help identifying MB + general NAS advice

[joelmold]

Hi All,

I'm trying to salvage enough parts from a few old computers to build a simple and cheap NAS for media storage. I'm planning on using the motherboard from an old Sony VAIO RX270DS, but I'd like to be able to identify it. Is it possible it was a custom MB, or one commercially available? Pictures HERE. A few of the parts are labeled "Foxconn" and I know it's a Micro ATX socket 370, but I don't know much else. I'd really like to know whether it has 10/100 built in, or if it's only 10mb (I know I could find this out once it's up and running, but I'm trying to plan ahead)

I have a P3 1Ghz, 512MB RAM, an ATI 9100, and a 60GB hard drive I will be using for OS, and I need to buy a a PCI RAID card, a case, and finally the hard drives for the array. I'll need a new CPU cooler, and the quieter the better. I've been toying with the idea of underclocking the CPU and using passive cooling only, but I don't know if this is really a viable option. Any comments?

Any recommendations on the PCI RAID card? I will be using this for online media storage and backup, so I would like to use RAID 5 for extra security. (I keep another backup of critical data on DVD). I'm planning on using 4x 400Gb drives, for a usable size of around 1.2Tb. The data consists mostly of large video files that will be steamed from the NAS to my HTPC, but also music and an extra online backup of more critical data. I know RAID 5 will mean a performance hit, but I think the real bottleneck will be my network. I'm planning on streaming via 100mb network to my HTPC-- right now I'm streaming using 54mb wireless and it works but with a few minor hiccups, so I think 100mb should be fine.

Finally, I'm planning on using the FreeNAS operating system, but I'm a Linux newbie. I don't mind learning, but I'd appreciate any insight anyone may have into this plan.

I think that's it-- comments please!!

Joel

 

[Lord Evermore]

Foxconn makes a LOT of components that other brands use on their boards, such as the plastic sockets and slots and other connectors, as well as making their own brand mainboards. The PCB itself would have Foxconn written on it if they made it (unless Sony wanted it only branded for them).

Sony may or may not have manufactured it themselves, but it's almost certainly not just a standard design from anybody else. Even if Foxconn or Asus built the board, Sony probably had it specially designed.

Take a look at the Intel north and southbridges and look up the specifications for them. If the chipset includes an Ethernet controller, you'll find the type there. Many of their P3 chipsets did not include Ethernet functionality though. It also looks like there's a Realtek chip, just above the AGP slot in your picture, and it looks like it's a full controller (not just the PHY physical interface chip) so that is probably the actual Ethernet controller.

Using only passive cooling is probably not a great idea even if you underclock. But with it underclocked you could use a very low speed fan and a large heatsink, and it'd be nearly silent that way. Especially if you used a larger fan such as 92mm (and you could use an adapter that ducts the air down to the size of 80mm or whatever the heatsink allows to be mounted, to make it more efficient). Alternately, if you have plenty of airflow from the case fans, then passive heatsink cooling might be sufficient.

Ethernet is perfectly fast for high quality video. MPEG2 DVD 1X is only about 10Mbps. The hiccups you get now may just be due to wireless being crappy in general if you are trying to do something that's sensitive to packet loss and timing.

 

[joelmold]

thanks for the great response! i looked up the realtek chip you pointed out and the first result on google says:

"RTL8139C(L) Enhanced PCI/Mini-PCI/Cardbus 3.3V Single-Chip 10/100M Fast Ethernet Controller with Power Management"

so it looks like i'll be able to use the onboard controller.

i'm thinking of using the ZALMAN CNPS3100+ 92mm in "silent" mode, and underclocking if the mb supports it.

fianlly, is there anything i can do to make my wireless network more robust? i would prefer to keep streaming wirelessly to my htpc instead of wired, but the jumps and pauses make it unwatchable at times. what about those 108mb wireless adapters, do they work better?

thanks.

 

[Lord Evermore]

I'm not really big on wireless. I was using it for my laptop in my apartment and had signal problems with it 20 feet away with no walls in between.

The 108Mbps adapters are basically just two channels of signal being "bonded" I think, so I don't think they'd inherently be less prone to dropouts.

You should definitely try other wireless channels, and try repositioning the wireless access point or router, and the PC itself if possible. Take a look at whether you see any other wireless networks that it's picking up from the neighbors, try to pick a channel as far from them as possible (I think 1, 6 and 11 are the preferred channels).

If possible of course, making the software pull the data from the server faster than just realtime and caching it would provide a more optimal experience.

And of course it might not always be the wireless connectivity that causes the problem, but I assume that you don't have any issues watching the videos if you just copy them to the local machine first, or on the serving computer.

 

[joelmold]

i don't have issues with local video. is it possible to configure caching for network files with windows media player or windows media center edition? i'll search google in the meantime but thought i would ask here.

moving my computer or the WAP isn't really an option unfortunately, but i will try different channels. i can see maybe 10 other wireless networks within range, all of them with WEP if that matters. how can i check which channel they are using? network properties i assume, but i'm not at home to check.

thanks for the suggestions.