Basically, I want to buy a some pieces to build myself a network storage computer in the near future. I'll follow the "How to ask for advice" guide to make everything more easy to read
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: In the near future.
BUDGET RANGE: Around €400, but I don't mind spending a bit more if there is a good reason for it.
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: File sharing. Obviously, this system would sit around doing nothing most of the time. Perhaps I might make it run Folding@Home.
PARTS NOT REQUIRED:
550W Power supply -- it might be a bit overkill, but it's the only one I've got lying around.
3 x 1TB Samsung hard drives (HD103UJ)
a case
A screen, keyboard and mouse
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Unless there's a site with cheaper prices, I'd be buying my stuff from www.alternate.be. As this shop is reasonably close to my home, I could pick up the parts myself.
PARTS PREFERENCES: Motherboard:
RAID 5
onboard graphics.
Preferably socket 775, but AM2+/AM3 is fine as well.
Alternate.be only has these brands available: ASRock, Asus, EVGA, Foxconn, GigaByte, MSI, XFX
Processor:
Whatever fits the motherboard and does the job.
Memory:
2GB of whatever fits the motherboard and does the job.
Harddrives:
3 x 1TB Samsung hard drives (HD103UJ)
OVERCLOCKING: No.
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No.
MONITOR RESOLUTION: Irrelevant.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
Quiet. This PC might end up in my bedroom. This might involve buying a new PSU after all.
Low power.
6 x 1TB hard drives in RAID 5: Is this a good idea?
It would be nice if the motherboard is a socket 775, but I've noticed it's hard to find a socket 775 motherboard with RAID 5 and onboard graphics.
Message edited by middeneast on 08-08-2009 at 12:06:48 PM
Buying this €300 part would mean going a bit above budget, though. Do you reckon there will be a large difference in performance using the raid card. I guess it would mean that there would be many more possibilities in terms of choosing a motherboard.
I know your personal quote says you're done helping people with AGP and P4's, but as I would not need a motherboard with a raid controller, could I not use my old P4 pc with a 3.0Ghz processor and plop in the raid controller + 6 hd's?
Cheers, Saew
Message edited by middeneast on 08-08-2009 at 10:23:52 PM
Hmm... Ofcourse it wont fit on my old P4, it doesn't have a PCIe slot.
My 939 computer has several PCIe slots, but power efficiency is not one of its best areas I guess it could do though.
You should first determine what OS you plan on using as the OS is what will really determine your hardware requirements. There are a few choices like; FreeNAS, Openfiler, Ubuntu, or Windows Home Server.
FreeNAS is a great NAS OS with minimal hardware requirements whereas Windoze Home Server has the hardware requirements of a regular pc.
Also, a hardware RAID card is the better option over mobo RAID especially if you plan on using RAID5. ANd yes, there is a noticiable performance difference between the two. If mobo RAID5 then you require a more powerful cpu as opposed to a cheaper/less powerful cpu with a hardware RAID ontroller due to offloading the parity calculations to the controller card.