• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

WHS: HP Mediasmart EX485

C

California Roll

Senior member
Let me preface by saying I despise HP. I had some bad problems with a HP laptop in college during finals week that traumatized me for life.

I'm looking into finally building a WHS box for my home (2 PC's, 2 laptops, 1 Mac). I've spent the day or so going through WHS/fileserver posts here and they've been very informative.

Right now, I could probably get by with 2TB of storage needs. I know I'll probably need more down the line. I already have 2 x WD10EADS drives.

Initially I was going to go with the MSI Wind Atom Barebone to use with 2 drives. My cost would be $150 + $100 (WHS) = $250. I have spare ram and a DVD drive to use temporarily for the install.

My concern is that I'll need more storage. I'd probably be better off buying a larger case now. If I end up going with the atom mobo/cpu combo ($100) and a larger case/psu/etc., I figure my total cost with WHS comes out to $300-$350 or so. I reeeeally love the Chenbro ES34069 case. It seems to run around $200. Is there anything similar to this that's cheaper? If I ended up going with the Chenbro, I'm looking at about $400 total.

The EX485 case is beautiful and seems to be very functional. I'd definitely pay a premium for it. I keep coming back to the HP mainly because of the case. I have concerns about the HP software, having to install it on each client PC. Does anyone here have any experience with Mediasmarts that they'd like to share?

I may end up just going with the Wind system and relegating it to some other function when I outgrow it. I'm really liking the EX485. I guess I'm hoping someone can talk me out of it.

Help? 🙂
 
I've installed four HP EX475 boxes at clients. They've worked perfectly so far. I''m not a big HP fan, either, but that case design is perfect for WHS. And the 30 Watt power draw (like the MSI Wind) will save significant money over most other homebuilt options over the probable four- or five-year life of a WHS server. The EX485 is even better.

The choice depends on your current and future needs. If you think you'll need more than two hard drives, the HP rules over the MSI Wind. There's also a four-drive case by Apevia (QPACK) that looks like it'd make a low-power and low-cost WHS box when combined with Intel's Atom motherboard. But you'll need to add PCI SATA card to control the extra hard drives.

BTW, Newegg.com had the HP EX485 for $450 a few days ago, but the coupon expired on April 15th.
 
Not sure where you got the 30 watts figure, but at most places, Ive read the MediaSmart series will draw about 50 to 60 watts on 1-2 hard drives. You could certainly do better than that with a self build. I also had to decided whether to build my own WHS or get the MediaSmart. I liked how the MediaSmart has everything wrapped up in a nice simple package, but I was concerned of what would happen if something were to go wrong on a headless server and you cant connect a keyboard/mouse/monitor to see what's happening. In the end, I chose to build my own because of more flexibility. Also, the way I see it, if a part breaks down on a self build, it's easy to find the part and replace.
 
You are right about the EX's power consumption. I was thinking I'd measured one of the several HPs I've ordered, but I realize that I haven't. HP's specifications for the older and newer version are 44-50 Watts.

I've measured the Intel Atom-based MSI Wind, which DOES draw 30 Watts with a single hard drive, and I've measured a whole bunch of other boxes where I pondered putting WHS. Core2Duo-based boxes usually draw 60-65 Watts with integrated video. Older P4s and P4 Celerons draw 80 Watts or so with low-power video cards.
 
Originally posted by: RebateMonger
I've installed four HP EX475 boxes at clients. They've worked perfectly so far. I''m not a big HP fan, either, but that case design is perfect for WHS. And the 30 Watt power draw (like the MSI Wind) will save significant money over most other homebuilt options over the probable four- or five-year life of a WHS server. The EX485 is even better.

The choice depends on your current and future needs. If you think you'll need more than two hard drives, the HP rules over the MSI Wind. There's also a four-drive case by Apevia (QPACK) that looks like it'd make a low-power and low-cost WHS box when combined with Intel's Atom motherboard. But you'll need to add PCI SATA card to control the extra hard drives.

BTW, Newegg.com had the HP EX485 for $450 a few days ago, but the coupon expired on April 15th.
Click to expand...

Since you've had experience with Mediasmarts, what's your take on the HP software? Does it offer any value at all?

Can an Atom power 4 hard drives? Lastly, can you provide a link to that Apevia case?
 
Originally posted by: California Roll
Since you've had experience with Mediasmarts, what's your take on the HP software? Does it offer any value at all?
Click to expand...
Haven't used the add-in software. All I use WHS for in offices is for backup of their desktop PCs.

Can an Atom power 4 hard drives? Lastly, can you provide a link to that Apevia case?
Click to expand...
All of the current Atom boards only have two SATA connectors, so you'll have to add a PCI SATA controller for more big drives. That's OK for the MSI Wind (with no PCI slots), since it can only hold two drives anyway.

The latest Intel Atom 330 motherboard has a single IDE connector and two SATA connectors, so you could, control two IDE and two SATA hard drives. A $10-$20 SATA card will get you two additional SATA connectors.

QPacks at Newegg.com
Two internal 3.5-inch bays and two 5-1/4-inch bays that could be adapted to hard drives.
 
Thanks for the link to the Qpacks, those are pretty nice. How is the PSU that comes with it, especially in terms of sound? I want it as silent as possible. I was thinking of picking up an Antec Earthwatts 380 but if the Qpack PSU is quiet I can save some money here.

When I asked if the Atom could power 4 drives, I meant if that's enough CPU power?

One more kind of OT question as I read up on WHS more. I'll be starting out with 2 x 1tb WD Green drives. Do I want to partition one of the drives for the OS or does that matter at all? If yes, how large for the partition OS?

$180 after tax for the Qpack, Intel/Atom 330 combo is nice indeed. Thanks again for all your help.
 
Start with a single blank hard drive as the first boot hard drive in the BIOS. The WHS install process will partition and format it. After WHS is running, add your second drive to the storage pool.

You want the drive where you install WHS to be the first listed hard drive that WHS sees in the BIOS because if you ever need to re-install WHS, it only looks at the first hard drive in the BIOS for the WHS OS files. If it sees a different drive, with no WHS system files, it won't offer the option to do a "re-install" of WHS, and will only give the option to wipe all the drives with a "new install".
 
Like the OP, I've always found the case the most compelling aspect of the HP MediaSmart servers. Windows Home Server is intriguing software, and I'm going to try it from TechNet soon, but it's the small form-factor capable of holding > 2 hard drives that's drawn me again and again to MediaSmart, even though $500 is a ridiculous price for any self-respecting geek to pay for an underpowered box with one hard drive (no, I've never bought a Mac mini, though I did buy an Apple TV 😉 ). I've been fascinated by the Thecus NAS appliances for similar reasons. I wish someone would build a small storage-oriented case like the MediaSmart for DIY builders.

I will take a closer look at those QPacks.
 
Yes, those beautiful HP cases. Sigh. The Qpacks are unfortunately about twice the volume of the HP cases. I like the form factor tho and I will be able to fit 4 drives in there if needed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top