File Server/Mini Computer Build

[crazyfoo88]

I have been looking at some 6 drive NAS boxes to no luck, and got an idea to build something like this. I am a photographer with 8-12tb of storage needs right now and I pieced together this system. What do you guys think? I already have the hard drives needed for this (4x 2tb WD Green and 2x 1.5tb WD green)

Intel Core i3 2100 Dual Core Hyperthreading Processor LGA1155 3.1GHZ Sandy Bridge 3MB $121.28
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=12200BD7933

Gigabyte H67N-USB3-B3 Mini ITX LGA1155 H67 DDR3 1PCI-E16 DVI HDMI Sound eSATA USB3.0 Motherboard $100.84
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11830BD6189

Lian Li PC-Q08B Black Aluminum ITX Cube SFF Case 1X5.25 6X3.5INT USB3.0 Audio No PS $98.15
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=12610AC9528&vpn=PC-Q08B&manufacture=LIAN-LI

Corsair XMS CMX4GX3M1A1333C9 4GB 1X4GB DDR3-1333 CL9-9-9-24 DIMM Memory Module
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11180BD2215

Vantec UGT-ST310R 6-PORT SATA II 150 PCI Host Card W/RAID Retail $25.38
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=16950NW2604

Silverstone Sfx Series ST45SF 450W Power Supply Small Form Factor 24PIN PCI-E 36A 80+ Bronze Black $66.82
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=22170AC8219

Lian Li PE-01B Power Supply Mounting Bracket $8.27
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=12610AC7839

Scythe Big Shuriken Low Profile CPU Cooler Heatpipe Heatsink LGA1366 1156 775 AM2 AM3 120MM Slim Fan $29.28
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=14110AC9834

PRE TAX = 493.03
AFTER TAX = 557.12

 

[crazyfoo88]

oops, just realized that the ram is wrong! I was searching the low profile ram and didn't catch that it was a single stick!

suppose to be 2x2gb. nothing to see here!

 

[huron]

If you're planning on using that SATA card, it looks like the reviews state you are only getting 4 ports active and the other 2 must be for eSATA.

Also, can you not use the onboard SATA ports...are you planning on setting up RAID - is that why you wanted the card?

The rest looks good.

 

[crazyfoo88]

Really? All I am looking is to add more SATA ports as I will have 6-7 drives hooked up and only 4 ports on the motherboard. Don't need the eSata however need the onboard!

 

[huron]

Totally understand...didn't want you to get it and be disappointed.

 

[crazyfoo88]

Thanks though, yeah I need 6 ports for storage drives. 2x on the mobo and 4x on this card for 3GB/s and those 2 spare 6GB/s will be used for 1 or 2 SSDs. Don't need the eSata and will just use the ones on the mobo! Everything else look okay?

 

[CCurtis]

What are you planning to use for an operating system?
(Linux/FreeNAS? Windows Home Server? Other?)

 

[jacozza]

If you're planning on using FreeNAS, look for a different board. The RTL8111E NIC isn't supported OOB with FreeNAS, and I've had a hellova time trying to get it to work. Seriously, save yourself the trouble.

 

[huron]

I've seen issues with the RealTek NICs too...picked up an Intel NIC for $20 or so just in case. That obviously won't help too much if you are using the PCIE slot for a RAID card.

 

[CCurtis]

Having just learned a school-of-hard-knocks lesson (due to "I didn't know what I didn't know"), be careful about your choice of file systems..... Windows 7 doesn't support partitions larger than 2TB unless you go to a GPT file system, and you can't boot from that without a UEFI (i.e., can't boot from a regular BIOS). If you are planning to split things up, not a problem, but if you were planning on booting from the RAID so that your OS was covered, you need to factor that in.

 

[CCurtis]

How did this work out?

If you haven't built it yet, you might want to look a =slightly= larger MB that would give you a second PCI-E slot for a SATA card (straight PCI is going to limit your throughput more than you might like).

For only a few dollars more, you might consider something along the lines of
ASUS P8H67-M PRO/CSM (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboardhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131711