Redneck SAS expander mounting...

[propergol 10]

Some picts of my quick but functional SAS expander mounting 

 

A very efficient 350W TFX PSU :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAS mount   :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mounted in the case.

The setup isn't complete yet (but working). When completed it would have 1x 240GB SSD + 3x240Gb caching SSDs, 6x4TB  + 3x5TB HDs : virtualy 39TB with SSD write caching x3.

On this picture I was testing dual link between the M1115 and Intel SAS expander :

 

 

 

 

 

 

Single link :

 

 

 

I need some more work on cable management...

But cooling is now perfectly tunned with SpeedFan that controls 5 case fans.

HDs are between 29°C and 34°C and both SAS card's CPU below 45°C (thanks to a case fan puching air between both SAS cards).

[propergol 10]

Small update : I did replace the original heatsink with a bigger and 100% copper one.

I did fixed it with Arctic Sylver Thermal Adhesive, so it's permanent but much more efficient than thermal paste in this case.

Then I did bended the heatsink pins one by one.

The result is an impressive 20°C temp drop from 45-50°C to 27-30°C.

 

I plan to do the same for the top M1115.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Christopher (Drashna) 609]

Very nice!

 

And it looks like you're very used to modding stuff!

[propergol 10]

Thanks.

Yes, after 10 years with watercooling cases (some were dual Xeon), I am now only doing air cooled stuff and even if its more challenging regarding temperatures, its way cheaper...

A good controled air flow with positive air pressure can cool a lot of setup, with near to zero maintenance.

 

Now that I use DrivePool, I would be able to keep the same case and if I need more data room, only change 4TB drives as price drop with 8TB, one by one...

72TB in a small mid tower with all HD under 35°C 

[Christopher (Drashna) 609]

Water cooling is great, if you never plan on changing stuff.

 

And yeah, air cooling is much simpler.  And for the post part, there isn't really a huge gain one way or another. 

 

 

And yeah, I definitely agree with you on the hard drives. Though, I'm using a rackmount case. But to each their own

[CroneNot 0]

I like the idea - I did a mod to that effect, but I used a small power supply to power 6 drives, I ran out of power connector from my HDD and didn't want to use y-power connectors. With the supply you're using, did you set it up so when you power on it starts. or do you have a separate switch for it ?- I ran 2 pins from the new supply (green and black) to the main supply so when the main powers up the smaller powers on - power down is the same. I like it alot. Well done

[Christopher (Drashna) 609]

I like the idea - I did a mod to that effect, but I used a small power supply to power 6 drives, I ran out of power connector from my HDD and didn't want to use y-power connectors. With the supply you're using, did you set it up so when you power on it starts. or do you have a separate switch for it ?- I ran 2 pins from the new supply (green and black) to the main supply so when the main powers up the smaller powers on - power down is the same. I like it alot. Well done

Have you seen these?

https://www.servethehome.com/supermicro-cse-ptjbod-cb1-jbod-power-board-diy-jbod-chassis-made-easy/

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816101800

 

They're a lot more expensive than they have a right to be IMO, but allows you to handle a normal PSU with any case's power button.