Hi All
I'm new of this forum but I follow this site since a lot of time and I found it a really helpful resource.
At home I have a silent server that I want to replace with a new one.
I was planning to use 1g 2.5 hdds for storage using a backplane.
The mb i'm planning to use is the asus p8c ws with e3-1220lv2 cpu. It has 6 sata ports so I was planning to use this backplane
http://www.sharkoon.com/?q=en/node/1824 that has 6 bays and replace its fan with a Noiseblocker BlackSilent Fan XM2R.
One bay will have an ssd the other 5 bays will host hdd that will be in raid5 using linux sw raid support (almost the same configuration i'm using now with my current MB an ssd and 4 3.5 hdds).

What do you think about that backplane?
Any suggestions.
Thank you
K.

What size fan is that? Obviously it's going to be a screamer, but if you replace it with a slow fan are you going to have sufficient cooling?

Are you sure you wouldn't be better off using 3.5" drives in a 3x5 (five 3.5" drives in three 5.25" bays) backplane? The ones that I use from Super Micro have 92mm fans.

Since the height of the device is 42mm, that fan is probably 30~35mm. Quiet? Unlikely, but you never know. If all the bays are populated, the airflow is probably necessary to keep the drives cool enough, though.

I'm moving away from 3.5 cause silent drives in that size are difficult to find on retailers in my country.
2.5 drives produce less heat and much less noise.
I was hoping to find a good backplane for 2.5 cause now these are becoming common into enterprise servers.
Thank You
K.

There is also a similar one coming out from Icy Dock - here's a review already: http://www.wegotserved.com/2012/08/19/h ... ne-module/

This one has a 40mm fan and a fan speed control switch ^^

It looks really promising!


I hope to see it in European shop soon
Thank you all

Be careful -- this could well be true, but there's no comment anywhere in the article about the ambient noise levels. It's possible that the reviewer's computer is really noisy, and as long as the device is quieter than his computer, he probably won't hear it.

I'm planning to do the same for a while, but never get around to do so.

It's the cheapest 6 port 2.5" backplane, but it looks to have a sturdy aluminum casing. I Haven't seen reviews or looked at it personally because it's new to the market.
I don't know if you need the fan for 5k drives or SSDs at all.
The back plastic covers looks to be held in place by 4 screws. You can get to the fan cables at least and disconnect them...
It's not that expensive, you could just give it a try and report back here.

I have to admit that Icy dock one seems to attract me more that the one I was looking for at the beginning.
I don't trust that review regarding the level of the noise, but on reviews of other products I read completely different comments like this one http://goo.gl/TLmF5 so it was a nice starting point and I still have the option of replacing the fan (a standard 4x4).
I'm just sad that there is no "consumer" version of those adapter with vertical layout (2x 5 1/4 bays for 6/8 disks) they use large fans but they all need the features of high-end sas controllers.
Cya
K.

What features are those, apart from using mini-SAS connectors?

I don't see the need for 4 or 6 or whatever number of hotswap drive bays for enthusiasts? I would be much happier if something like this came out for 2.5" drives but taking up 2 cd bays, allowing 8-12 hdd's in total, either 8x 15mm or 12x 9.5mm

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/11681 ... html#blank


The supermicro M28E1 is designed for 8x 2.5" 12.5mm drives in 2x 5.25" bays and of course being over 80mm in height means 80mm fans can be used rather than a 40mm in a single 5.25" device. There is nothing stopping someone from using multiple of the Lian Li ones of couse, but they don't have fans in them so while one 2.5" drive runs cooler, I'm not sure how warm 4 of them would get?

all need Port multiplier support

Hot swap is not really necessary, but it makes everything easier, as example if you want to grow the raid (by replacing disks) it will allow to do that without having the case open for weeks

My big question is, can either system use the taller 12.5mm drives?

I don't know, I hope do discover it soon (anyway the hdd I've selected are 9mm)