tyrindor Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=17155567 These are the parts I plan on getting to start off, than adding SATA controllers, more hard drives and a UPS later. I will be using unRaid 4.5. Does anyone see any possible problems, or changes they would make? Link to comment
prostuff1 Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=17155567 These are the parts I plan on getting to start off, than adding SATA controllers, more hard drives and a UPS later. I will be using unRaid 4.5. Does anyone see any possible problems, or changes they would make? Why the DVD drive? There really is no use for it in unRAID and will just use a SATA port that could be used for a disk later Link to comment
tyrindor Posted January 4, 2010 Author Share Posted January 4, 2010 The Blu-ray Drive is not going in the server, it will be used to rip blu-rays (that I own) on my other computer which I can then transfer to the server. Link to comment
aiden Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Hm... you mean 3TB server, right? FWIW, zipzoomfly has good deals on corsair power supplies, including the 850 hx. I just ordered a 620 hx myself from them. I love newegg, but sometimes the other guys are cheaper. Link to comment
tyrindor Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share Posted January 5, 2010 Hm... you mean 3TB server, right? FWIW, zipzoomfly has good deals on corsair power supplies, including the 850 hx. I just ordered a 620 hx myself from them. I love newegg, but sometimes the other guys are cheaper. 3TB to start with. I will be filling up the other 17 slots over the next few months. Link to comment
aiden Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Ahh... I see. Well, have fun. That's gonna be a beast when you finish it. Link to comment
PhatalOne Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Is there any reason you're going with the PCI-X server board? Link to comment
prostuff1 Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Is there any reason you're going with the PCI-X server board? Probably because it will allow for maximum expansion later on. The PCI-X slots on that board are separate so you can attach a lot of drives to them and not get a slow down (or at least a lot of slow down) when doing parity check. When the need presents itself I will probably go with a board like this. I don't see that happening anytime soon as my Abit AB9 Pro is working just perfectly. Link to comment
tyrindor Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share Posted January 5, 2010 Is there any reason you're going with the PCI-X server board? Because there are good 8-port SATA cards that are only on PCI-X... and they are only $95 each. To get a card like that on PCI-E your looking at $300-$500. Link to comment
PhatalOne Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Is there any reason you're going with the PCI-X server board? Because there are good 8-port SATA cards that are only on PCI-X... and they are only $95 each. To get a card like that on PCI-E your looking at $300-$500. I figured that might be your reasoning and I can't disagree with you there. I do think the CPU could be chopped back a bit if you're going to run strictly unRAID. These two CPU's would be significantly cheaper and still technically be overkill for unRAID alone. Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 (doesn't have Virtualization Technology Support like the Core 2 7300 you spec'd) - $64.50 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072 Pentium E6300 Wolfdale 2.8GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 (has Virtualization Technology Support but no SSE4 like the Core 2 7300 you spec'd) - $81 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116091 For my own fun, knowledge, and boredom I tried to spec up a similar setup using PCI-E SATA cards known to work with unRAID. Try as I might, I really couldn't come up with a better overall build. About the closest I came was this build that was ~$60 cheaper for the core components to get to 20 drives. This differential is erased if you decided to go with one of the processors above. Additionally, the AsRock board below is of questionable quality compared to the SuperMicro. Comparable AMD build: 1x - ASRock M3A785GXH/128M AM3 AMD 785G - $100 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157167 1x - AMD Athlon II X2 245 Regor 2.9GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor - $62 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103687 3x - Adaptec 2241000-R PCI Express x4 SATA II 1430SA - $89 or $105 ea. ($267 or $315 total) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816103105 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816103058 1x - SYBA SD-SA2PEX-2IR PCI Express SATA II Controller Card - Retail - $27 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815124027 Link to comment
