Help with new storage server

[MrCrispy]

I'll be picking up the following in an ebay deal -

SuperMicro SC846TQ chassis
SuperMicro H8DME-2 mobo + Opteron 2212 HE

This will be in my apartment, so I'll need to make it quiet, and I'm also looking to upgrade the cpu to make it more of a general purpose server that can do things like transcoding media for mobile devices.

- what is the best cpu I can use for <$50? Opteron 2419 seems like a good option
- what's a cheap, quiet HSF? Am I correct that any Socket 940/AM2 HSF will work? Do I need mounting brackets?
- any ideas on mounting a normal PSU. The 2 900W psu's will have to go, they are too loud!
- does anyone know if fans on this can be controlled via bios?

 

[mwroobel]

You can look to replace most of the fans with quieter third party models, but if you plan on populating this chassis you are going to need significant airflow, and regardless of the fans you choose it is not going to be something that I would qualify as quiet.

 

[MrCrispy]

As long as I can't hear it from 10ft away, that'll be fine, since I'll stash it in a corner somewhere. From what I've read the psu, case and heatsink fans are all very loud.

 

[mwroobel]

To maintain proper airflow in that case with drives populated, regardless of the fans you choose you are going to be able to hear it 10' away.

 

[svet-am]

I already use that mobo in my home server. it's awesome and I love it. Just be aware that it does _not_ natively support 3TB drives -- you'll need an add-in controller for that (if you need 3TB drives).