http://dealnews.com/Dell-Power-Edge-T110-Core-i3-3.2-GHz-Server-for-329-free-shipping-more/397812.html

 

I haven't seen anyone using one of these for UnRaid yet, but the prices for a pre-assembled machine looks pretty good.  It's hard to build a complete i3 system for this price, though the included DVD ROM and miniscule HD might be useless for you (cache drive?).

 

The case has 4 internal HD spots, plus two 5.25 external slots you could also fill with drive's.  I've confirmed in the past that the T110 mobo does have 6 sata connectors (http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=6693.0).  The power supply is only 350w, and is capable of driving all the drives (e.g.: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/servers/358423/dell-poweredge-t110/2).  The case can't hold more than 6 drives total, making it good for a Plus license, but there are multiple PCIe slots for expansion otherwise (x8,x8,x4,x1).

 

The mobo also includes two internal USB connectors, handy for unraid, and an eSata port.

 

Features BMC and IPMI, though (in theory) not the full KVM-over-ethernet like provided by the supermicro atom board already popular.  In theory anyway - it uses the same Matrox G200eW I think the SuperMicro does.  But you can apparently use IPMIView from supermicro to interact with the dell box (http://www.jasonmohan.com/other/reboot-your-server-remotely-with-ipmi-using-dells-bmc/) or Dell's own management software and view status (temps, fan speeds, voltages) and control reboots etc.

 

This seems like a good choice for many who don't want to worry about building anything other than installing hard disks.  Other configs of the T110 may be even cheaper, such as with a Celeron processor, look around.

 

 

 

 

 

I am not an unraid user myself yet, but I've been keeping a i3-530 build wishlist on NewEgg for a while now in case I finally cross into needing more than 1.5 TB of safe storage (currently rsynced on a weekly basis between two computers each with a 1.5TB drive).  This dell deal is only about $15 more than my self-build kit plus I get preassembly, warranty, DVD, a (small) hard drive, and a slightly faster processor (550 vs 530) included, and some bonus features (IPMI - assuming that turns out to be useful at all).  When I cross that threshold, I'm not really sure yet whether I'd go for this or a self-build.  Pros/cons each way.

Can't do full KVM over IPMI, but you can do bootup and BIOS control with this exact machine: http://www.johnlewis.ie/a-cost-effective-alternative-to-kvm-over-ip-switches/

I have two of these server running ESX. I have the ones with the X3440 processors though.  Im VERY happy with them.  Only paid $329 for each of them. They havent had the Xeon boxes on sale letely...only the i3's.