Tom's Hardware > Forum > Storage > NAS/RAID & Technologies > Building a low power NAS
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scrumhalf   08-07-2008 at 03:50:34 PM

I'm looking to build a NAS for my home running FreeNAS or something similar for a CF Card, and I'm looking for a low power solution that would be cheap to build.

Things I need:

  • Gigabit Ethernet
  • At least 2 SATA II ports
  • At least 1 PCI or PCIe slot to add a RAID controller for future upgrade


I've been looking at the Intel Atom motherboards due to their extremely low power consumption, but they all lack Gigabit Ethernet. Most VIA Nano boards have this but are a bit more expensive. Does anyone know of an Atom motherboard that has Gigabit Ethernet, or has anyone built a similar system that can offer some insight? Thanks!

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rozar   08-07-2008 at 10:13:58 PM
- 0 +

What form factor do you want to stay in? Sounds like mITX.

------------------------------ Intel DX48BT2 bone trail 2 || Q9650 with Xigmatek S1283 || 4GB Gskill DDR3 1600 || 1 - 300GB 15k SAS boot , 3 - 750GB SATA Raid 5 || Adaptec 5805 SAS RAID controller || ATI 3870 || Antec 300 Chassis with Nspire 600 watt PS
 Reply to rozar
scrumhalf   08-07-2008 at 10:38:44 PM
- 0 +

mITX would be nice, but isn't necessary if the power can be kept down. The unit will be kept out of sight, so size isn't a determining factor, more of a byproduct of the available low power systems that I've looked at. The main goal is to have the lease impact on the electric bill as possible for something running 24/7.

Reply to scrumhalf
rozar   08-07-2008 at 10:55:41 PM
- 0 +

I hate to keep asking question but would like a 250x ATX power supply be enough? If so then you can use a mATX chassis, standard mATX motherboard, low power CPU, and regular optical drives and 4-5 hard drives. I have one of my computers in a chassis like this one.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811154079

Yes it has about the thickness of a beer can (maybe a little more) but it houses everything and keeps it cool with 120mm fans front and rear. The front 120mm keeps the drives cool too. Yes throw away the power supply it comes with and add one. I have a 3ware controller in mine with 4 hard drives for storage and 1 single drive for boot. I use this board because it has a x4 PCIe for the RAID controller in addition to the x16 for video.

http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx? [...] odelmenu=1

------------------------------ Intel DX48BT2 bone trail 2 || Q9650 with Xigmatek S1283 || 4GB Gskill DDR3 1600 || 1 - 300GB 15k SAS boot , 3 - 750GB SATA Raid 5 || Adaptec 5805 SAS RAID controller || ATI 3870 || Antec 300 Chassis with Nspire 600 watt PS
 Reply to rozar
scrumhalf   08-08-2008 at 08:14:18 PM
- 0 +

250 would be more than enough, but I'm trying to skip the need for a video card. I plan to use this as a headless system, so integrated video is fine/will save power.

Reply to scrumhalf
rozar   08-08-2008 at 10:33:52 PM
- 0 +

That motherboard I listed also has onboard video. And you could get a different case if you wanted to. Like maybe this one.

http://www.buy.com/prod/antec-mini [...] 36508.html

Its on sale today and looks really good.

------------------------------ Intel DX48BT2 bone trail 2 || Q9650 with Xigmatek S1283 || 4GB Gskill DDR3 1600 || 1 - 300GB 15k SAS boot , 3 - 750GB SATA Raid 5 || Adaptec 5805 SAS RAID controller || ATI 3870 || Antec 300 Chassis with Nspire 600 watt PS
 Reply to rozar
snootch   08-20-2008 at 10:46:53 AM
- 0 +

On my next build i will be using another (I am currently using one in my car pc) VIA Epia SN1800 mini-ITX board. It has 4 SATA II ports, one PCI-e slot, Mini-PCI and CF slot. Here's a review: http://www.aselabs.com/articles.php?id=241&page=1

Reply to snootch
rozar   08-20-2008 at 03:51:55 PM
- 0 +

If that board had RAID it would be really cool.

------------------------------ Intel DX48BT2 bone trail 2 || Q9650 with Xigmatek S1283 || 4GB Gskill DDR3 1600 || 1 - 300GB 15k SAS boot , 3 - 750GB SATA Raid 5 || Adaptec 5805 SAS RAID controller || ATI 3870 || Antec 300 Chassis with Nspire 600 watt PS
 Reply to rozar
snootch   08-22-2008 at 07:21:07 PM
- 0 +

Yes, It supports RAID 5 as well. Here are the specs:
http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/ [...] d=550#spec

Reply to snootch
rozar   08-22-2008 at 09:34:20 PM
- 0 +

I missed this the first time I read that page

"Multiple native RAID configurations through 4 S-ATA channels"

Not that I doubt you but are you sure it has RAID 5?

------------------------------ Intel DX48BT2 bone trail 2 || Q9650 with Xigmatek S1283 || 4GB Gskill DDR3 1600 || 1 - 300GB 15k SAS boot , 3 - 750GB SATA Raid 5 || Adaptec 5805 SAS RAID controller || ATI 3870 || Antec 300 Chassis with Nspire 600 watt PS
 Reply to rozar
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