[eskro]

Oh my!!
thanks for the video card hint Mallet21!!
didnt notice at all!!

OUCH!
thats at least another $30CAD
XFX GM210XYAF2 GeForce 210 512MB 64-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready ($40 + $5 - $20 MIR)

its only to run FreeNAS from a usb Stick...
nothing else...

i need to find the cheapest Video Card possible on Newegg.ca now....

or change motherboard,,,, **checking

[CASHMON3Y]

What about just getting a USB video adapter? Never looked at the prices, but atleast it can be removed once everything is set up. Plus it seems like a handy thing to have.

[eskro]

Ok i think im gonna change my current BIOSTAR mobo with this one

MSI 760GM-P33 AM3 AMD 760G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard ($60 + $12)

HEck, its only $12 more,,, better then $30,,,,

[fekker]

if you have to get a new case, might get one with more spots to stick more drives in it

thermaltake v6 case
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003WOL...ss_product

works like a champ

i had mine in a similar case to the one you linked, but dust was an issue, with the thermaltake case and a few pieces of cardboard to block the extra holes in the side panel and top (double sided sticky tape rocks) it's now filtering all air inside and stays clean. The whole front has filters that can be blown out, the power supply has a filter at the base of the case. I also liked the idea of popping in a sata in the top of the case when transfering to other drives.

Course you can always swap cases later, just something to keep in mind
there's a bunch on geeks.com for ~ $20
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=T665&cat=CAS

[eskro]

yeah i was looking for the cheapest case solution,,,

as im in CANADA, i doubt geeks.com ship here...

Oh, wait, they do ship here, for an extra $60...

so i still END up paying $88 for that geek case... :/

not good for me,,,

[eskro]

ok so,
regarding this motherboard
[MOBO] MSI 760GM-P33 AM3 MicroATX ($60 + $12)

i wondering is i should SAVE $25 by choosing this motherboard
[MOBO] Foxconn M61PMP-K AM3 MicroATX ($47 + $0)

now,
i do save $25 by going with the Foxconn,
but i loose 2 SATA 3Gb/s ports
and i loose 1 PCI Express x1 slot....

but the Foxconn does have at least 4 SATA 3Gb/s ports by default...
so thats already 8TB of possible disk storage right?

now, if someday, the 8TB is not enough, and thats really a 'if',
i can always take my PC CASE,
convert the 5.25" External Drive Bays to 4x3.5" internal Drive Bays
using a $35 CAGE MODULE like this --> http://fwd4.me/u8e
and gain another 8TB of possible disk storage...

there's also 1 PCI Express x1 slot....
so, there's more room there to use a SATA CONTROLLER card gain
2 more SATA ports! so thats another 4TB possible disk space!
so that Foxconn can bring me a total of 20TB...
right?

what do you guys say??

[Mallet21]

Ok i think im gonna change my current BIOSTAR mobo with this one

MSI 760GM-P33 AM3 AMD 760G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard ($60 + $12)

HEck, its only $12 more,,, better then $30,,,,

Bingo !! 6 sata ports + onboard video

I've actually got the same MOBO and have not had any issues with it.

[eskro]

please comment on this post --> http://forum.xbmc.org/showpost.php?p=695...stcount=51

im basically wondering if i should save $25
and buy the Foxconn mobo which can bring me a maximum of 20TB of disk space...

or

pay $25 more,
and buy the BIOSTAR mobo which can bring me a maximum of 28TB of disk space...

??

[Mallet21]

If it were me and i was buying a new mobo for the sole purpose of being a server, I'd like the extra onboard SATA ports.

The Foxconn will also suit your needs so if cost is the issue, get that one.

[eskro]

yeah cost is an issue....
thats why i was looking for a decent cheap NAS solution,,,

and if im right,
that Foxconn motherboard can bring me a maximum of 20TB of disk space correct?
well, 10 Hard Disk Drives of 2TB each....

cuz if so, i know that for me, its really really alot!!!

[bmcclure937]

Plus, down the road you can use larger capacity drives to replace old drives... and grow capacity that way. I say accomodate for ~10 drives (give or take 2).

[eskro]

Quick question,
Looking at my Power Supply here --> http://www.corsair.com/builder-series-cx430.html
it only has 4 SATA POWER CONNECTORS....

So from there,
since my case can accomodate 10 Hard Drives,
how can i eventually connect 6 more Hard Drives
if i have only 4 SATA POWER CONNECTORS?

there must be splitter out there right?
so i can convert my 4 SATA Power Connectors to 10 SATA Power Connectors ?

thx

[maxinc]

I use a Molex to 4 SATA cable for each 4HDD cage I have:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...-_-Product

[eskro]

oh nice!
if i get that right,
i could convert my PSU's 4 SATA plugs to --> 16 SATA plugs? (if i want)

im gonna keep those in mind!!
OKGEAR 24" 4pin Molex To 4 SATA 15pin Connector Cable ($7 + $10)

thx

[poofyhairguy]

what do you guys say??

Good reasoning, get the Foxconn.

For the record I love those sata cables.