[SERVER] Draco's Server Build Redux, recombobulated, etc.

[Draco1962]

I was experiencing some thermal issues with the XPS case due to the number of drives crammed within. Since one of the oldest piece kit was disassembled and parts went to my niece's rebuild project, other components were available to provide an upgrade (also got back my Antec P280 monster midtower back!). 

Storage for this build will be 10.91TB across 4 WD RE 4TB drives in RAID 5 array, 932GB for OS & apps, 4.562TB total for "scratch" work and backups, for a grand total of  16.472TB of storage.

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Draco's Server Build Redux

🟦 Core Hardware

• Intel Core i7‑3770
• ASUS P8Z77‑V LK (ATX)
• Memoz 32GB DDR3‑1600 (4×8GB PC3L‑12800U)
• Crucial MX500 1TB SATA SSD (OS & apps)
• Western Digital 1TB (WD10EZEX)
• Seagate Barracuda 1TB (ST1000DM003)
• Seagate Barracuda 4TB (ST4000DM004)
• Western Digital RE 4TB (WD4000FYYZ) ×4
• LSI Logic MegaRAID 9260-8i 8-Port SAS RAID Controller
• PNY XLR8 GTX 960 4GB GDDR5 (GMGTX96N3H4FM1KTM6AJA)
• be quiet! Pure Power 12 – 650W

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🟩 Networking

• Realtek 8111F Gigabit LAN (onboard)
• OKN WiFi 6E AX5400 PCIe WiFi Card for Desktop PC (Intel AX210) Bluetooth 5.3

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🟧 Case, Cooling, Lighting, & Accessories 

• Antec P280 Steel Tower (ATX)
• be quiet! Pure Rock 3 Black CPU Cooler
• be quiet! Silent Wings 4 120mm PWM ×2 (front intake)
• be quiet! Pure Wings 3 120mm PWM ×3 (rear & top exhaust)
• Pioneer BDR‑206DBK Blu‑ray/DVD/CD Burner
• Kingwin 5.25" USB 3.0 Hub + SD/MicroSD Reader
• Silverstone SDP11B 3.5"→2.5" Adapter
• Dblue Magnetic LED Strip (Green)
• MHWRL 30cm LED Diffuser Channels ×2
• CoolerGuys 4‑Pin Molex Power Splitter

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🟫 OS

• Microsoft Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC

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I plan to use this setup for eventual light video work in addition to acting as an SMB, printer, and media server (mostly ebooks and MP3 libraries, photos, and the like) and, maybe, an internal web page just for gits & shiggles.

 

[Draco1962]

The feet were 3D printed replacements as the original feet attachment pins had sheared and there was only one foot remaining. 

I had to get creative to attach them but they work fabulously! About 1" clearance which will help with airflow, thermals, and mitigate some dust.

[Draco1962]

As for the GPU, I could not update it from the Nvidia site due to the age, so SDI - Snappy Driver Installer - to the rescue! Nvidia Control Panel is available via the Microsoft Store. 

[Draco1962]

I am thinking about adding a LSI MegaRAID 9260‑8i with ADCAUDX 2Pack Mini SAS to SATA Cable: 1M SFF-8087 to SATA Forward Breakout Cable SFF-8087 Mini-SAS Controller to Hard Drive (3.3FT) in addition to two more 4TB WD Enterprise drives running hardware RAID 5. This will give me 12TB of storage available, not counting the other drives for OS, scratch, etc.

As previously noted, I currently have MS Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC installed, but, being my first real server build, not sure what would be best and easiest to build & manage.

[Draco1962]

Based upon the previous post, which RAID would you recommend - 5, 6, or 10?

For now, I think RAID 5 will be robust enough and should work well with these smaller drives in the event of a failure/restore scenario.

 

[Draco1962]

Thanks to our wonderful USPS, the RAID controller to a left turn towards Akron, Ohio from Greensboro, North Carolina for the second time. The first time was a bounce to/from Detroit, Michigan. The package originated in Germantown, Maryland. WTF! 🤬

In the meantime, undoing cable management to install the 2 additional WD RE 4TB drives (for RAID 5 config) and another 1TB drive - WD Blue - for the JBOD backups side of things.

[Draco1962]

SUCCESS! Installed the RAID controller and finally have a 10.91TB share after much wrangling with compatibility with the older motherboard BIOS,v which turned out to be more of a reliance upon software GUI management of the controller.

This is in addition to 6TB of existing storage. The WD Blue 1TB did not make the cut but for this build but I have others that can make use of it.

[tthurman]

What card did you end up going with?

I'm going to repurpose an old i7-3770S due to lower power consumption and use a LSI 9207-8i in it and install open media vault. I will probably end up getting a JONSBO N5 to have room for future expansion.

 

[Draco1962]

1 hour ago, tthurman said:

What card did you end up going with?

I'm going to repurpose an old i7-3770S due to lower power consumption and use a LSI 9207-8i in it and install open media vault. I will probably end up getting a JONSBO N5 to have room for future expansion.

 

LSI MegaRAID 9260‑8i with ADCAUDX 2Pack Mini SAS to SATA Cable: 1M SFF-8087 to SATA Forward Breakout Cable SFF-8087 Mini-SAS Controller to Hard Drive (3.3FT)

That's a sweet looking case!  Do you already have an EATX motherboard compatible with your i7-3770S?

[tthurman]

No, the entire build was an old 2600K build I did way back for a DAW for a good friend of mine (who I worked for over 15+ years) who gave me the entire setup about 6-7 or so years ago after getting out of studio recording, so I slapped a newer more efficient processor in it then with the goal of backing up a NAS, which Tom gifted me some years ago (Thank you Tom). I ran a spanned Windows 10 drive in it for a while until one of the drives failed recently and I'm looking for a more permanent solution since the NAS is growing on in years and Windows 10......well, you know! 

The JONSBO case has a few questionable design issues, but overall it's more "NAS" like in design to make it a decent long term choice over anything I have on hand from past builds.

 

[Draco1962]

I was thinking about going a similar route with a much smaller setup, but the case ended up in my possession and it is just a damned good case with LOTS of drive bays. I had thought about going with some larger drives for the RAID 5 array, but I already had several 4TB enterprise drives from aborted builds. 

I will probably purchase Hovadova Height Adjustable Computer Tower Stand with Charge Station and USB Charging Port, 2-Tier ATX-Case Cart, Under Desk Mobile PC Stand, CPU Holder Cart with Locking Caster Wheels for Fits Most PC as it is too big to go desktop, and, even with the new taller feet, on the floor is a hard NO for my electronics. I may make a slight modification to the power/USB port side by adding some plastic pegboard for additional accessory hooks.

[Draco1962]

On 4/28/2026 at 10:40 PM, Draco1962 said:

SUCCESS! Installed the RAID controller and finally have a 10.91TB share after much wrangling with compatibility with the older motherboard BIOS,v which turned out to be more of a reliance upon software GUI management of the controller.

This is in addition to 6TB of existing storage. The WD Blue 1TB did not make the cut but for this build but I have others that can make use of it.

I pulled the Pioneer BD-RW drive and installed the WD Blue 1TB drive. The Pioneer BD-RW now resides in a USB 3.0 external case.

[Draco1962]

I looked into the Secure Boot Certificates and I have determined that this build will not support it due to the LSI RAID controller as it runs with a legacy OPROM and will break the array as BIOS Secure Boot settings must be disabled for it.