That was an awesome read with lots of info! Thanks for taking the time!
I have a basic fileserver built with old parts, that does absolutely nothing but store files and serve them via smb over the Gb lan.
It looks like this:
-
GA-870A-UD3
- phenom 2 x4 @3000 (1.15v load, 0.75v idle@1100mhz, 45nm, 6MB cache level3)
- 1X2GB ddr3 (1066, 1.5V)
- amd hd5450 video card
- integrated realtek nic
- 10X seagate 2TB 7200 RPM hard drives (1TB platters)
- Old
Chieftec GPS-500AB-A
-2x
1to5 sata power cables
-2x
1 To 5 SATA 2.0 Port Multiplier
-2x
something like this for the hard drives, but simpler. Just two pieces of plastic with holes for the screws and the hard drives sit one on top of another with a few millimeters of space between them
- 1x12CM fan in front of each of the 5xhdds sandwiches, too keep them cool (~450 RPM)
- 1x12CM fan inside the pus, hooked to a mobo header (same ~450 RPM)
- 1x12CM fan on an old cooler master hyper 212 cpu radiator (again ~450 RPM)
- Some old antec case too keep everything in place.
- headless, no monitor, no usb. usb 3.0 disabled in bios, along with every other thing that could be turned off, like the jmicron ports etc.
The drives spin down after 10 minutes of idle, and the sata port multiplier toys do an amazing job of waking just the drive that is needed and spin it down after.
With the drives idle, the ups says that this thing pulls 55-60W. And a little over 100W when the drives are all awake. The psu efficiency is ~70% at ~50W, so that blows.
In the same case, i wanted to build something modern, simple, 22nm, with integrated graphics, that would have a ~20W pull at idle.
- g1820, g3220, or whatever cheap haswell. At idle it will be similar
- small mobo to help with power efficiency
- whatever ram
- same fans and psu for now
---------------
As sata port multiplier IS a major issue with intel, i was thinking of a two sata port pci-e 1x card, that has to be like this :
-- Port Multiplier FIS Based Switching
-- support for 3TB/4TB/6TB GPT drives (future)
-- offer at least real world 250-300 MB/sec, to work at full hdd speed when moving takes place between hard drives on the same multiplier.
I would need something from china, via ebay, as i'm in europe.
Candidates:
1.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-2-eSATA...dapter-Converter-6-0Gbps-ASM1061/141006206664
2.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PCI-E-Expre...tender-Card-with-sata-3-0-cable-/160887199214
3.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PCI-E-To-SA...Expansion-Card-PCI-E-Adapter-R2-/281514050617
3 is cheap, ASM1061, but can't know if it has PM or over 2TB support...
This is cool, as it has over 200 reviews, has all the specs i want/need as i searched through the reviews (support for 3-4TB drives and FIS)
This is based on a marvel 9170. Again has all the right specs. FIS and GPT support, but might be slower that asmedia (?!)
SOME cards on ebay look like generic versions of those, with asm1061 or marvel 9170, but the descriptions are lackluster. Some have "up to 2tb", no mention of FIS or even the crappy Command Based Switching.
Jmicron cards are to be avoided, as they suuuck. I've tried the jmicron ports on the motherboard. Even if PM works, real world speeds are 70-90MB/sec at best.
So this could be another useful thing for builders. Nice, cheap sata3 2 port pcie 1x card, with fis and gpt 2TB+ support.
-----------------------
Now, i wanted to find out about dual nic. Does it work with realtek integrated + another cheap realtek? Integrated realtek + intel?
Win8 has the new smb speed. This speed is win8 <-> win8 or does it work win8 <-> win7?
My n56u with padavan for sure doesn't support this. How much of an investment would it be to have a working at dual nic full speed fileserver?