thanks. Just ordered. I noticed my cpu doesn't have integrated graphics. Do I need a graphics card to complete this build and get it up and running? I don't think I have anything lying around.

Why 32G RAM? Unless you need for VMs, probably overkill.

 

Integrated low-end video is a nice motherboard feature to have. It you have IPMI (i didn't check), maybe not needed.

 

After having IPMI I would say that is now a mandatory feature for unRAID motherboards for me.

You don't need a video card with that motherboard => it DOES have IPMI (I checked ... and would have commented on the lack of video if it didn't).

 

With IPMI you can do anything you need from another system.

 

 

Thanks guys. Let's see how long it takes me to get this together and configured...

Running into a build problem. It seems the cpu heatsink fan doesn't seem to fit into the norco case. Do I actually need the fan clipped on or can the norco case fans move enough air to live without it?

 

 

Running into a build problem. It seems the cpu heatsink fan doesn't seem to fit into the norco case. Do I actually need the fan clipped on or can the norco case fans move enough air to live without it?

 

 

Why not just use the stock fan that came with the CPU and return that one!?

 

You're not doing any OC'ing and that case has decent airflow. I think the cooler is overkill personally.

Agree with danioj, go with the stock heatsink and fan.  I put a E3-1231v3 in my desktop system and the stock cooler is more than sufficient.  And that's while hosting a Minecraft server and playing various 3D video games at the same time.  CPU remains cool and quiet.

I'm running the stock fan on my E3-1240, and it's not a cool running chip being an old Sandy Bridge.  I've run cpuburn, prime95, etc to test it, and it sits perfectly happily at 69C.  The retail heatsink also helps cool the motherboard, where tower coolers like the one you're using can leave the VRM area of the motherboard quite warm.

Thanks, put the Intel heatsink on. Installed ram and connected power supply/norco case connectors to motherboard.

 

Next problem(really new to this...sorry for stupid questions). Everything powers up fine, but I'm trying to connect via ipmi with no luck. Since the cpu doesn't have integrated graphics and I don't have an old video card around I figured this was the only way(correct?). I tried using both lan1 and the ipmi port(connected to my switch), but my laptop can't seem to connect. In fact, I performed "arp -a" and saw no new address. I downloaded the ipmi view tool to help discover it and it found nothing. Am I supposed to configure the bios/ipmi address first with a video card(that I don't have)?

...  I've run cpuburn, prime95, etc to test it, and it sits perfectly happily at 69C.

 

I presume that's the 100% load temp => that's very hot for a "normal" temperature, but okay as a max under full prime95 loading ... still well under the danger zone for that chip.

 

Thanks, put the Intel heatsink on. Installed ram and connected power supply/norco case connectors to motherboard.

 

Next problem(really new to this...sorry for stupid questions). Everything powers up fine, but I'm trying to connect via ipmi with no luck. Since the cpu doesn't have integrated graphics and I don't have an old video card around I figured this was the only way(correct?). I tried using both lan1 and the ipmi port(connected to my switch), but my laptop can't seem to connect. In fact, I performed "arp -a" and saw no new address. I downloaded the ipmi view tool to help discover it and it found nothing. Am I supposed to configure the bios/ipmi address first with a video card(that I don't have)?

 

It should simply "work" with IPMI.  I assume you need to use the dedicated IPMI LAN port, but just to be sure try all 3 LAN ports and confirm you aren't able to connect.

 

Also, you also don't need a video card to get local video => there's a video adapter built into the board (an Aspeed AST2400).  Plug a monitor into the VGA port and attach a USB keyboard ... you should then be able to look at the BIOS and see just what's going on.

 

Thanks, put the Intel heatsink on. Installed ram and connected power supply/norco case connectors to motherboard.

 

Next problem(really new to this...sorry for stupid questions). Everything powers up fine, but I'm trying to connect via ipmi with no luck. Since the cpu doesn't have integrated graphics and I don't have an old video card around I figured this was the only way(correct?). I tried using both lan1 and the ipmi port(connected to my switch), but my laptop can't seem to connect. In fact, I performed "arp -a" and saw no new address. I downloaded the ipmi view tool to help discover it and it found nothing. Am I supposed to configure the bios/ipmi address first with a video card(that I don't have)?

 

My ASRock board assigns 3 ip addresses. 1 for unraid and 2 for bmc. Have you checked your router to see what they are?

 

You should just be able to go to http://<one of the bmc addresses> And access the system.

That's the thing, I didn't see any new/odd addresses in my arp table or when I logged into my router to see the "wired" connections. I had link light on the motherboard(using the ipmi port and lan 1) and on my unmanaged switch(maybe I need a direct connection to the router?). The ipmi discovery tool searched 192.168.1.1 all the way to 192.168.1.255 and found nothing. I'll have to grab an old monitor with a vga connection and see what's happening during boot up/post. No audible alarms though.

 

Side note, I heard some minor crackling when I was installing the heatsink when the motherboard flexed very slightly. Of course that's all I'm thinking about...mostly likely I'm doing something foolish though.

