Filestore - mini-itx
Aim: Quiet, small and low powered file server using as current components as much as possible.
Situation: I have a Lian Li PC-402A that I currently have my Commell LC-677DC, T2600 and 2x1GB DDR667 memory in. The plan is to use the case as a media storage.
I have a Lian Li EX23 on its way to me now and have 4x 500GB F1's and a 80GB spinpoint read for installation.
Original Plan: The plan was to use an Adaptec PCIEx4 SATA Raid card with 4 ports with the board to provide support for all the hard drives, but the board only supports PCIE1x and 16x. The other option is to use 2x miniPCI cards that provide 2x additional SATA ports on each, but the transfer speeds on these would be incredibly slow.
In order to fit 5x 3.5" drives into this case and for the components not to overheat I'll need to remove the PSU and 40mm fan in the back of the case and cut a hole for a 120mm fan to fit. This would work fine with my current Commell LV-677DC as the board has a 120W power supply built in.
Problems: However it doesn't look like this is going to work due to the fact the raid card won't work and the miniPCI cards aren't fast enough.
Questions:
1. Does anyone know of another way of doing this using the current components?
2. Does anyone know of another mini-itx motherboard that would support 5x SATA (either through the use of PCIEx4, PCI or onboard) that has a built in PSU other than the Commell LV-67B which is too expensive.
3. If no one has an answer for either of these questions, I guess I'll have to look at keeping the crappy PSU included with the case in and look at getting another mini-itx board to use. Ideals (baring in mind I already have a T2600 and the computer will only be used as a file store and download box)?
*Note* I don't really want suggestions for #3 just yet unless there are no other options for the previous 2 questions.
Budget: Negotiable, but ideally I'm not really looking to spend much more than £100 at this point, though if its going to be worth it will go to £300 providing I can get money back from selling other components.
Aim: Quiet, small and low powered file server using as current components as much as possible.
Situation: I have a Lian Li PC-402A that I currently have my Commell LC-677DC, T2600 and 2x1GB DDR667 memory in. The plan is to use the case as a media storage.
I have a Lian Li EX23 on its way to me now and have 4x 500GB F1's and a 80GB spinpoint read for installation.
Original Plan: The plan was to use an Adaptec PCIEx4 SATA Raid card with 4 ports with the board to provide support for all the hard drives, but the board only supports PCIE1x and 16x. The other option is to use 2x miniPCI cards that provide 2x additional SATA ports on each, but the transfer speeds on these would be incredibly slow.
In order to fit 5x 3.5" drives into this case and for the components not to overheat I'll need to remove the PSU and 40mm fan in the back of the case and cut a hole for a 120mm fan to fit. This would work fine with my current Commell LV-677DC as the board has a 120W power supply built in.
Problems: However it doesn't look like this is going to work due to the fact the raid card won't work and the miniPCI cards aren't fast enough.
Questions:
1. Does anyone know of another way of doing this using the current components?
2. Does anyone know of another mini-itx motherboard that would support 5x SATA (either through the use of PCIEx4, PCI or onboard) that has a built in PSU other than the Commell LV-67B which is too expensive.
3. If no one has an answer for either of these questions, I guess I'll have to look at keeping the crappy PSU included with the case in and look at getting another mini-itx board to use. Ideals (baring in mind I already have a T2600 and the computer will only be used as a file store and download box)?
*Note* I don't really want suggestions for #3 just yet unless there are no other options for the previous 2 questions.
Budget: Negotiable, but ideally I'm not really looking to spend much more than £100 at this point, though if its going to be worth it will go to £300 providing I can get money back from selling other components.
Last edited:
. I've taken out the PSU as my Commell has built in power and allows for a 120mm to fit nicely in the back once the stock fan at the back is taken out. I'll be doing this only once I'm sure I can actually get this all to work. Gives you an idea of the amount of space I have to play with. 
