Edit: Since starting this thread my build has changed, as they do, I've updated the bottom of this post with my revised build.
I've been meaning to build/buy a WHS for some time, but thought I would wait for Vail, but with the recent news about DE and the lack of any better Media Center support, as in a TV Server I've decided to build one using WHS PP3.
I've been floating around these forums for a few days and have been inspired by some of asposium's posts, it's probably doubled my build cost but makes sense, and with his build only drawing around 30w that looks good to.
I would eventually like some additional functionality from my server over and above what WHS offers as standard.
1. TV Server - I've read, although haven't look into great depth that DVB Logic can be used for this, but I'm not sure how reliable it is.
2. Email server
3. Caller display server
4. Heating control server - this is probably last on the list, and the most complicated as I'll have to write some software to talk to my Heatmiser thermostats over their network.
My current planned hardware list.
- Case Coolermaster 590
- Motherboard - Supermicro X8SIA-F is this the ATX version of the Supermicro X8SIL Motherboard? I'd prefer the ATX board as it will give more expansions for tuners, a modem, and a Sata card if/when required.
- CPU - Intel Core i3 540, this is slightly cheaper than the 530, would the 540 make any difference to power consumption?
- Memory - 2 x Crucial 2GB, 240-pin DIMM, DDR3 PC3-10600 memory module (CT25672BA1339), I've read this works with the X8SIL, so presume (rightly or wronly??) that it'll work with the X8SIA-F
- Hard drive rack - there seems to be two options from Supermicro, any one know the difference? Mobile Rack CSE-M35TQ& Mobile Rack CSE-M35T-1 this ones quite a bit cheaper, but why?
- Hard drives - 2 x Samsung HD204UI Spinpoint F4 2TB to start off with.
- Corsair 450W VX Series PSU
Whats peoples thoughts on the above build, and perhaps answers to questions in the hardware list above?
One other question I've got is should I just let WHS install on one of the 2TB drives or is it possible/worthwhile using a different drive to install it to?
Sorry if any of this is a bit vague/disjointed, but tiredness is setting in and I've been trying to find the time to write this for days now.
Edit: As my build progresses I'll list the actual parts ordered here.
Parts Ordered:
- OS: WHS V2 RC - Beta downloaded - yes I changed my mind.
- Motherboard Supermicro X8SIA-FATX board. Cost £212 from Scan (Special order)
- 1 x Supermicro CSE-M35TQB 5 drive rack in black. Cost £108.25 from Scan
- Coolermaster RS-500-AMBA-D3 Silent Pro M 500W Modular Power Supply (PSU). Cost £61.77 from Scan
- Crucial 4GB kit (2GBx2), 240-pin DIMM, DDR3 PC3-10600 memory CT2KIT25672BA1339 Cost £70.12 from Crucial
- Case: Akasa Infinti the Coolermaster 590 seems to no longer be avaiable, cost was £79 from CBC Computers
- DVD Drive, thought for £12 might as well add one, got the space after all!
- Core i3 540, cost £82.19 from Scan
- Samsung F3 500GB HD502HJ £30.89 Scan
- 2 x Samsung F3 2TB Eco Green HD203WI cost £135.24 for the pair.
- 1 x Samsung F4 2TB Eco Green HD204UI/Z4 £62.50
- 1 x 120mm Akasa Apache Ultra Silent PWM Fan - all fans on the SM board need to be either 3 pin or 4pin, you can't mix them according to the manual.
Edits:
01-10-2011 Purchased additional 2 Tb Samsung F4 drive
06-11-2012 Purchased additional 8GB of memory (2 x CT51272BA1339) to only find that WHS2011 only allows 8GB, not the 12GB I have!
07-02-2013 Ran out of space to fit more drives so have purchased the following.
- Highpoint RocketRAID 2720SGL
- 2 x 3TB WD Red WD30EFRX RED SATA 6Gb
- Supermicro CSE-M35TQB - BLACK SAS/SATA Mobile Rack
- Quieter fan for drive rack Zalman ZM-F2 PLUS 3 Pin PC Case Fan 92mm
22-03-2014 Cloned OS to SSD, and installed a TV tuner, prior to installation of MediaPortal, so my server will become a TV Server.
- Intel 530 Series 180GB SSD (70GB OS, 97GB D drive)
- Quad DVB-S2 tuner TBS6985