Personal File Server Hardware?

[fs5]

I'm currently using an old system (which is loud and is overkill for what it's doing anyhow). For hard drives I just purchase any I can get my hands on for a hot deal. I have a 40gb, 2x80gb, 200gb, 2x250gb in it right now.

My problem is I'm running out of physical room in the case to add more HDs.

I would imagine if I purchased a barebones mini-itx system it would be a lot quieter and use less power. The only thing I need is an external hard drive case that is expandable and holds multiple hard drives. Does such a thing exist?

Or purcahse a server style case and put a mini-itx board in there...

Options?

 

[Matthias99]

I would imagine if I purchased a barebones mini-itx system it would be a lot quieter and use less power. The only thing I need is an external hard drive case that is expandable and holds multiple hard drives. Does such a thing exist?

For SCSI, yes. For ATA, that's basically a NAS box, and they're not so cheap.

Or purcahse a server style case and put a mini-itx board in there...

I'm not sure why you're fixated on the mini-itx board, but yes, a bigger case is probably the best way to go if you want to use IDE/SATA drives.

 

[fs5]

Or purcahse a server style case and put a mini-itx board in there...

I'm not sure why you're fixated on the mini-itx board, but yes, a bigger case is probably the best way to go if you want to use IDE/SATA drives.[/quote]

Less power draw? (Even though the hard drives are using the majority of the power...) Any recommendations for a cheap server case?

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: fs5

Or purcahse a server style case and put a mini-itx board in there...

I'm not sure why you're fixated on the mini-itx board, but yes, a bigger case is probably the best way to go if you want to use IDE/SATA drives.

Less power draw? (Even though the hard drives are using the majority of the power...) Any recommendations for a cheap server case?[/quote]

What is cheap? (What price are you looking for?) You could always get internal SATA enclosures. (I can't go to Newegg, so I can't link directly, but search on Newegg for "Supermicro SATA enclosure", and they will come up. I have two of the black 5-in-3's in my system. They are awesome. Although they might be a bit loud for a quiet system, but they arne't too bad. And you can always swap out the fans.

 

[fs5]

Originally posted by: Fullmetal ChocoboWhat is cheap? (What price are you looking for?) You could always get internal SATA enclosures. (I can't go to Newegg, so I can't link directly, but search on Newegg for "Supermicro SATA enclosure", and they will come up. I have two of the black 5-in-3's in my system. They are awesome. Although they might be a bit loud for a quiet system, but they arne't too bad. And you can always swap out the fans.

Was thinking around $100. I really like the Antec Titan 550, just overkill and pricey for my needs.

 

[Penth]

Another idea would be to get rid of those three small drives. You could probably sell them on the FS/T forum and get almost enough to pick up another 250. That would give you room for two more drives and also lower power consumption.

 

[Jeff7181]

Ditch that piece of junk 40 GB drive and replace it with a 250-500 GB drive. When you run out of space again do the same with the 80 GB drives, and so on.