Worklog: Silent Small Server

[Beavy]

With my shuttle mod on hold waiting for parts, I have been wanting to start work on a new project. With a few PC parts lying around and hard drives with movies etc. on them that can't fit inside the shuttle waiting to be used, I am going to build a silent server to host games/files etc. Not sure if TPG 1.5MB broadband has enough upload speed to host public servers, but we'll see...

Specs (to be confirmed):
3000+ Newcastle ~bought on forums
A8N-E s754/AGP ~bought on forums
MX440 64MB ~bought on ebay ages ago
2*256 DDR400 (More to be added) ~bought on forums
2*120GB PATA ~bought new a year or so ago
Shuttle 200W PSU ~bought with shuttle, psu upgraded

Cooling:
Swiftech MCW-6000 ~bought new from davidandkarma
BIX and BIP ~forums
MCP-350 ~new from radiical

All to be crammed inside a small AT midi tower. (the back panel will be modded)

I will be trying out many different mods such as:
-etched perspex window
-second case floor
-stealth cd-rom
-front blowhole intake
-any other mods that i think will look good!

Most of the parts I have lying around, but I have made these purchases:
CPU+MB $220, forums
MCP-350 $130

My budget is approx $500 max, so if I can use the midi case and shuttle psu I can save up for some SATA drives to raid.

Pics will (hopefully) follow the modding process. Feedback is more than welcome!

Hoping to finish within a month!

[Lethal_Lynx]

looking good
good luck i cant wait

[RyoSaeba]

That PSU might be a little weak for that purpose.
http://extreme.outervision.com/index.jsp

[Beavy]

Originally Posted by RyoSaeba

That PSU might be a little weak for that purpose.
http://extreme.outervision.com/index.jsp

According to that my system will be around 250W so yeah, it might be a bit of a stretch. The same 200W psu was used to test the shuttle (XP-M, 6800GT...) and booted fine but crashed to desktop when i tried playing games. Only time will tell!

Thanks for the link.

[squaredcorp]

hey dude...don't use the shuttle psu with that system full of hard drives, unless you want some expensive paperweight.

Even a cheap $50 GTR 400W would be plenty, just don't use the shuttle one if you like your hardware in a working state

Just my 2 cents

[alkesh]

512Mb of RAM will be plenty for a file server. You will only need more RAM than that if you're serving files to hundreds of users.

Most game server clients should be fine with 512.

[Beavy]

Originally Posted by alkesh

512Mb of RAM will be plenty for a file server. You will only need more RAM than that if you're serving files to hundreds of users.

Most game server clients should be fine with 512.

Cheers, good thing my purchase of a 1gb kit fell through or I won't be able to get another hdd!

Updates today, here is the case ill be modding to fit full size atx:







Alot of modding of the internal structure and rear ports will be needed. I am thinking of putting the motherboard on the opposite side so the Rad or PSU can sit in front of the PCI slots rather than where the CPU waterblock will be.

[Beavy]

Pump arrived today, completing the cooling parts for this system:



Biggest problem is odd lengths of tubing, will have to use connectors between different sizes and lengths.

A rough Idea of how it all 'fits' (Optical Drive still to come). There should be enough space to fit a full size psu if the shuttle one turns out to be too weak.





Ive also been playing around with window etching, made a christmas present for my dad as a test:



(It's meant to be Bob Dylan)

Modding will continue post christmas/new year period!

(also added the shuttle to the PCDB - unfinished until I find the right optical drive - plz vote if you like it)

[afrokiller]

HEHE! Nice small ATX case there. Can't wait too see the finished result

[stroggos2k]

Afro, that's an AT case mate.

[Beavy]

Few updates over the christmas period (no chance to mod yet, didnt want to try dremelling in the back 'yard' at 9am christmas morning with a 2 month old baby next door)

Stripped the case and removed unwanted bits:


Tested BIP location:




Shuttle PSU, with DVD cover for scale:


I'm torn between modding my own motherboard tray and back panel, or cutting one out of another case (adding to the expense). Any ideas???

Sketched a few ideas for the case 'theme':


The eyes will be 60mm fans, and the mouth will be the radiator, both lit with CCFL or LED's


Can't wait to start!

[squaredcorp]

looking good man...but are you still gonna use that shuttle PSU to power your HDD array? Will it be powerful enough?

[Beavy]

Originally Posted by squaredcorp

looking good man...but are you still gonna use that shuttle PSU to power your HDD array? Will it be powerful enough?

I don't think I can afford an 'array' just yet, and I have a TT 430W psu in the post (forums again), so I'll see if I can mod that in front of the PCI slots, or ditch the drive bays and mount it there, lotsa ideas!

[squaredcorp]

oh...not TT man...hope you got it for cheap then

For the PSU placement, could you place it at the back, against the side facing the mobo? If there is a fan on the underside of the PSU, it may help cooling down the CPU HSF too at the same time It may involve a bit of dremeling if it fits but may be worth it and probably free up enough space to put another HDD cage or something. I hope you understand what I'm mumbling about

Have fun!

[blakeg]

i have built a lot of systems with that TT psu and have not had a problem yet
they are quiet and work well in fact two of them have been running my dads dual opty server with 1 terabyte ect for a year now no probs
and very silent ly