... Side note, I heard some minor crackling when I was installing the heatsink when the motherboard flexed very slightly. Of course that's all I'm thinking about...mostly likely I'm doing something foolish though.

 

"crackling" is clearly NOT a good sound !!    I actually wondered when you described the issues you had installing the heatsink whether or not you may have damaged anything.    I presume the "crackling" you refer to was just flexing noises -- surely you did NOT install the heatsink with power on ... right ??

 

Crackling from flexing, not power related. It was honestly, less than 1/8 of an inch. Pushed the heatsink in while the motherboard was on a carpet. Derp.

 

I get home in about 6 hours and I think I have an old monitor. I'm hoping I just have to configure the ipmi address in the bios OR I have some Ethernet/connection problems.

When you're installing an Intel heatsink it's best to support the bottom of the board with a couple fingers while pushing on the push-pin that turns to lock.    I doubt you damaged anything if you simply pushed it straight in without holding the bottom ... but in the future it's best to put a couple fingers on the bottom of the board where you're pushing on the pushpin.

 

 

Side note, I heard some minor crackling when I was installing the heatsink when the motherboard flexed very slightly. Of course that's all I'm thinking about...mostly likely I'm doing something foolish though.

 

 

I hope you didn't damage your board when replacing your Heatsink as I was suggesting to you earlier. Wish I had remembered to remind you to support the board from underneath at very least.

 

 

Crackling from flexing, not power related. It was honestly, less than 1/8 of an inch. Pushed the heatsink in while the motherboard was on a carpet. Derp.

 

I get home in about 6 hours and I think I have an old monitor. I'm hoping I just have to configure the ipmi address in the bios OR I have some Ethernet/connection problems.

 

 

Go with your plan and grab a monitor and have a look. When I was installing the ASRock Board I had to do the same thing (turns out I didn't have the memory seated correctly) and  I don't have one so I had to go and grab the 42" TV in the bedroom and bring it and plug it in via VGA cable! It was a funny sight.

 

Good Luck!

Actually a 42" TV makes a VERY nice monitor 

 

I set a system up last month for a friend who wanted a LARGE monitor on a large corner desk.    We used a 42" 4K TV ==> it makes a VERY nice display and with the 3840 x 2160 resolution there's a LOT of desktop space 

Thanks, put the Intel heatsink on. Installed ram and connected power supply/norco case connectors to motherboard.

 

Next problem(really new to this...sorry for stupid questions). Everything powers up fine, but I'm trying to connect via ipmi with no luck. Since the cpu doesn't have integrated graphics and I don't have an old video card around I figured this was the only way(correct?). I tried using both lan1 and the ipmi port(connected to my switch), but my laptop can't seem to connect. In fact, I performed "arp -a" and saw no new address. I downloaded the ipmi view tool to help discover it and it found nothing. Am I supposed to configure the bios/ipmi address first with a video card(that I don't have)?

 

It should simply "work" with IPMI.  I assume you need to use the dedicated IPMI LAN port, but just to be sure try all 3 LAN ports and confirm you aren't able to connect.

 

Also, you also don't need a video card to get local video => there's a video adapter built into the board (an Aspeed AST2400).  Plug a monitor into the VGA port and attach a USB keyboard ... you should then be able to look at the BIOS and see just what's going on.

 

The IPMI_Dedicated LAN port is the one located on top of the USB ports. You can see on page 2-8 of the manual.

 

Your link above indicates you purchased a "open box" if so, you may find the BMC has a setting configured preventing your easy access to IPMI, like static IP address configured.

 

The manual also recommends you install the motherboard in the chassis before the CPU (and thus heatsink), page 2-5. None of this fingers on the board stuff.

 

the manual

I found some more time to work on this. I believe everything is connected at this point. I ran two passes of memtest successfully. More questions though

 

Ipmi issue:

I connected an old monitor and it seems to have a connectivity problem. Got an "PXE-E51 error: No dhcp offers were received." Tried the ipmi port again with dhcp enabled and then also with a static IP that I configured in the bios and both had no luck. I'm gonna try connecting directly into my router instead of through my patch panel-> switch. Other than that, I'm guessing my asus router may not be configured correctly. Anything else I should try?

 

Sas/extender/drives:

I connected one port of my IBM m1015 into the first row on the norco(my parity drive will be here). Then port 2 into my Intel res2sv240nc. The 5 other ports on the Intel are going to the remaining norco backplane ports(well, I'm a cable short so the bottom row isn't connected...i only got 6 cables).

1. Is my cabling correct?

2. The Intel seems loose in the pciE slot since it's smaller, that ok to use there? I'd rather not use the molex if possible as it just fits cleaner.

3. Do I plug my Samsung cache drive directly into the motherboard sata port? I'm really not seeing where/how the pci mobile rack I got for the ssd fits into the equation other than screwing it into the shelf space behind the firewall...correct?

 

If everything seems ok I think I have to preclear my drives next. Longest. Build. Ever.