Ordering parts for my new custom NAS
December 11, 2011 7 Comments
When I say NAS, I actually mean full size file server.
My current file server is based on an old desktop computer I had lying around. It has an Athlon 64 3500+ 2,2 GH CPU and 2GB RAM.
The motherboard has 4 SATA-ports and then there is a VIA 6421A PCI card with 3 more SATA-ports.
At the moment this file server is serving 7 external hard drives. (Actually they are internal in the way they are connected, but external in the way they are physically located.)
My soon to be replaced NAS
There are two reasons why I am building a new file server.
First of all there is no more room to attach another hard drive with this current setup.
Second reason is the performance or better the lack of it. Apart from being a file server, this system is also used as a download server, running SabNZBd, CouchPotato and SickBeard 24/7. And I wanted a faster system to handle all desires.
Now you are wondering what this new system will look like and how much it would cost.
Well, it turns out it’s going to be super cheap!
The shoppinglist
- Case: Codegen 4U-500 /// €65
- CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 260 Boxed /// €52
- PSU: Corsair Builder CX500 V2 /// €53
- RAM: Kingston ValueRAM KVR1066D3N7K2/8G /// €32
- Motherboard: Asrock 880GM-LE /// €57
If you only need 6 hard drives or less, you could buy a smaller case.
I will buy some PCI-e SATA controllers in the future in order to attach 12HDD’s.
The Case
Codegen Codegen 4U-500
+ Place for 9 HDD’s out of the box plus 3 5.25 drives which can be used to put another 4 HDD’s so, that makes 13HDD’s total
+ Can be locked, the case is shipped with a lock!!
+ Price
The Processor
AMD Athlon II X2 260 Boxed
+ Dual Core 3.2GHz
+ 2x1MB cache
+ Shipped with a CPU fan/cooler
The Power Supply Unit
Corsair Builder CX500 V2
+ 500W
+ 80-Plus rating
+ 5 SATA power connectors
+ 4 4-pin (IDE) power connectors
The Memory
Kingston ValueRAM KVR1066D3N7K2/8G
+ 8GB Dual Channel RAM (2 x 4GB)
+ Cheap !!
+ PC3-8500 (DDR3-1066)
The Motherboard
Asrock 880GM-LE
+ Form factor: Micro-ATX
+ Socket: AM3
+ Slots: PCI-e 2.x 1x, PCI-e 2.x 16x, 2x PCI 2.2
+ SATA-300 ports: 6
Let me know if you’re interested in seeing ‘The Build’ !!
Cheers
Ah, that’s nice. I’m almost sorry I cut short my own idea of building a new fileserver or NAS, and in stead just plugged an eSATA multiplexer box into the old machine.
what OS are you using for your NAS ?
I’m using unraid, and I highly recommend it.
currently using it with 2x2TB + 6x1TB (totaling at 8TB, ’cause one of the 2TB drives is reserved for parity) sitting at a Cooler Master Centurion 590 (with 2 3-to-4 drive convertors, apart from the one that arrives with it)…
Provides redundancy and expandability…
Hi, thanks for your suggestion but I choose not to use unRaid because I don’t care if one hard drive fails. Then I’ll just have to re-rip these movies. I’ll rather use the space you otherwise use for parity as storage..
I will be using Ubuntu server and flexRaid to show all drives as one big HDD in my network.
well, my NAS is using me for more then just my media, so the parity is a factor for me
but maybe my comment will help other users…
Yes off course.
Could you provide some links showing a sample configuration (and howto) using unraid? I have a couple of TB I’m not using, and I would like to see if I can build an unRAID array on my eSATA multiplier box.
sounds good, would love to see a guide on how you put this all together & configured it