Custom micro-ATX/mini-ITX Storage Servers-Alternatives to OEM systems like Acer or HP

*UPDATE* This thread originally started out as a way to beat the OEMs by building a custom system with the same general capabilities. I quickly realized that it is REALLY tough to beat Acer's price while attempting to find custom parts for a similar form factor. The following options are the result of my endless hours of product searches and tips from the great members here.

If you can beat the prices, say so. If you have alternative suggestions, PLEASE say so.

*NOTE* Please try to list NEW parts options, as we all know that eBay can beat most of these. Most people generally use sites like Newegg to provide rough pricing. Each one of the systems below is probably doable for an average of $20-30 less if you powers-shop. If you do decide to go the eBay route when you buy your parts, you can probably save a bit more. For consistency though, please don't post eBay prices.

I will continue to update these options as new ideas come in. If you go all out and decide to piece together an entire system, please post it in the same format as those below, and I'll paste it right into the OP.

Thanks for all the help!

All systems must meet the following requirements:
- Mid-tower = maximum size (Micro-ATX and mini-ITX preferred)
- At least four (4) easily accessible hot-swappable SATA bays
- At least one (1) TB HDD (Adding thumb drives for unRAID or an option smaller drive for WHS is up to each user).
- At least one (1) eSATA port
- Capable of running WHS with no performance issues

Current options

OPTION 1: Acer Easystore H340 (OEM)
SYSTEM: Acer Easystore H340 w/ Atom 230, 2GB RAM, 1TB HDD, 1x eSATA, and 4-hotswappable SATA drive bays = $380.00
CUSTOM CABLE: Custom Cable to add PS2 Mouse, PS2 Keyboard, and VGA connectors = $77.00
TOTAL = $457.00 w/WHS

OPTION 2: HP Mediasmart EX495 (OEM)
SYSTEM: HP MediaSmart Server w/ Intel E5200, 2GB RAM, 1.5TB HDD, eSATA, etc = $692.00
CUSTOM CABLE: Custom Cable to add PS2 Mouse, PS2 Keyboard, and VGA connectors = $77.00
TOTAL = $769.00 w/WHS
*NOTE* The HP MediaSmart lineup actually ranges from roughly $577 (EX485) to $769 for the brand new EX495 model. The Processor for the EX485 is the Intel Celeron 2.0Ghz.

OPTION 3: ZOTAC GF9300 / E5200 C2D Processor
CASE: CHENBRO ES34069-BK-180 Black Server Chassis w/180W PSU = $189.00
MOBO: ZOTAC GF9300-D-E Mini ITX Motherboard w/HDMI and eSATA = $130.00
RAM: G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail = $42.00
CPU: Intel Pentium Dual Core E5200 Processor (2.50GHz) Socket 775, Retail with Fan = $68.00
HDD: Western Digital 1 TB Caviar Green SATA (WD10EADS) = $80.00
SATA CONTROLLER CARD: SYBA SD-LP-PEX2IR PCI Express Low Profile SATA II Controller Card - Retail = $12.00
OS: Single unRAID Server Plus Registration key (Up to 6 drives) = $69.00 --- OR --- Microsoft Windows Home Server OEM with URP1 = $92.00
TOTAL = $590.00 with unRAID ---OR--- $613.00 with WHS

OPTION 4: Atom 330 / ION Combo -- gain one Atom core, lose one SATA port... Ouch!
CASE: CHENBRO ES34069-BK-180 Black Server Chassis w/180W PSU = $189.00
MOBO/CPU COMBO: ZOTAC IONITX-D-E Intel Atom N330 Dual Core 1.6 GHz 441 NVIDIA ION Mini ITX Motherboard/CPU Combo - Retail = $170.00
RAM: G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail = $42.00
HDD: Western Digital 1 TB Caviar Green SATA (WD10EADS) = $80.00
OS: Single unRAID Server Plus Registration key (Up to 6 drives) = $69.00 --- OR --- Microsoft Windows Home Server OEM with URP1 = $92.00
TOTAL = $550.00 with unRAID ---OR--- $573.00 with WHS

OPTION 5: Tranquil BBS2 Advanced
SYSTEM: Tranquil BBS2 Advanced w/ Atom 330 Dual Core CPU, 5x Hot-swappable HDD bays, 2GB RAM = $513.00 + shipping
HDD: Western Digital 1 TB Caviar Green SATA (WD10EADS) = $80.00
OS: Single unRAID Server Plus Registration key (Up to 6 drives) = $69.00 --- OR --- Microsoft Windows Home Server OEM with URP1 = $92.00
TOTAL = $662.00 with unRAID ---OR--- $685.00 with WHS