tyrindor Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share Posted January 5, 2010 Is there any reason you're going with the PCI-X server board? Because there are good 8-port SATA cards that are only on PCI-X... and they are only $95 each. To get a card like that on PCI-E your looking at $300-$500. I figured that might be your reasoning and I can't disagree with you there. I do think the CPU could be chopped back a bit if you're going to run strictly unRAID. These two CPU's would be significantly cheaper and still technically be overkill for unRAID alone. Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 (doesn't have Virtualization Technology Support like the Core 2 7300 you spec'd) - $64.50 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072 Pentium E6300 Wolfdale 2.8GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 (has Virtualization Technology Support but no SSE4 like the Core 2 7300 you spec'd) - $81 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116091 For my own fun/knowledge I tried to spec up a similar setup using PCI-E SATA cards known to work with unRAID. Try as I might, I really couldn't come up with a better overall build. About the closest I came was this build that was ~$60 cheaper for the core components to get to 20 drives. This differential is erased if you decided to go with one of the processors above. Additionally, the AsRock board below is of questionable quality compared to the SuperMicro. Comparable AMD build: 1x - ASRock M3A785GXH/128M AM3 AMD 785G - $100 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157167 1x - AMD Athlon II X2 245 Regor 2.9GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor - $62 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103687 3x - Adaptec 2241000-R PCI Express x4 SATA II 1430SA - $89 or $105 ea. ($267 or $315 total) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816103105 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816103058 1x - SYBA SD-SA2PEX-2IR PCI Express SATA II Controller Card - Retail - $27 I was debating on going with the 60$ Intel CPU. After I saw the total it was more like "eh already at this price, whats $50 more". I really like to use as little as hardware as possible, using 4x Sata controllers over 2x is a turn off for me. How much RAM would I need for unraid? Does the requirement it go up with more hard drives? I see most people going with 4gigs nowadays for unraid. Link to comment
PhatalOne Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I was debating on going with the 60$ Intel CPU. After I saw the total it was more like "eh already at this price, whats $50 more". I really like to use as little as hardware as possible, using 4x Sata controllers over 2x is a turn off for me. How much RAM would I need for unraid? Does the requirement it go up with more hard drives? I see most people going with 4gigs nowadays for unraid. Well I try to think of $50-100 as the #of hard drives I could be missing out on. I too do not like to use too much hardware since it adds more possible points of failure into the system which is why I really couldn't come up with anything "better." No, RAM is not a huge requirement. I have 4GB in my unRAID box and that is more than enough for how I am using my production server. Also, I like the choice of drives you are going with. The LP 5400rpm and 5900rpm drives from Western Digital and Seagate run so much cooler in my 4220 that I eventually want to migrate out my 7200rpm drives. Link to comment
tyrindor Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share Posted January 5, 2010 I was debating on going with the 60$ Intel CPU. After I saw the total it was more like "eh already at this price, whats $50 more". I really like to use as little as hardware as possible, using 4x Sata controllers over 2x is a turn off for me. How much RAM would I need for unraid? Does the requirement it go up with more hard drives? I see most people going with 4gigs nowadays for unraid. Well I try to think of $50-100 as the #of hard drives I could be missing out on. I too do not like to use too much hardware since it adds more possible points of failure into the system which is why I really couldn't come up with anything "better." No, RAM is not a huge requirement. I have 4GB in my unRAID box and that is more than enough for how I am using my production server. Also, I like the choice of drives you are going with. The LP 5400rpm and 5900rpm drives from Western Digital and Seagate run so much cooler in my 4220 that I eventually want to migrate out my 7200rpm drives. I've decided to step down the CPU and RAM. My friend (who knows nothing about unRAID) claims 4GB is just overkill and a waste of $40 for a storage server, so I went down to 2GB. I hope he is right... I'm also going to be going with the cheap red SATA cables that come with the mobo and sata cards, at least for the time being (I did not want to do this!). I tried to step down the PSU, but it'll just cause headaches in the long run. I estimated 20 drives will peak at about 60amps on the 12v. This PSU is 70amps. Any lower and i'm right on the line. I still need to grab a UPS as well. Pretty happy with this price and i've cut it down another $50 by getting some parts at other stores. Link to comment
