How is this looking for a WHS build

[mmartinx]

How does this look. I basically stole the setup from Trepidati0n in this (http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1329177) thread, but we have basically the same requirements. The 160gb is going to be the OS drive, then 5x 1TB for storage. The rest of the parts I don't really care too much about, I just want cheap + reliable + low power consumption. I'll throw some 120mm fans in the front of it to have some airflow over the drives, but I guess they run pretty cool to begin with.

1x Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive $41.99
5x Western Digital Caviar GP WD10EACS 1TB 5400 to 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive ($159.99 each)
GIGABYTE GA-MA74GM-S2 AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard $59.99
OCZ Value Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ26672048VDC-K $25.00 Mail-in Rebate $38.99
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Brisbane 2.6GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADO5000DOBOX $59.00
Microsoft Windows Home Server 32 Bit 1 Pack $169.99
Antec Three Hundred Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Antec earthwatts EA500 500W ATX12V v2.0 Power Supply $99.94
Subtotal: $1,249.85

edit -- removed pic

[Syntax Error]

The Gigabyte motherboard is fantastic for an mATX, it has lots of features that for a file server, you probably won't use, but it's nice to know that you're getting quality components there. :)

I personally use an Antec 300 for my FS's case, and it's a great budget case, room for 6 drives on the bottom and you can always put a 5-in-3 SAS backplane in the top three bays as well. :D

[elleana]

Your proc is a little overkill, if you want to save a couple of bucks try this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819104005)

$24.99 FS

[Mathemabeat]

How does this look. I basically stole the setup from Trepidati0n in this (http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1329177) thread, but we have basically the same requirements. The 160gb is going to be the OS drive, then 5x 1TB for storage. The rest of the parts I don't really care too much about, I just want cheap + reliable + low power consumption. I'll throw some 120mm fans in the front of it to have some airflow over the drives, but I guess they run pretty cool to begin with.

1x Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive $41.99
5x Western Digital Caviar GP WD10EACS 1TB 5400 to 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive ($159.99 each)
GIGABYTE GA-MA74GM-S2 AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard $59.99
OCZ Value Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ26672048VDC-K $25.00 Mail-in Rebate $38.99
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Brisbane 2.6GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADO5000DOBOX $59.00
Microsoft Windows Home Server 32 Bit 1 Pack $169.99
Antec Three Hundred Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Antec earthwatts EA500 500W ATX12V v2.0 Power Supply $99.94
Subtotal: $1,249.85

edit -- removed pic



Everything looks good, but I would dump the 160 gig drive. You do NOT need a seperate drive for the OS. The way WHS works is that it partitions the first drive as a 20 gig partition for the OS and the rest of that drive becomes the landing zone for storage. If you use a small drive like the 160 gig and then add in the 1 tb drives, you limiting the future storage because it has to constantly rebalance the data from that 160 gig drive to the other drives.

In a nutshell, its highly suggested to make the drive you install WHS onto be the largest drive available. So, either pick up another 1 TB drive, or just use the 5 drives. You could add the 160 gig to the storage pull, but don't use it as the OS drive.

[mmartinx]

Good call on the Sempron, going to use that instead. I didn't know that about WHS, thanks. I guess I'm still in a RAID mindset after planning on going the RAID5 route for so long. Instead of the WD10EACS I'm going to grab 6x WD6400AAKS, $/gb is better and I like the proven reliability.

[Antheus]

I'm not sure what the cost difference in running a system 24/7 is when running a 65w vs a 45w processor but you might also consider spending a little extra for a 45W proc.

$32.99, so 8 dollars more for a faster chip that runs cooler and will probably save you money in the long run (granted a drop in the bucket but why not?).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103199

[nitrobass24]

Everything looks good, but I would dump the 160 gig drive. You do NOT need a seperate drive for the OS. The way WHS works is that it partitions the first drive as a 20 gig partition for the OS and the rest of that drive becomes the landing zone for storage. If you use a small drive like the 160 gig and then add in the 1 tb drives, you limiting the future storage because it has to constantly rebalance the data from that 160 gig drive to the other drives.

In a nutshell, its highly suggested to make the drive you install WHS onto be the largest drive available. So, either pick up another 1 TB drive, or just use the 5 drives. You could add the 160 gig to the storage pull, but don't use it as the OS drive.

Well with PP1 for WHS Drive extender works differently....Trepidation filled me in on this the other day.

I have WHS right now and running it with PP1. Therefore almost all stuff written on WHS in regards to the extender/pool is wrong. It changed quite a bit with PP1. Just to double verify...I did a large move...just for you.

http://hostimage.ra-specht.com/hardforum/whs_data_writing.jpg

As you can see, the data is going straight to drive 3. The new rules for the extender are as follow:
i.Use the volume with the least amount of free space but greater than 10GB

ii.Use the volume with the most amount of free space so long as it has more space than the Primary Volume (D volume)

iii.Use the Primary Volume (D volume)



I'm not sure what the cost difference in running a system 24/7 is when running a 65w vs a 45w processor but you might also consider spending a little extra for a 45W proc.

$32.99, so 8 dollars more for a faster chip that runs cooler and will probably save you money in the long run (granted a drop in the bucket but why not?).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103199

I'd definately go with a low power chip it will definitely save you money in the long run...not to mention that its also faster.

[[LYL]Homer]

Good call on the Sempron, going to use that instead. I didn't know that about WHS, thanks. I guess I'm still in a RAID mindset after planning on going the RAID5 route for so long. Instead of the WD10EACS I'm going to grab 6x WD6400AAKS, $/gb is better and I like the proven reliability.

If storage and low power really are your aim I'd stick with the large GP drives. The 640gb drives, performance-speaking, will be wasted on the WHS build. My GP drives have been flawless, not sure about your reliability worry over them.