My new File Server build, what do you think ??

Snow-Munki · 14 Aug 2009 at 09:11

Hi,

Looking to build a file server to replace my icybox NAS. Was looking for something as soon as possible and low powered. Going to run WHS.

Gigabyte GA-GC330UD With Integrated Atom 330 Processor 945GC Chipset - £64
Crucial 2GB DDR2 667MHz/PC2-5300 Memory Non-ECC Unbuffered CL5 - £18
Samsung EcoGreen F2 1.5TB Hard Drive SATAII 32MB Cache - £75
Morex Venus 669 Case - Silver - £70

Total - £227.

Would plan to get a SATA expansion card later and put in a few more HDD's as worked out that case would fit up to 4 HDD's.

What do you think, could get the other mini itx boards which take Full Intel CPU's but would use up more power ?

Saundie · 14 Aug 2009 at 09:17

I am using a very similar configuration, using the same case, an Atom 330 and 2GB RAM, running the full Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition. I have not experienced any performance issues, so I would expect it would be suitable for your needs as they are somewhat less demanding. Startup and shutdown takes an age (5+ minutes) but seeing as it's a server, it needs only to be restarted once a month at most. The case could take 5 HDDs if you were to buy a 3-in-2 hotswap bay, but that would require you to purchase a 4 port SATA card. It's nice to have the option, though.

Snow-Munki · 14 Aug 2009 at 09:56

Thanks, how many HDD's are in your case, assume it is a bit of a tight sqeeze to put it all in.

Assuming the 200watt psu is enough seeing as the atom is only 8W

Just noticed, the board I specced only has 10/100 LAN. That an issue for you ?

ac1d1ty · 14 Aug 2009 at 09:59

personally i would not buy anything with a 10/100 config. gigabit is a necessity imho.

Saundie · 14 Aug 2009 at 10:39

Currently I have two 3.5" drives and a 2.5" drive, but I will be adding two more 3.5" and removing the 2.5" soonish. I am using the Intel D945GCLF2 which has gigabit LAN, when I purchased it back in November it was the only Atom 330 board available so I didn't have to worry about alternatives. Due to the low height of the chipset cooler there is a decent amount of space for the hard drives - I don't have any photographs to show you though, sadly.

Snow-Munki · 14 Aug 2009 at 11:12

wierd, when I originally looked at the Intel one it said only 10/100 network, but I might be wrong unless there is a new version of it or something ?

Otherwise it looks like what I'm going to get

Saundie · 14 Aug 2009 at 11:51

The one I have, the Intel D945GCLF2, definitely has gigabit.

Edit: I assume you saw the D945GCLF which does indeed have only 10/100, however it is also single core using the Atom 230.