OPTION 6: Industrial Intel Mobo w/ Atom 230 and 4x SATA onboard
CASE: CHENBRO ES34069-BK-180 Black Server Chassis w/180W PSU = $189.00
MOBO/CPU COMBO: MSI Industrial IM-945GC Atom Mini-ITX Mainboard w/Intel Atom 230 = $99.00
RAM: G.SKILL 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Desktop Memory Model F2-5300CL4S-2GBPQ - Retail = $37.00
HDD: Western Digital 1 TB Caviar Green SATA (WD10EADS) = $80.00
eSATA CONTROLLER CARD: Rosewill RC-210 Silicon Image Internal SATA / External eSATA Low Profile Ready PCI Controller Card - Retail (*only 1.5Gb/s*) = $20.00
OS: Single unRAID Server Plus Registration key (Up to 6 drives) = $69.00 --- OR --- Microsoft Windows Home Server OEM with URP1 = $92.00
TOTAL = $494.00 with unRAID ---OR--- $517.00 with WHS

OPTION 7: AMD Athlon II X2 240 Regor Dual-core, BIOSTAR Mobo w/ 4xSATA, 4x Hot-swap HDD bays, and a micro-ATX case w/cage
CASE: Athenatech A3603BB.400 Black Steel MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case 400W Power Supply - Retail = $42.00
CAGE: KINGWIN KF-4000-BK 3.5" Internal hot swap rack raid-4 bay - Retail = $80.00
MOBO: BIOSTAR MCP6P M2+ 6.X AM3/AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6150 / nForce 430 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail = $40.00
CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 240 Regor 2.8GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail = $60.00
RAM: G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail = $42.00
HDD: Western Digital 1 TB Caviar Green SATA (WD10EADS) = $80.00
eSATA CONTROLLER CARD: Rosewill RC-216 PCI Express eSATA II x 2 / ATA 133 x1 RAID 0/1/0+1/JBOD/ un-RAID mode Controller Card - Retail = $20.00
OS: Single unRAID Server Plus Registration key (Up to 6 drives) = $69.00 --- OR --- Microsoft Windows Home Server OEM with URP1 = $92.00
TOTAL = $433.00 with unRAID ---OR--- $456.00 with WHS

OPTION 8: AMD Athlon II X2 240 Regor Dual-core, Gigabyte Mobo w/ 6xSATA, 5x Hot-swap HDD bays, and micro-ATX case w/cage
CASE: Rosewill R101-P-BK 120mm Fan MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail = $30.00
CAGE: iStarUSA BPN-350SAS-Black 3x5.25" to 5x3.5" SATA/SAS Trayless Hot-Swap Backplane RAID Cage - OEM = $95.00
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail = $30.00 (*After $20 MIR)
MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-MA74GM-S2 AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail = $55.00
CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 240 Regor 2.8GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail = $60.00
RAM: Crucial 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model CT2KIT12864AA800 - Retail = $32.00
HDD: Western Digital 1 TB Caviar Green SATA (WD10EADS) = $80.00
eSATA CONTROLLER CARD: Rosewill RC-216 PCI Express eSATA II x 2 / ATA 133 x1 RAID 0/1/0+1/JBOD/ un-RAID mode Controller Card - Retail = $20.00
OS: Single unRAID Server Plus Registration key (Up to 6 drives) = $69.00 --- OR --- Microsoft Windows Home Server OEM with URP1 = $92.00
TOTAL = $471.00 with unRAID ---OR--- $494.00 with WHS --- (*After $20 MIR for PSU*)

OPTION 9: E5200, Asus Q35 Mobo w/ 6xSATA, 5x Hot-swap HDD bays, and micro-ATX case w/cage
CASE: Thermaltake VI5000BNS Black SECC Steel MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail = $50.00
CAGE: NORCO SS-500 5 Bay SATA / SAS Hot Swap Rack Module - Retail = $90.00
PSU: mushkin 550250 580W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail = $40.00 (*After $30 MIR)
MOBO: ASUS P5E-VM DO LGA 775 Intel Q35 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail = $117.00
CPU: Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail = $67.00
RAM: mushkin 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory Model 991557 - Retail = $27.00 (*After $10 MIR)
HDD: Western Digital 1 TB Caviar Green SATA (WD10EADS) = $80.00
eSATA CONTROLLER CARD: Rosewill RC-216 PCI Express eSATA II x 2 / ATA 133 x1 RAID 0/1/0+1/JBOD/ un-RAID mode Controller Card - Retail = $20.00
OS: Single unRAID Server Plus Registration key (Up to 6 drives) = $69.00 --- OR --- Microsoft Windows Home Server OEM with URP1 = $92.00
TOTAL = $560.00 with unRAID ---OR--- $583.00 with WHS --- (*After $40 MIR for PSU and RAM*)

OK, that Chenbro is getting close to the mark... are there any others?

