I tried to turn my old PC into an unRAID server today but failed to get it to boot (actually the last three pcs I have tried did not support booting from USB) so I decided to just purchase a few new parts.

 

Here is what I bought:

1.5TB WD Caviar Green WD15EARS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136513

2x2GB Kingston DDR3 DRAM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134792 

BioStar H55A motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138281R

Intel Core i3 540 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115221

Koutech USB header to install the flash drive inside the case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815201028

Transcend 4GB MicroSD with USB adapter.

 

I already had two 1.5TB SATA drives but no cables (as the cables were used in the Synology DS207 I got rid of). 

 

I know this is a bit of overkill but I would like this box to run my Crashplan, SAB, Sickbeard, and CouchPotato as well.

 

The question I still have is do I need any cables besides 3 sata cables?  I have read a bit about a single reverse breakout cable, do I need that for my setup?

 

Thanks,

 

Shane

To connect SATA drives to any SATA motherboard, all you need are SATA cables. Breakout cables, of both forward and reverse variety, are only necessary when using an SAS controller or an SAS backplane, because you need to go from SAS to SATA. You use forward breakout cables to go from an SAS controller to four SATA drives. You use a reverse breakout cable to go from four SATA motherboard ports to an SAS backplane. To go from an SAS controller card to an SAS backplane, you need an SAS cable.

 

 

Interesting that a scsi protocol and an ata protocol could be connected with just a cable.  I'll have to read up on that, I wonder if the protocols are now compatible of if the breakout cables actually have a controller with some logic embedded in them?