Custom build, need suggestions/thoughts on it!

R

rust0r

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Jan 12, 2010
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I'll just list the specs of my current system:

Q9550 @ 2.83
8GB ram
XFX ATI 4890 1GB

2 500GB Seagates run Raid 1 split into 150 GB (OS) / 350 GB (Backup)
4 1 TB WD Blacks Raid 5 for storage

I'm switching from software raid to hardware raid (3ware 9650 12port) and will be expanding my storage (damn bluray). It is simply to host/store my growing collection of music, movies, tv shows, etc

I'm just tossing the idea around of building something VERY simple (I'm not looking for a server that can sustain a corporate headquarters, please keep that in mind). What I've been debating and looking at is building a custom computer. I would like to keep this as cheap as possible, I'm not looking to "overbuild" or make it so I can also play games, etc; my current system is MORE than enough for day to day and gaming use for myself.

Ultimately looking to do a direct connection between the raid server (the one I am building) and my personal computer (I am the only one in the house that needs access to the files) via a crossover cable setup.

CASE: will hold 9 or 10 drives (haf 922, coolmaster 690, etc)

CPU: the only area I'm really not set on, debating either a duo core or quad core, but am not sure how much the raid performance will be impacted at all by going with a duo vs a quad

MOTHERBOARD: Simple but reliable with the following features,probably Asus:

1) On-board video
2) 1 Pci-e x16
3) On-board lan

PSU: simple corsair, 400-500W

RAM: 4GB

Looking at a price point of around $300-350 CAD (so basically $250-300 USD)

What does everyone think? Is there a better route that I can go for a similar price? I'm not interested in pulling data off @ 20-30mb/s as some bundled NAS do, from what I understand the crossover setup will net me around 90mb/s.

I'm not familiar with the whole "actual server"/rack setup that many people do, I'm guessing it is a good bit more expensive ?

I'm open to suggestions and ideas! Let me have it

Thanks again
 
The rackmount server options tend to be a bit more expensive because you end up using low profile parts for a 2U for example, but a 4U Norco RPC-4020 or RPC-4220 case goes for $300-400 US.

Dual v. Quad is a question of what you want to do. Video encoding will make you want quad, otherwise the lower power consumption of a dual is better.

Another option of course is to use the raid controller in your main PC, take the internal SFF cables external, and re-convert in an external case. You get a ton more bandwidth, but it won't be much cheaper if you need to do 12 lanes and you can't remotely locate the server like you can on an Ethernet network.
 
Thanks for the reply,

It's simply going to be to host/store everything, so really the parts need to just be able to sustain the activities of raid building/rebuilding(i hope not), and sustaining decent speeds over gigabit to my actual PC

That is a decent idea about taking them externally, my computer resides in my room so with the door shut at times it already gets about 5+ degrees hotter in here than the rest of the house, I couldn't imagine another machine running in here. I'm looking to locate the new machine in the basement where I won't hear it or feel the wrath of it's heat production :cool:

Right now it's looking like a gigabyte mobo, e6300, modular psu(debating if i need it or not), 4gb of 5 timings and and "Azza 1000" case

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=37876&promoid=1061

It looks exactly like a knock off/rip off of the Antec 1200 but everyone seems to be quite impressed with the quality of it so with rebate for $60 its worth a try
 
Ditch the Intel E6300 route: the AMD X2 240 performs the same, is much much cheaper, and AMD mobos do tend to be cheaper than their Intel counterparts. In fact you can go with this AMD CPU + Gigabyte mobo combo for $144 CAD:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.320267

PSU wise, you're gonna end up using all the cables any way with that many drives. So save some money and stick with a non-modular PSU.
 
I use to be a die hard AMD fan, would not go intel, then I gave them a chance on my gaming rig build and could not be happier with the thing. I think a large part of it is the ASUS mobo I have in it vs gigabyte I had in old AMD systems. Regardless, I don't really care about brand for the build, its going to be sitting there, untouched from an end user perspective

I actually found a GB board with everything I need on it and a E6300 for $135.91 CAD (new), sites like "shopbot.ca" and "pricebat.ca" are great for quickly getting the lowest prices (NCIX will price match everything all day as well)

I will have to look through neweggs combo deals though, I never even thought of that! Thank you
 
If you're looking for something solid rather than squeezing every bit of performance out of it, check out the Intel boards. I got a BLKDG45ID for $50 to use for my FreeNAS. One bonus of going with an Intel board is that you (usually) get an Intel NIC onboard. I bought an E2160 from the FS/FT section, as I don't need anything fancy for my storage. With hardware RAID, I wouldn't think that you'd need much CPU at all. I've gotten over 400Mb from my FreeNAS with a single 1TB WD Green to my PC using the onboard Realtek and a single 640GB Black, across a switch that doesn't support jumbo frames.

The only issue I've seen is that the onboard video and the PCIe x16 share lanes. If you wanted to use the slot, I believe you'd have to disable the onboard graphics and get a PCI video card. You should also be able to find something with a different chipset variation that isn't so limited on PCIe lanes.
 
Hmmm, are you sure that the problem is not only with a x16 video card and having to disable on-board video? I see no reason why there would be an x16 slot if you then had to disable on-board video when you wanted to use it, effectively negative that x16 slot for anything other than video?
 
I think most people who would be using this board and putting something in the x16 slot would be putting in a better video card, meaning it's not that big a deal if you had to disable the onboard video.

It does also have 2 PCIe x1 slots and a regular PCI slot, so you could put a "non-performance" video card in one of those. This means that enthusiast-types should be able to use the x16 for something other than video, such as a RAID controller.

This is by no means a "server" or "enthusiast" board. It's a cheap "media" board - onboard DVI, HDMI, and 7.1 audio. However, it works for my basic needs (using the ICH10R now), and I should be able to make it work with a good RAID card if I want to add one in the future. I probably would've picked a different variant of this if I had my choice, but this one was cheap and good enough for what I needed (it was definitely an upgrade from the old Dell PC I had been using).
 
I see what you`re saying, I can definitely see that being a consideration now that I think about it.

I just had a friend mention linux raid to me, would you mind giving me a little bit of info on it or if it would be better for me in my application at all

It looks like we have similar needs from our setups
 
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