All prices in this section are current as of January 11, 2012 unless otherwise noted.
10 Drive Budget Box
Mobo: ASUS M4A78LT-M (more info; be careful when shopping around, as there is an LE version and a non-LE version of this motherboard. You want the non-LE version!) new budget board testing underway!
CPU: AMD Sempron 145
RAM: Kingston 2GB DDR3 1333
PSU: CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 V2 430W
Case: Xigmatek Utgard Window CPC-T90DB-U02
SATA Expansion Card: Supermicro AOC-SASLP-MV8 8-Port SAS/SATA Add-on Card
Cables:
0.5m 30AWG Internal Mini SAS 36pin (SFF-8087) Male w/ Latch to SATA 7pin Female (x4) Forward Breakout Cable x 1
non-locking SATA x 4 (2 included with motherboard)
Hot Swap Drive Bays: Norco SS-500
Fans: Coolink SWiF2-801 80mm *optional (Norco SS-500 fan upgrade if quieter performance is desired)
Hard Drives: Green drives (5400 rpm or 5900 rpm), such as WD Green, Hitachi CoolSpin, Samsung EcoGreen, and Seagate LP
Cost: $520 + shipping + cost of hard drives
Capacity: 18 TB
Expandability: Expandable to the 15 Drive Budget Box with replacement of the power supply.
12 Drive Budget Box
Mobo: Biostar A880G+
CPU: AMD Sempron 145
RAM: Kingston 2GB DDR3 1333
PSU: CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 V2 430W
Case: Xigmatek Utgard Window CPC-T90DB-U02
SATA Expansion Card: Supermicro AOC-SASLP-MV8 8-Port SAS/SATA Add-on Card
Cables:
- 0.5m 30AWG Internal Mini SAS 36pin (SFF-8087) Male w/ Latch to SATA 7pin Female (x4) Forward Breakout Cable x 2
- non-locking SATA x 4 (2 included with motherboard are locking type, not recommended for use with Hot Swap Drive Bays)
Hot Swap Drive Bays:
- Mobile Rack for 3.5 inches SATA HDD – Open Frame x 2 (with orange/blue LED)
- Norco SS-500
Fans: Coolink SWiF2-801 80mm *optional (Norco SS-500 fan upgrade if quieter performance is desired)
Hard Drives: Green drives (5400 rpm or 5900 rpm), such as WD Green, Hitachi CoolSpin, Samsung EcoGreen, and Seagate LP
Cost: $535 + shipping + cost of hard drives
Capacity: 22 TB
Expandability: Expandable to the 15 Drive Budget Box with replacement of the motherboard, the power supply, and the two single hot swap bays.
12 Drive Budget Box (alternate)
Mobo: Biostar A880G+
CPU: AMD Sempron 145
RAM: Kingston 2GB DDR3 1333
PSU: CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 V2 430W
Case: Xigmatek Utgard Window CPC-T90DB-U02
SATA Expansion Card: Supermicro AOC-SASLP-MV8 8-Port SAS/SATA Add-on Card
Cables:
- 3ware CBL-SFF8087OCF-05M 1 Unit of .5M Multi-lane Internal (SFF-8087) Serial ATA Breakout Cable x 2
- non-locking SATA x 4 (2 included with motherboard are locking type, not recommended for use with Hot Swap Drive Bays)
Hot Swap Drive Bays: Norco SS-400 x 3
Fans: Coolink SWiF2-801 x 3 *optional (Norco SS-400 fan upgrade is quieter performance is desired)
Hard Drives: Green drives (5400 rpm or 5900 rpm), such as WD Green, Hitachi CoolSpin, Samsung EcoGreen, and Seagate LP
Cost: $560 + shipping + cost of hard drives
Capacity: 22 TB
Expandability: Expandable to the 15 Drive Budget Box with replacement of the motherboard, the power supply, and the hot swap bays. However, this one really isn’t intended to be expandable. If you are thinking of expanding to the 15 Drive Budget Box, go with the original 12 Drive Budget Box instead (not this alternate model).
15 Drive Budget Box
Mobo: ASUS M4A78LT-M (more info; be careful when shopping around, as there is an LE version and a non-LE version of this motherboard. You want the non-LE version!) new budget board testing underway!
CPU: AMD Sempron 145
RAM: Kingston 2GB DDR3 1333
PSU: CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 V2 500W
Case: Xigmatek Utgard Window CPC-T90DB-U02
SATA Expansion Cards:
Cables:
- 0.5m 30AWG Internal Mini SAS 36pin (SFF-8087) Male w/ Latch to SATA 7pin Female (x4) Forward Breakout Cable x 2
- non-locking SATA x 5 (2 included with motherboard)
Hot Swap Drive Bays: Norco SS-500
Fans: Coolink SWiF2-801 80mm *optional (Norco SS-500 fan upgrade if quieter performance is desired)
Hard Drives: Green drives (5400 rpm or 5900 rpm), such as WD Green, Hitachi CoolSpin, Samsung EcoGreen, and Seagate LP
Cost: $635 + shipping + cost of hard drives
Capacity: 28 TB
Expandability: None.
the norco hot swap bays are back in stock for $90 at newegg. the case seems to be discontinued. do you have a replacement mobo for the 5->10->15 drive options?
this is an amazing post, thanks for compiling it all.
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Awesome post, definitely helping me out. Would a Asrock 880GM-LE motherboard be a good alternative? Some of the products mentioned are discontinued and no longer available
Yes, the Asrock 880GM-LE will make a fine budget board!