Looking for options on a WHS build

[JeffreyLebowski]

I've been out of the loop hardware wise for a while, and was wanting to get some advice.
I want 4x 2TB hdd's.
And as small a case as possible. Optical drive is not required past installation of OS.
I have DDR2 and DDR3 memory available.

Can you guys link me to small cases that will handle 4 3.5" hard drives.
And what motherboard/cpu to go with? I want this to be quiet and low power.


Thanks.

 

[Zap]

acer Aspire Easystore $399

Uses Atom CPU so energy efficient. Very compact, holds 4x HDDs (hot swap even). Comes with WHS software. Comes with 2GB RAM and a 2TB HDD. It also has gigabit Ethernet and an eSATA port.

The only "catch" is that it is completely designed to be stand-alone, meaning you can't hook up a monitor to it.

 

[Winterpool]

Recently found this HP ProLiant 'MicroServer' on Newegg. I find the form factor rather appealing, but I wish it were $100 cheaper, especially since it doesn't come bundled with an OS or hard drives. It is 10.5x8.3x10.2 inches. Uses Athlon II NEO rather than Atom. There does seem to be a VGA port (and eSATA) on the rear panel.

I hadn't realised the Acer EasyStore lacked video output. It seems that the HP MediaSmart servers that dominate this category also lack video. That makes me a bit uncomfortable.

If building your own, you may want to peruse sites eg MWSHS.com and We Got Served. Here is a recent mini-ITX Atom build with an interesting case.

Recently bought a TowerRAID DAS 5-drive enclosure which of course requires an eSATA connexion to a server, but I realise now I probably ought to have built an entire server using a case like this one (he's using unRAID, but it should work well with WHS too).

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Thanks for the info. I scored a Shuttle K45 unit with an e2200 and 2GB RAM to use for now. It only has 2x SATA ports and 2 drive bays, but I'm going to just slap a PCI esata card in it and when I need more room i'll get eSATA 4 bay enclosure to add more drives.

 

[Zap]

Recently found this HP ProLiant 'MicroServer' on Newegg. I find the form factor rather appealing, but I wish it were $100 cheaper, especially since it doesn't come bundled with an OS or hard drives.

Wow, didn't know something like that existed. Looks pretty cool for a better-than-Atom small file server. Likely it is more expensive because of lower volume (compared to Atom components) and the fact that it is a ProLiant. Aren't those HP's more "pro" business models?

BTW the HP MediaSmart servers IIRC also come in better-than-Atom variants.

Thanks for the info. I scored a Shuttle K45 unit with an e2200 and 2GB RAM to use for now. It only has 2x SATA ports and 2 drive bays, but I'm going to just slap a PCI esata card in it and when I need more room i'll get eSATA 4 bay enclosure to add more drives.

Keep an eye on the capacitors on the motherboard and in the PSU of the K45. I've heard those were a point of failure after a couple years.

I wonder how the new Intel SS4200-EHW is? Looks like it replaces the SS4200-E. Here's a long thread about the older model. The older model was socket 775 and could handle 65nm 800MHz FSB CPUs, such as the Core 2 Duo E4600.

 

[Winterpool]

For anyone else who was interested in this topic, the HP Storage Works X310 Windows Home Server is available for $350 on Newegg. It's similar in design to a MediaSmart, comes with a dualcore Atom, 2 GB memory, 4 drive bays, and--in this Newegg deal--two Samsung TB drives. If you figure a TB drive is worth about $50, you're paying essentially $250 for a small form-factor, low-power server with 4 drive bays and running Windows Home Server.

 

[Zap]

That's a pretty decent deal putting it $50 less than the Acer and with a dual core Atom. Only drawback is that it is two 1TB drives and not one 2TB drive like in the Acer. I found a review which mentioned that the CPU was an Atom D510. Oh yeah, to continue on your math... 1TB drive $50, second 1TB drive $50, Windows Home Server software $100... the motherboard and four drive chassis is only $150.

Wow, this is kind of tempting to buy one to play with - I've never used WHS before. Then again, isn't the replacement version coming out soon?

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

That's a pretty decent deal putting it $50 less than the Acer and with a dual core Atom. Only drawback is that it is two 1TB drives and not one 2TB drive like in the Acer. I found a review which mentioned that the CPU was an Atom D510. Oh yeah, to continue on your math... 1TB drive $50, second 1TB drive $50, Windows Home Server software $100... the motherboard and four drive chassis is only $150.

Wow, this is kind of tempting to buy one to play with - I've never used WHS before. Then again, isn't the replacement version coming out soon?

Vail is coming soon, but not sure when. I hope if has Media Center capabilities so I can stream to my xbox using the media center interface instead of the file browser method.

 

[mshan]

Acer Aspire Easystore H340 4 Bay Home Server w/ 2TB Total Storage + Canon Printer $339.99 Free Shipping, Nov. 17 4 PM

Newegg has the Acer Aspire Easystore H340 Intel Atom N270 4-Bay Home Server w/ 2TB Storage Included for $339.99 Free Shipping after Coupon Code: BFSERVER (Exp 11/17). Tax in CA, NJ, TN. FREE Canon PIXMA iP2702 Color Inkjet Printer with purchase (automatically added to cart)
Intel Atom N270 @ 1.6GHz; 2GB RAM; 2TB HDD; gigabit, eSATA, USB connectivity; 1yr warranty

Acer Easystore H340 is $339.99 shipped at Newegg with newsletter subscriber code BFSERVER: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16859321014

Some cheap Canon printer is apparently also included.

(ripped from Tech Bargains)



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