Vocatus Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 Well, I finally hacked apart my old Windows XP software RAID5 file server (4x500GB SATA) and converted it to an unRAID box. Added two cooling fans in the front (on a case not designed for it), and well, the pictures will speak for themselves. Why is it super-ghetto? let me list the reasons: 1. I colored the case and cardboard pieces that cover various holes with a black sharpie 2. Half the drives don't fit properly so they aren't screwed in to the tray 3. Drives may be stacked too tight 4. Fans are taped or twist-tied onto the case 5. scotch tape to hold the wires But...the real question, does it work? Sure it looks ghetto, but the internals and cooling are good. - Antec NEO ECO 400W PSU (w/ 30A 12v rail), 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC (off the recommended hardware list) - Asus p5k-series mobo - 8 SATA ports (4x mobo, 4x Adaptec 1430SA PCI-E x4 card) - all IDE devices removed - PCI Gigabit NIC (it's the only thing on the IDE/PCI bus) - All drives are 500GB. So minus cache+parity, it's 2.3TB usable space Most importantly: What kind of temps on the drives? Lowest is 27c, highest is 33c, which is well within safe operating range. Any thoughts? Link to comment
Vocatus Posted January 30, 2011 Author Share Posted January 30, 2011 Additional pics, powered off and powered on. All the "black plastic" around the fans is actually cardboard colored black with a sharpie Link to comment
nxtiak Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 Love the scotch tape holding the fan power cables. LOL. Link to comment
Vocatus Posted January 30, 2011 Author Share Posted January 30, 2011 Love the scotch tape holding the fan power cables. LOL. I soon realized I didn't have the stuff to build a professional-looking box, but I knew the only thing that really matters is A) good PSU and B) drive temps/cooling. Hopefully it holds up! I'm running the preclear_disk.sh script on all 7 drives right now, and none of them are over 36c, even with all 7 drives being hit hard at the same time. Here's a pic of a the full clearing going on. Link to comment
nxtiak Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 Get yourself some zipties. Once you put the cover on and it gets warm in there, those tapes are going to fall off. Link to comment
kizer Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 Other than some minor wire management I think you did a pretty good job. Link to comment
Vocatus Posted January 30, 2011 Author Share Posted January 30, 2011 Other than some minor wire management I think you did a pretty good job. thanks! Yeah, I'm waiting to see how well that scotch tape holds up to the heat. So far the case has stayed pretty cool, and the drive temps are great. so...we'll see what happens Link to comment
Rajahal Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Ghetto fabulous! I used scotch tape in my first build too, but I used it to block certain air intakes, not to support anything with weight. I agree that the tape may fall off after a bit. Twist ties work just as well as zip ties, and they are free at any grocery store... Maybe we should have a ghetto-fab server contest? Link to comment
kizer Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 I think it would be a good idea. I'd hate to think some don't post up picks just because they aren't the cleanest. I personally think anything goes as long as it well works. LOL Link to comment
Vocatus Posted February 2, 2011 Author Share Posted February 2, 2011 I think it would be a good idea. I'd hate to think some don't post up picks just because they aren't the cleanest. I personally think anything goes as long as it well works. LOL That'd actually be a great photo thread....ghetto fabulous builds. I used duct tape to block all the air vents on the sides, to force the flow of air directly over the drives (like you did). The scotch tape just holds the wires, but I have some sandwich ties I think i'll use instead. So far it's working great, temps are low 30's on all drives. Link to comment
hellbringer Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Hehehe, love the ghetto about this build, w've all been there (I know i have) Looks good, if it works: dont fix it. Link to comment
jamerson9 Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I would replace the scotch tape as soon as possible. If its the run of the mill type, its going to go manky really quickly and its going to cover all your wires and leave you with sticky finger every time you open the case. Just keep an eye out in the good deals forum for a bargain case! Link to comment
candre23 Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 That'd actually be a great photo thread....ghetto fabulous builds. The ghettoest case is no case at all. My submission, should that thread ever get made: I have a case on order, but it hasn't arrived yet and I wanted to get started migrating stuff off my dying WHS box before it craps out for good. At least I know there aren't any airflow issues Link to comment
Superorb Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 The ghettoest case is no case at all. My submission, should that thread ever get made: Winner winner chicken dinner Link to comment
qrismac Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 The ghettoest case is no case at all. My submission, should that thread ever get made: I have a case on order, but it hasn't arrived yet and I wanted to get started migrating stuff off my dying WHS box before it craps out for good. At least I know there aren't any airflow issues whoa! - looks like everythings been placed on a fridge? the ultimate cooling system Link to comment
Rajahal Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 FYI - those ESD bags only work for components that are on the inside, the outside can still conduct current. It is not safe to run a component like a motherboard on top of a bag like that. If you want to run components without a case you need an ESD pad. Link to comment
candre23 Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 There's a sheet of foam between the board and the bag. Link to comment
Vocatus Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share Posted February 21, 2011 I have to humbly admit your setup is more ghetto than mine. Good show sir Link to comment
wreck Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 cadre23, hot hot do those drives get without any active cooling? Link to comment
candre23 Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 The two WD20EARS drives haven't gone above 33. The 3rd drive is an older 1TB WD green that I pulled from an external enclosure. That got up to 38. Link to comment
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