My original thoughts were to build a completely new, low power machine with loads of storage as a download/storage/media server machine. I decided that, rather than buy new hardware, I'd utilise unused gear I already had. I decided on my old gaming rig which has been retired for some time now and convert it into something I could use for my server needs.
The old gaming rig specs are:
i7 950
6GB DDR3 RAM
Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R
Nvidia GTX295
Corsair HX 1000W PSU
500GB HDD
Cooler Master CM-690 II Lite Windowed Gaming Tower Case
All cooled with a custom watercooling loop.
The intention is to use basically the same hardware but underclock and undervolt it and run it headless to cut down on power.
I bought a load of storage:
6 3TB Hitachi Seagate Barracudas and a 128GB Samsung 840 PRO as an OS drive.
I made a start tonight but I was doing it quick and dirty and it just looked messy so I've decided to take the whole thing completely apart and start from scratch.
This is it looking messy :
There isn't any particular hurry with it but I do want to get it set up to the stage I can install the OS before 31st Jan - that's when Microsoft's £24.99 Windows 8 upgrade deal ends. I plan on installing the copy of Windows 7 already purchased for the gaming rig and upgrading to Windows 8 pro and using its 'Storage Spaces' I'll be installing the SSD as a system drive and 5 of the 6 Barracudas in parity mode (basically RAID5) and keeping one for replacing any drive that fails.
The machine will mainly be used for storage as well as downloading and decoding stuff (NZBs and stuff through Couchpotato etc.).
I'll post up some pics once I get it all dismantled and then update as I build it up again. I would start now but I'm rapidly approaching drunk and can't reaaly be arsed so I'll just have another dry martini and make plans for tomorrow
The old gaming rig specs are:
i7 950
6GB DDR3 RAM
Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R
Nvidia GTX295
Corsair HX 1000W PSU
500GB HDD
Cooler Master CM-690 II Lite Windowed Gaming Tower Case
All cooled with a custom watercooling loop.
The intention is to use basically the same hardware but underclock and undervolt it and run it headless to cut down on power.
I bought a load of storage:
6 3TB Hitachi Seagate Barracudas and a 128GB Samsung 840 PRO as an OS drive.
I made a start tonight but I was doing it quick and dirty and it just looked messy so I've decided to take the whole thing completely apart and start from scratch.
This is it looking messy :
There isn't any particular hurry with it but I do want to get it set up to the stage I can install the OS before 31st Jan - that's when Microsoft's £24.99 Windows 8 upgrade deal ends. I plan on installing the copy of Windows 7 already purchased for the gaming rig and upgrading to Windows 8 pro and using its 'Storage Spaces' I'll be installing the SSD as a system drive and 5 of the 6 Barracudas in parity mode (basically RAID5) and keeping one for replacing any drive that fails.
The machine will mainly be used for storage as well as downloading and decoding stuff (NZBs and stuff through Couchpotato etc.).
I'll post up some pics once I get it all dismantled and then update as I build it up again. I would start now but I'm rapidly approaching drunk and can't reaaly be arsed so I'll just have another dry martini and make plans for tomorrow