PhatalOne Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 You may also check out NewEgg's combo deals... they stink right now but sometimes they will throw in a SATA cable with the HDD. If you were able to get that, would save you another $40. If you can't do that, then you might want to check out MonoPrice: http://www.monoprice.com/products/search.asp?keyword=SATA&x=0&y=0 I buy all of my AV cables from them and RiteAV. Top notch cables with low prices and volume discounts. One last point on the RAM, I'm pretty sure unRAID uses the RAM as temporary disk space. At the time I bought my memory, it was so cheap that 4gb was an afterthought. I think 2GB would be fine but hopefully someone more knowledgeable in that area than I can add their input. Link to comment
prostuff1 Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I've decided to step down the CPU and RAM. My friend (who knows nothing about unRAID) claims 4GB is just overkill and a waste of $40 for a storage server, so I went down to 2GB. I hope he is right... I'm also going to be going with the cheap red SATA cables that come with the mobo and sata cards, at least for the time being (I did not want to do this!). I tried to step down the PSU, but it'll just cause headaches in the long run. I estimated 20 drives will peak at about 60amps on the 12v. This PSU is 70amps. Any lower and i'm right on the line. I still need to grab a UPS as well. Pretty happy with this price and i've cut it down another $50 by getting some parts at other stores. For SATA cable I highly suggest locking ones from monoprice.com Link to comment
Chris Pollard Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I'd also suggest good quality locking cables. cheap ones can cause a lot of headaches. Link to comment
aiden Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Can you provide an example? Link to comment
prostuff1 Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Can you provide an example? An example of good cables? That is nearly impossible as it is usually hit and miss. Locking are always suggested as it seems to create a better connection and stay put better. I have had good luck with locking cable from Monoprice. I have bought a lot of cables from them over the years and only had 2 that were bad; a headphone extender cable, and one SATA cable. The headphone extender I shipped back and got a replacement for, the SATA one I did not bother with. Link to comment
PhatalOne Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Example of a locking SATA cable: http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10226&cs_id=1022602&p_id=4863&seq=1&format=2 Link to comment
aiden Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Thank you Phatal, that is what I was asking. An example of a "locking" cable, for those of us who have no knowledge of such a thing. Link to comment
prostuff1 Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Thank you Phatal, that is what I was asking. An example of a "locking" cable, for those of us who have no knowledge of such a thing. I see now. A google search will being up plenty of places that sell them (Newegg, monoprice to name a few). Link to comment
aiden Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I tend to trust google less and less these days. Besides, I was also looking for a link to an actual product that was being used by a someone on this forum. Thanks to everyone. Link to comment
yp_1 Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Is there any reason you're going with the PCI-X server board? Because there are good 8-port SATA cards that are only on PCI-X... and they are only $95 each. To get a card like that on PCI-E your looking at $300-$500. You can find cheaper options: http://www.anitec.ca/product/481593/sasuc8i-2-ports-pci-express-x8-sas-raid-controller-sasuc8i Though those guys don't ship outside Canada. Also sometimes watching eBay pays off, especially for used or surplus gear some sellers have. Link to comment
PhatalOne Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 You can find cheaper options: http://www.anitec.ca/product/481593/sasuc8i-2-ports-pci-express-x8-sas-raid-controller-sasuc8i Though those guys don't ship outside Canada. Also sometimes watching eBay pays off, especially for used or surplus gear some sellers have. I'd keep in mind that SAS support in unRAID is not ready for prime time. Hopefully the issues with it are sorted out, but if I were building a server today, I wouldn't spec a SAS card. Link to comment
perfessor101 Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 one thing to be careful of locking sata cables is how close your sata ports are ... or if they are in blocks ... on my P5Q-E motherboard I have to use four regular cables on my Rosewill RC-218 cards I need to use 2 locking cables and 2 regular cables now if they sold cables with one end locking and one end regular ... that would be better for those sata ports Link to comment
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