Chenbro ES34069 [mini-ITX 4x Hotswap SATA Server Case]

[Menthu_Rae]

This thread is for discussion of/users of the Chenbro ES34069 [ http://www.chenbro.com/corporatesite....php?serno=100 ].


Click to view full size!

Click to view full size!

Click to view full size!

Specifications:


Click to view full size!

Other useful external links:

Reviews:

Logicsupply - Part 1

Logicsupply - Part 2

WeGotServed

NoOne.org - Blog - ITX Server Planning

NoOne.org - Blog - Hardware Review

Other Forum Threads:

HardOCP - Very Good Build Pics

Whirlpool.net.au

NCIX

Hexus

SmallNetBuilder

Pricing & Availability:

A group buy thread will be organised and approved via Agg once interest has been gauged here.

Preliminary pricing from a Northern Sydney retailer as follows:

1 unit $415.80 inc.GST.
5 units $398.48 inc.GST per unit.
10+ units $385.95 inc.GST per unit.

Interested Parties:

1. Menthu_Rae - $400 max
2. encode - $400 max
3. Jadlak - $??? max
4. psyco18 - $400 max
5. oli - $400 max
6. saba - $400 max
7. ...

[saba]

Nicely done!

[encode]

I think I'm going to have to pull out. Now that I've really looked into setting up this system, its all going to cost too much.
$400 for a case, that I'll have to buy a replacement AC power supply for?

Sorry.

[Smoke87]

Way over priced.

Don't forget your RAID controller (Fitting inside an ITX case?) must support hot swap too.

[Menthu_Rae]

Originally Posted by encode

I think I'm going to have to pull out. Now that I've really looked into setting up this system, its all going to cost too much.
$400 for a case, that I'll have to buy a replacement AC power supply for?

Sorry.

Originally Posted by Smoke87

Way over priced.

Don't forget your RAID controller (Fitting inside an ITX case?) must support hot swap too.

I've spent about an hour re-shuffling my hardware in excel to see what system(s) I can make up with minimal expenditure... Given that I currently have 3 cases (2 of which are cubes) and 2 "spare" systems - the ITX case doesn't seem too viable...

For someone who doesn't have any hardware and wants a small server, it's not toooooo bad though - considering what you can run (compared to a dedicated NAS). This is what I was toying with last night in Excel.

AMD Sempron LE-1200 (2.1GHz) $52
4GB Kingston DDR2 $78
J&W MiniX 780G [ http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/mot...-motherboard/2 ] $220
Chenbro ES34069 $398
4x 1TB WD Greenpower HDDs $616

Total: ~$1364 or $748 (BYO HDDs).

Compare that $750 BYO drives to a similar spec Thecus IP4100 Pro NAS for $731.

Yes it's not "off the shelf" - but you could load up whatever OS you want and configure it in any way you want. So yeah, the case is expensive - but as a whole system - considering its size and what it can do, not too bad IMO.

That said, I may not go forward with the purchase either. I'm looking at utilising my 2 cube cases and minimising my power use in other ways (more efficient desktop CPUs, motherboards, GPUs).

[kiwimeat]

I was very interested but given the cost I'm most likely going to buy a Tranquilpc BBS2 which will cost about AU$770 delivered for 5 drive capacity (can be extended to 10 with a eSata Storage box), Dual Atom 330, Gbe LAN, 23DBA, 29W (with 1 HD).

[Menthu_Rae]

Originally Posted by kiwimeat

I was very interested but given the cost I'm most likely going to buy a Tranquilpc BBS2 which will cost about AU$770 delivered for 5 drive capacity (can be extended to 10 with a eSata Storage box), Dual Atom 330, Gbe LAN, 23DBA, 29W (with 1 HD).

Ah wow, that's pretty cool. Yeah problem is it's hard to find atom boards with 4x SATA ports in aus. If you could, would reduce the cost substantially from the $220 + $52 + $78 I was talking about for the Sempron LE/780G/4GB combo...

A nice $150 4x SATA atom board + $33 2GB RAM would be a lot better with the chenbro case. (total $581!)

So I guess the potential for a groupbuy is dead then? If anyone's interested, the retailer I contacted was Jantech (www.jantech.com.au) email Natalia --> sales@jantech.com.au

I'm sure you could get it cheaper from other retailers if you tried

[FireTech]

Sorry guys but as I said in the other thread it's a stupid amount of money for a case (and the MB isn't much better)
You could probably build a complete µATX case/740G/Sempron/2Gb based box (sans discs) for the cost of that case alone.

[psyco18]

depends how important size is to you i guess. im assuing your one of those guys that think shuttles are a waste of money too?

[rdorman]

there was a retailer on staticice some months ago which had this case for about 220 or 250. i cant remember who it was, but yeah, you can get ti cheaper than that.

[FireTech]

Originally Posted by psyco18

depends how important size is to you i guess.

Agreed

im assuing your one of those guys that think shuttles are a waste of money too?

Never assume!

If the size is all you care about and money is no object then fair enough but if your buying mini-ITX for economy purposes too then this build seems pointless.

Any ongoing running cost savings made by going for a low power MB/Case/PSU etc are far outweighed by the initial purchase price.
Going up in size to µATX but still with decent low power components makes far more sense to me, especially given my Scottish heritage and 'care' with my pennies...

Each to their own though.

[encode]

Originally Posted by FireTech

Going up in size to µATX but still with decent low power components makes far more sense to me, especially given my Scottish heritage and 'care' with my pennies...

I'm starting to think µATX is the way to go; I just need to find a decent, relatively small µATX case with 4 external 3.5" drive bays.

[oli]

Can someone clarify what the deal is here with the PSU? It's OK to run an Atom system and 4 drives, am I right?

What Mini-ITX boards are currently available in Australia with 4 SATA ports?

[saba]

Originally Posted by oli

Can someone clarify what the deal is here with the PSU? It's OK to run an Atom system and 4 drives, am I right?

What Mini-ITX boards are currently available in Australia with 4 SATA ports?

My understanding is that the PSU in the Chenbro can act as both a 120W or 180W, depending on the external adapter used.

It would be more than enough for an Atom system and four drives.

Are you looking for an Atom board with four SATA, or just a Mini-ITX board?

[oli]

Originally Posted by saba

My understanding is that the PSU in the Chenbro can act as both a 120W or 180W, depending on the external adapter used.

It would be more than enough for an Atom system and four drives.

Are you looking for an Atom board with four SATA, or just a Mini-ITX board?

Thanks for the clarification.

I'd be looking for an Atom board with four SATA ports. I want a low power server and would use the Atom board and four 5400 "green" drives of some sort.