Help me build a super-frugal fanless file server

scrimshaw on 20/04/2016 - 22:31

Hi guys

I have some old desktop parts just lying around doing nothing and I just happen to need a file server up and running. It'll also function as a Bittorrent box so 24/7 operation is crucial.

Objectives:

  1. Under $150 total cost
  2. Fanless design
  3. Use very little power

I already have the following items:

  1. a stick of DDR3-1333mhz (1.5v ram)
  2. a LOT of old and slow DDR3 SODIMMS
  3. 1 stick of unused 8GB DDR4 desktop ram. I wonder if I should sell it off…
  4. Antec 300 case
  5. A collection of ATX power supplies.
  6. SSD and HDD already sorted

So basically all I really need is just a motherboard and the processor.

Any ideas on what is cheap and what to buy? even secondhand junk is fine too, but it MUST be extremely low power and not require active cooling.

Computing

Comments

  • scrimshaw on 20/04/2016 - 22:43

    Ok… I think I know what I'm looking for. One of these babies:

    http://www.mwave.com.au/product/asrock-n3150bitx-celeron-onb…

  • scotty on 20/04/2016 - 22:48
    +1

    Raspberry Pi? It's super-frugal fanless and cheap. However (1) won't fit with your existing parts (2) not good as a file server due to lack of SATA controller and slow via USB. There are many other single-board computers with built in SATA and ethernet though.

    • scrimshaw on 20/04/2016 - 22:52

      Yea I really need the SATA. I'm just afraid SD card will die very quickly because I'm using something that's heavy on disk IO

      With the celeron board I can put my long DIMM DDR3, SSD / HDD, case and power supply to use.

      • geek001 on 21/04/2016 - 10:13

        My file server/bit torrent box is a small form factor PC at the moment running ubuntu. The PSU is 200W, which I calculated is costing me around $400/year if I keep it on 24/7 running at full capacity. In reality it should cost me less than that as the PSU is not maxed out all the time.

        I am thinking of converting that to use the Raspberry pi instead. I am not sure how well it will turn out, because I have heard the RPI network and USB performance is slower than your average computer. With your sdcard concerns, it is valid, but there are some hacks you can do to move the boot partition to a USB drive instead.

        I would think a Raspberry pi would be your most frugal option, but I am not sure about the performance. I will give it a try myself though to see if I can replace my server box.

        • scrimshaw on 21/04/2016 - 14:39

          I've decided with scotty's suggestion and bought myself a Pi3.

          Will try Debian on it and see if that Pi can handle it.

          Also, very recently WD announced a drive specifically for the RaspPi

          http://www.computerworld.com/article/3043995/data-storage/wd…

          Wonder how that stacks up against just using a USB thum drive..

        • [Deactivated] on 21/04/2016 - 20:06

          At lot less is think. My pc is 250watts max, but 99% of time sits at 40 watts according to meter.

        • geek001 on 27/04/2016 - 10:44

          @scrimshaw: Ok, I tried it on a Pi3, I hooked it up to a External USB Drive, it seemed to have problems trying to play 1080p content. I suspect it has bandwith issues through the USB ports, either that or Kodi on RPI has mkv codec problems. I guess I am going back to my old trusty PC box.

        • geek001 on 27/04/2016 - 10:53

          Ok, maybe I was a bit quick to judge. Apparently OSMC is a better operating system to install Kodi on. Might give that a go. FYI, I forgot to say the RPI3 wifi is virtually useless unless your AP is in the same room.

        • geek001 on 18/05/2016 - 15:58

          @scrimshaw: Ok, just reporting back further. I have both RPI2 and RPI3, RPI2 is a bit sluggish, RPI3 is ok running OSMC/Openelec. Loving the Kodi addons so much that I think I no longer need local storage. I just stream anything I want to watch from the internet. Pretty nifty to catch up on any series episodes I missed on tv, although it is questionable how legal they are. :)

  • idjces on 21/04/2016 - 00:13

    http://www.amazon.com/ASRock-Motherboard-Micro-DDR3-D1800M/d…

    Something like that only uses 10w of power if i recall correctly

  • sane on 21/04/2016 - 09:13

    There are some fanless mini-itx designs that would provide for the SATA ports. Usually use Atom of Celeron processors.

  • dogboy on 21/04/2016 - 09:15

    Find an old HP Microserver N40L on Gumtree maybe? Here is one for $150: http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/maroubra/desktops/hp-n40l-pro…

  • O O on 21/04/2016 - 12:22

    A little bit over budget ($170), fanless design and low power

    ASRock N3700-ITX

  • Antikythera on 19/05/2016 - 09:22

    i use one of these in my file server. i run it off an old 19v laptop power brick.
    http://www.aliexpress.com/item/200W-DC-ATX-Power-Supply-DC-1…
    you can get 12v versions of them but that requires buying a new 12v power brick.

    with a ATX PSU i was drawing 70w at idle. with the PICO PSU i draw 17-22w at idle.
    50w difference running 24/7 saves me about $100 a year.

    also it allows a smaller quieter build as the fanless power brick is outside the case.

    personally i've just always used old MB/CPU(first E5300, now G3258) as my server sits in another room so noise isnt an issue.

  • kywst on 19/05/2016 - 11:31

    Bit late but BananaPi should be good for this application. BananaPi

  • scrimshaw on 27/10/2016 - 22:36

    Update:

    Oh dear. The inevitable has happened — MicroSD has sustained too many writes and my raspberry Pi has murdered my 16GB Samsung Evo.

    Update2: or maybe not! The card still reads in Windows, but Pi refuses to boot off it and just runs FSCk endlessly. Wonder what's going on?

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