BUILD FREENAS Server Upgrade - comments?!

[messerchmidt]

I am finally upgrading my insufficient core 2 freenas box that I first built to test out freenas. it is going to become a pfsense box.

That being said, my build is as follows: (I am in Canada) I have no problem spending more money on a xeon chip,etc as I can write off the entire sum. This System will hold my work files on on raid array and my movies,etc on another. I am probably going to run some jails such as plex,etc. I considered a 4 or 8 core atom, but I am biased to power > efficiency.

CPU: Intel Intel Xeon E3-1220V3 (http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116907)

I do not see a point using a Pentium dual core,etc and then having to potentially upgrade it later, so I am going with this chip. Is it worth going for the 1230 or 1240 cpus? I do not think HT or several hundred MHz will make much of a difference.

MOBO: SUPERMICRO MBD-X10SLM-F-O (http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182820)

Is this board sufficient? I was looking at the freenas faq, and the intel info sheet on the chipsets, and I do not think I will need the intel AMT of the c226,etc There is the
MBD-X10SLM+-F-O for $15 more - is it worth it?!?!

RAM: 32gb of Crucial 16GB ECC Unbuffered DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Server Memory (2 sets of Model CT2KIT102472BD160B)

Again via the freenas faq, I need it to work. This kit seems to be a two pack of the Crucial CT102472BD160B that is recommended.

PSU: Seasonic OEM SS-600ET

Spare/Surplus PSU from the law firm I articled at. Free and works perfectly.

CASE: Not sure yet - Suggestions? I am currently using an old antec steel case from the late 90s that I want to retire. I do not see a reason to spend excessive sums on a case so long as it holds 6-8HDs,etc. It is going to be placed on a shelf above my desk and rarely touched, if ever. The Fractal node 804 looks interesting. The Antec 300 (two) is a case that I have used in builds before. NZXT has some inexpensive cases, as does cooler master. I need airflow over the drives. Hot swappable,etc is not necessary.

HD: Carrying over 3x 1TB reds from my current build in raid-z. May add some 4TB x4+ in the new year and begin moving my movies,etc over from my dlink dns that is currently doing the job. I may also add a ebay LSI card for additional SATA ports. I do not think an SSD cache is necessary.

UPS: An older APC model that I got from my old office with a dead battery. Replaced the battery and it has been working perfectly ever since on the i7 920.

USB: I will carry over the usb2 key from my current freenas build. It is a kingston 16gb usb2. A tiny key I have mounted on the board usb2 header with an adapter.

I am aware that this system is serious overkill, but its how I roll. Suggestions? Comments? I need it to work, so I do not have to throw it against the wall or out the window,etc.I do a weekly off site backup.

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I might add that I am rather annoyed with intel! My old i7 920 does not support ECC ram. Would have been a perfect box to convert with a new ram purchase. Also, if my current work/play rig that I build in summer 2013 [4770k w/ gigabyte z87x-ud5 (dual intel nic, 10x sata and 32gb of kingston DDR3] did ECC, I would have sold my current ram and put in ECC ram. This would have given me an excuse to get a 6 core setup on an x99 platform with ddr4 for myself....so I am again, very annoyed with intel.

 

[jgreco]

ZFS is kinda CPU piggy, and if you're talking about running jails, you might want to take the bump up to the 1230 CPU. Skip 16GB of RAM and buy the better CPU. If you really end up needing more RAM later, you can always fill those slots later.

 

[Fraoch]

You seem to have everything covered here.

CPU: Intel Intel Xeon E3-1220V3 (http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116907)

I do not see a point using a Pentium dual core,etc and then having to potentially upgrade it later, so I am going with this chip. Is it worth going for the 1230 or 1240 cpus? I do not think HT or several hundred MHz will make much of a difference.

People who've experienced the difference say it does (particularly the hyperthreading). I have the E3-1220 v3 and it's been great for me so far though, but I'm not running any jails or doing any transcoding yet.

There is the
MBD-X10SLM+-F-O for $15 more - is it worth it?!?!

Not sure of the difference between the "+" version and the "-" version. You may want to save a few bucks and go with the X10SLL-F. It has more SATA II ports and less SATA III ports but that's the only difference and it doesn't matter to hard drives.

RAM: 32gb of Crucial 16GB ECC Unbuffered DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Server Memory (2 sets of Model CT2KIT102472BD160B)

Again via the freenas faq, I need it to work. This kit seems to be a two pack of the Crucial CT102472BD160B that is recommended.

Probably overkill, for a home user 16 GB is fine. More doesn't hurt, of course, but not sure if you'll see a performance improvement.

CASE: Not sure yet - Suggestions? I am currently using an old antec steel case from the late 90s that I want to retire. I do not see a reason to spend excessive sums on a case so long as it holds 6-8HDs,etc. It is going to be placed on a shelf above my desk and rarely touched, if ever. The Fractal node 804 looks interesting. The Antec 300 (two) is a case that I have used in builds before. NZXT has some inexpensive cases, as does cooler master. I need airflow over the drives. Hot swappable,etc is not necessary.

As you noted, it's airflow over the drives that's most important. The Fractal 804 looks great - compact, versatile and with lots of ventilation. The hard drive ventilation might best be accomplished by two top-mounted fans since the hard drives are mounted vertically just underneath the top. A front mounted fan would only blow on the underside of the front drive.

