Spec Check My Fileserver

[Valo]

I'm almost ready to order the remaining bits for my new Fileserver. I just want to see if I'm missing anything or if anyone has any comments.

Re-using:
AMD 3500+
ASUS A8N-VM CSM (onboard nforce graphics + RAID 5 Controller & Gb Ethernet)
2GB DDR RAM PC3200
1x 320GB Western Digital IDE (System Disk)
400w Enermax Liberty PSU

Buying
Akasa Mirage-62 Case
4x 500 Gb Samsung HD501LJ Spinpoint
Sony DVD-ROM
Sony Floppy Disk
2x Noctua NF-S12 1200 RPM 120mm Quiet Case Fan

The server itself will be running Windows Server 2003 R2. With the existing 320GB IDE hard disk acting as primary boot disk. The RAID 5 array will be used for Data storage.

I want the server as silent as possible, the case will be getting AcoustiPack matting installed to hopefully cut down on noise, along with the samsung hard disks which are practicly silent and the Noctua case fans which will be mounted using rubber screws. I also have all the cables IDE,SATA etc

Have I missed anything?

 

[NickK]

Where are you placing this?

The reason I ask is that a PC even running "slow" with that number of drives will be noisy compared to no PC..

Second thing is the heat that it will kick out - this will be due to the PSU and hard drives. If it's not in a good location then the room temps will rise.

Unforunately the acoustimat stuff may actually increase internal temps as the case will not transfer heat as effectively.

I run a RAID5 array in a CMstacker, 6x200GB, 80GB system drive, Barton XP3200 at stock, 512MB ram, NF2, GF3ti200 and Enermax 550W PSU. It runs SuSE using software RAID5, two apache instances, MySQL, plus a few other things.

I also run a APC 500VA BackUPS which as saved it's bacon a few times from power issues.

2GB is a bit OTT for a simple fileserver.. All the additional things add up to additional heat and power consumption.

I would also look at down clocking your CPU+memory to reduce heat and power consumption. Do this before you start RAIDing!

You may find this better in the Hard Drive subforum as there's been many file server threads in there in the past.

 

[Valo]

Where are you placing this?

The reason I ask is that a PC even running "slow" with that number of drives will be noisy compared to no PC..

Second thing is the heat that it will kick out - this will be due to the PSU and hard drives. If it's not in a good location then the room temps will rise.

Unforunately the acoustimat stuff may actually increase internal temps as the case will not transfer heat as effectively.

I run a RAID5 array in a CMstacker, 6x200GB, 80GB system drive, Barton XP3200 at stock, 512MB ram, NF2, GF3ti200 and Enermax 550W PSU. It runs SuSE using software RAID5, two apache instances, MySQL, plus a few other things.

I also run a APC 500VA BackUPS which as saved it's bacon a few times from power issues.

2GB is a bit OTT for a simple fileserver.. All the additional things add up to additional heat and power consumption.

I would also look at down clocking your CPU+memory to reduce heat and power consumption. Do this before you start RAIDing!

You may find this better in the Hard Drive subforum as there's been many file server threads in there in the past.

It's going in my study which is pretty well ventilated. I’m hoping that I may not need to use the acoustimat stuff maybe just as a last resort.

The guts of the system is being made up from my HTPC, which will be my next re-vamp project once the fileserver is finished, hence the 2GB RAM. I use the AMD Power Now application that automatically adjusts the cpu clock so when it’s idle the cpu cooler (Zalman Aero Flower) is always silent. Even when the cpu is underload the Zalman is still quiet compared to my other systems.

Thanks for the advice on the down clocking I'll look into it if the power now scheme doesn't work as that will be a good permanent solution. I’ll also have a browse of the Hard drive forum as well!