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by parshimers
1889 days ago
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I built a custom home server using Mini-ITX form factor parts and I would have to agree with this conclusion. ECC ram in that form factor is very expensive. The biggest issue I had was that fanless ATX power supplies are not reliable. There was also a hardware bug that was bricking Atom C2xxx processors. I think that if form factor is not an issue, one of the i3's that support ECC ram are low enough TDP to be cooled passively. Especially if it is not expected to run at full load for long periods. However I simply switched to using a big case with low RPM, good quality FDB fans. It hasn't been a problem since, and is much less cramped when I do want to tinker with it. |
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My goal was to build something not too much larger than a 4-6 disk NAS, that would also function as a HTPC, sitting under my TV. That meant small size and quiet operation were the main priorities. As none of the popular consumer NAS devices use ECC RAM, I reasoned that I would do without it in my build, too.
The fans are running on the lowest variable setting controlled by the BIOS, it's whisper-quiet even with your ear next to it, but I've got some even quieter fans from be quiet, that I'm planning to swap in. The PSU is also from be quiet!, and with the placement deep in the case, with the 120mm fan oriented downwards, it's completely inaudible.
Had I not been constrained by space and noise concerns in my small apartment, I would have build a larger, more powerful and ECC-equipped machine to be hidden away in an equipment rack in the basement.