Antec comes through again

[Topcat]

As many of you know, I am in the process of completely rebuilding my server array from the ground up, which includes the servers for Badcaps.net and this forum. I had a 1620R file server tower which held two motherboards for years, but alas, we outgrew it. I have scavenged it out and sold most of it off. Just to make Will happy, I'm finally building a rack server array, as its far more versatile and a hell of a lot easier to work on. Anyway, once again, Antec came through like clockwork when it came to the rackmount cases I was going to need for this project. Long story short, I got an amazing deal on FOUR of their 3U25EPS550XR 3U rack cases. I now have to start selecting and buying up the cores that will go into these. I'll probably go with something along the Xeon lines, I just have to do a little more homework to make sure I get the best bang for the buck.....

As for the cases themselves, I have zero gripes so far. They're roomy, well laid out, very robust, LOTS of fans & excellent airflow, and DAMN good looking. As always, Antec tends to produce very high quality cases, I've been a fan of them since the early days, and nothing has changed since then, they're still first-rate!! The pics speak for themselves, as I know any IT guy would drool over these as I have been since they arrived today.

Heres some pics:












Once again, a HUGE thanks to David Forster of Antec for the mega hookup on these cases, you have no idea how helpful you've been to this site! Not only with the new server project, but with the capacitor showdown as well, where Antec DONATED 4 cases and power supplies for that experiment.

Long live Antec (without Fuhjyyu caps in their PSU's)!!!

[willawake]

Re: Antec comes through again

woah sexy stuff .....whats her name .....wheres the rails though?........

[Topcat]

Re: Antec comes through again

I haven't named her yet, I hope thats not bad karma, like not naming or christening a ship before her maiden voyage... I guess I better come up with one.

I still need to buy rails, and a lot of other small things. No rails came with it.

[stretch0069]

Re: Antec comes through again

hey TC....when do you need the rails???? i might know of a place i could maybe possibly get my hands on som rails that are about to be thrown out.....

[Galvanized]

Re: Antec comes through again

Thank you David. *tips hat*

[Topcat]

Re: Antec comes through again

hey TC....when do you need the rails???? i might know of a place i could maybe possibly get my hands on som rails that are about to be thrown out.....

As soon and as many as you can snag!! Don't let them go to waste, I can sure use 'em!

[dood]

Re: Antec comes through again

I've worked with those cases, and I'm not impressed with the way the front door works. They tend to get loose and sloppy after a while.

However, I'd take 'em if it meant I could have four 3u servers at home

[Topcat]

Re: Antec comes through again

I've worked with those cases, and I'm not impressed with the way the front door works. They tend to get loose and sloppy after a while.

However, I'd take 'em if it meant I could have four 3u servers at home

I kinda agree with ya there, those doors do operate funny.....but like ya said, its still a hell of a setup, I can live with the doors, its not like they'll be opened much after the OS is installed.

[willawake]

Re: Antec comes through again

how are you going to layout the hdds, optical etc?

[Topcat]

Re: Antec comes through again

how are you going to layout the hdds, optical etc?

In the top bay on the left, will be a black DVDRW. The right top 2 bays, I have black Baycool3's from PC power & cooling, which holds 3 HDD's. I'll have 2 HDD's in that configured in RAID1 arrays (mirroring). No floppy.....they're worthless...

[willawake]

Re: Antec comes through again

sounds good.

and the psu?

[Topcat]

Re: Antec comes through again

The PSU's came with it, they're 550W Antec's. I'm not sure of the models, I'll extract one and do a capacitor exploratory on it.

[kc8adu]

Re: Antec comes through again

As soon and as many as you can snag!! Don't let them go to waste, I can sure use 'em!

i have a pair new in box here and i may find a few more sets.
yours if you need em.

[Topcat]

Re: Antec comes through again

i have a pair new in box here and i may find a few more sets.
yours if you need em.

Much appreciated, I need them, I have none.

[Topcat]

Re: Antec comes through again

The rebirth of Big Blackie is rolling along. The first server is just a few components from being complete.

Hardware is as follows:
Supermicro X5DAL-G
2x 3.06GHz, 533FSB, 512k L2, 1mb L3 CPU's
4GB ECC DDR (runs in dual channel)
ATI 9800 video (since it didn't have onboard)
Adaptec 62044 quad channel NIC
Adaptec 2100S U320 SCSI RAID controller

HDD's are still undecided, but will likely be Fujitsu 147gb 15kRPM U320 in a RAID1 or RAID5

I actually have 2 of these cores (the second X5DAL is the TG-2 model, has dual NIC's and SATA RAID, otherwise they're the same). It's in my daily use system, so I have to replace that before I make a server out of it.



This is the hardware that will be running this site in the near future

[Spacedye69]

Re: Antec comes through again

Nice! I wish I was rich.

Is that scsi contoller 32 bit?

[Topcat]

Re: Antec comes through again

Nice! I wish I was rich.

Is that scsi contoller 32 bit?

I wish I was rich too, I'm a bargain hunter!!

Yes, that controller is 32-bit.

[kc8adu]

Re: Antec comes through again

I wish I was rich too, I'm a bargain hunter!!

Yes, that controller is 32-bit.

hell i can buy any hardware i want at the drop of a hat.
but most everything in my systems are either server upgrade leftovers or stuff i rebuilt.
ok call me cheap.

[kc8adu]

Re: Antec comes through again

Much appreciated, I need them, I have none.

they are yours.
gotta pack them and some of the solid polymer/tantalum smd caps up for you.

[Topcat]

Re: Antec comes through again

they are yours.
gotta pack them and some of the solid polymer/tantalum smd caps up for you.

Thanks, I'll shoot you a PM soon.

I fired it up for the first time tonight, damn thing is LOUD!! Those 90mm fans in it are crazy loud, and move a LOT of air!! I was unable to use my SCSI RAID controller, as the SE connector is on the top, and the cable won't clear the case cover, so I need to come up with a different RAID solution (may end up trying a SATA RAID setup instead). I loaded it with an OS on a test ATA drive, just to make sure everything is working (so far so good). Pics to follow soon, it looks awesome!!!