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I might add that I am rather annoyed with intel! My old i7 920 does not support ECC ram. Would have been a perfect box to convert with a new ram purchase. Also, if my current work/play rig that I build in summer 2013 [4770k w/ gigabyte z87x-ud5 (dual intel nic, 10x sata and 32gb of kingston DDR3] did ECC, I would have sold my current ram and put in ECC ram. This would have given me an excuse to get a 6 core setup on an x99 platform with ddr4 for myself....so I am again, very annoyed with intel.

Probably they didn't want the i5s and i7s scavenging Xeon sales, so no ECC support for any i5s or i7s. It's kind of funny to think that they have ECC support in the Celerons and the Pentiums. Apparently ECC support in the i3s was only quite recent.

It's too bad E3 Xeons are priced so high in Canada - in the U.S. they are priced lower than the equivalent locked Core i7s and make a stable, viable alternative to a locked i7 for the desktop.

 

[Ericloewe]

The X10SLM+-F is a better option, in my opinion, because it has two Intel i210s instead of one i210 and one i217. Additionally, the + versions have Crucial/Micron RAM in their QVLs, making it easier to buy proper RAM.

 

[diedrichg]

The Fractal Design 804 is a popular choice in this community and it would fulfill your growth plan.

Edit: http://www.fractal-design.com/home/product/cases/node-series/node-804 for much better pictures than on Newegg.

Hang the drives like stalactites or mount them like stalagmites:
http://www.legitreviews.com/fractal-design-node-804-micro-atx-case-review_139179/5

 

[messerchmidt]

thank you for the replies

So:
CPU: Intel Intel Xeon E3-1230V3 instead of 1220-v3 as per post #2 by jgreco.
MOBO: SUPERMICRO MBD-X10SLM+-F-O instead of MBD-X10SLM-F-O as per post #4 by Ericloewe.
Ram: Going 32gb as I am not concerned about the cost difference versus 16. Is the above mentioned crucial ram the right stuff to buy?

I am still looking at cases. The fractal design 804 looks good, but I cannot mount fans above the HDs due to the bracket design. Still looking.

The NZXT 210 series looks good as its cheap and has 8 internal bays as does an Antec 300 series, but it has 7 versus 8 internal bays.

 

[Fraoch]

Ram: Going 32gb as I am not concerned about the cost difference versus 16. Is the above mentioned crucial ram the right stuff to buy?

Yes, see https://forums.freenas.org/index.ph...or-supermicro-x10-lga1150-motherboards.23291/

I am still looking at cases. The fractal design 804 looks good, but I cannot mount fans above the HDs due to the bracket design. Still looking

Does it not allow installation of fans if the brackets are occupied?

 

[messerchmidt]

Yes, see https://forums.freenas.org/index.ph...or-supermicro-x10-lga1150-motherboards.23291/

thanks

Does it not allow installation of fans if the brackets are occupied?

look @ http://www.legitreviews.com/fractal-design-node-804-micro-atx-case-review_139179/5. When the HDs are hung on those brackets, looks like you cannot add fans. Seems like an either add fans or the HD cage.

 

[Fraoch]

Oh I see! Those photos show you can orient the drives sideways so that the front fan hits the openings between drives though. The Fractal Design page doesn't show the brackets oriented this way.

The front sets of drives have the front fan pushing air onto them, the rear ones have the rear fan pulling air through them. Should be good?

 

[Ericloewe]

thank you for the replies

So:
CPU: Intel Intel Xeon E3-1230V3 instead of 1220-v3 as per post #2 by jgreco.
MOBO: SUPERMICRO MBD-X10SLM+-F-O instead of MBD-X10SLM-F-O as per post #4 by Ericloewe.
Ram: Going 32gb as I am not concerned about the cost difference versus 16. Is the above mentioned crucial ram the right stuff to buy?

I am still looking at cases. The fractal design 804 looks good, but I cannot mount fans above the HDs due to the bracket design. Still looking.

The NZXT 210 series looks good as its cheap and has 8 internal bays as does an Antec 300 series, but it has 7 versus 8 internal bays.

The RAM is the one from my X10 RAM sticky, right? If you want to do us a favor, check the DIMMs once you get them and check if their model number matches the Micron one that was tested - and tell us the results.

 

[messerchmidt]

going to order the parts in the next few days, maybe on the weekend actually as my week is nightmare at the moment. will post back when I get everything

 

[diedrichg]

going to order the parts in the next few days, maybe on the weekend actually as my week is nightmare at the moment. will post back when I get everything

What did you decide for a case?

 

[messerchmidt]

So I cheaped out a bit and got the Antec 300 two on sale. It can hold 6x 3.5 + 2x 2.5 internally, and another 3-5 drives in the 3x 5.25 bays up top with one of various mounts. I was looking at the fractal 804, but it was a bit too wide to go on top of the hutch on my desk.

 

[messerchmidt]

may also add a cpu cooler. I never liked those stock intel coolers on pushpins. Looking at the coolermaster hyper 212 evo

 

[diedrichg]

Can't go wrong with the Evo! If CLC is your thing, the Corsair H80i is the way to go. For case fans I am a "fan" of the Cougar Vortex fans.

 

[messerchmidt]

Can't go wrong with the Evo! If CLC is your thing, the Corsair H80i is the way to go. For case fans I am a "fan" of the Cougar Vortex fans.

I use the nzxt kraken x60 on my main rig. For the server I want something that is less likely to break/leak, so I am going to stick with an air cooler. At worst the fan goes kaput, versus a pump,etc with the water system. this System will not be overclocked

 

[messerchmidt]

I got everything in and assembled it. I am not getting any video. Going to try different ram

EDIT:
nevermind, got it working

it seems that my old lcd monitor does not like the onboard video