And thanks for the tip on the cable. I just can't believe both HP and Acer left out the vga and USB device options. It's ridiculous!

I'm going to spec out a system with that Chenbro and see what price I can come up with...

moved to OP.

I guess if I went with something like this, I could save over $100:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133045

But I'd be giving up the hot-swappable HDDs and it might be tough to fit 4 HDDs in there while keeping them from melting.

The only possible solution would be a case exactly like the Acer or Chenbro for less than $90... sadly, I don't think anything like that exists.

OK, I realize that the mobo is a bit much, but can you find me another mini-ITX mobo, with eSATA and 4 SATAII ports, for much less?

The Intel boards are only $10 to $20 cheaper, while I need to squeeze over $100 off the price just to make it worthwhile. Cheaper RAM and mobo won't even get us halfway there.

The case is the real deal killer, but it's also the only one I've seen that even comes close to resembling the HP and Acer products.

I could save $30 by stepping down to the Atom 330/Zotac ION combo here, but it still comes out $100.00 more than the Acer, and I lose one normal PCIe slot for SATA controller -- therefore losing one SATA drive

ZOTAC IONITX-D-E Intel Atom N330 Dual Core 1.6 GHz 441 NVIDIA ION Mini ITX Motherboard/CPU Combo - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813500030

EDIT: ouch... mackworth is right. None of the mini-ITX boards I'm looking at have the 4 sata ports, so I'd need to add a SATA controller card in the PCIe slot. I added the cheapest I could find ($12.00) to my master parts list above, and adjusted all pricing accordingly.

I put together a package using that board, but I can't figure out what type of PCI slot it has. The package I put together assumes that it's a PCI Express slot, but the specs list them as:

-PCI
-PCI Express Mini Card

Question: Does that mean that I need to find a standard PCI card for an eSATA controller? If so, that might be tough, and I don't think there are any that will hit 3Gb/s. Any ideas?

I've updated the OP to reflect the various options at this point... I'm still planning to add more options as I build out more systems. My next project will be a normal mATX case with one of the available cages.

Wish me luck, and thanks for all the tips!

that's not a bad system at all... (I adjusted your mobo price by $5) especially with the 6 SATA plugs, larger case fan(s), and more hot-swap HDDs. However, you would still need to add:

1 TB HDD = $80
unRAID = $69 or WHS = $92
eSATA controller = $20

So, your totals:
unRAID = $456.00
WHS = $479.00

But, I think I'll choose the black hot-swap cage instead of red to get it back down $5... lol

Fixed link for the eSATA card:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

But, it looks like with that card you're still one port shy for the internal SATA HDD's. You have 7 HDDs listed, but the motherboard+cards only support 6 total SATA II drives. That could easily be solved with a more robust eSATA controller (one that adds 1 or 2 internal SATA ports as well). Or, am i missing something? One like this would do the trick:
Rosewill RC-216 PCI Express eSATA II x 2 / SATA II x 2 / ATA 133 x1 : $19.99

You're probably correct regarding the PSU in the Athenatech case. I would definitely consider upgrading to a more dependable PSU with 450 watts or more.

You could also save $15 by going with the iStarUSA BPN-350SAS HDD cage instead of the ICY DOCK.

Not a bad system though, especially with the E5200 and Gigabyte mobo. I'll add it to the list!

I was wondering the same about his OS drives myself... 2TB is Raid 1 for just the OS seems a bit silly. There also isn't much reason to mirror the OS drive in WHS. It's easy to rebuild the WHS install -- with image of OS drive stored offline, of course -- so any old 7200 RPM SATA drive will do. At this point, who doesn't have at least one or two SATA drives lying around that have plenty of space for WHS and every add-on you can think of? Hell, 64GB would probably work forever.

That said, there are some eSATA/SATA controllers out there that would work in the x16 slot without turning off anything, but they're a bit more expensive.

As for BSD, I used to swear by it, and I do still use it for my VM firewalls... but these days I'm a huge fan of WHS or unRAID more media storage, or a combo of WHS w/FlexRAID.

My personal goal is to build a box with a very small OS drive, or I'll boot from USB to run unRAID. For me, it will all come down to read speeds across the LAN. My goal is to tranfer 2 to 3 HD streams simultaneously. For that, I'll probably end up with something like Option 8 above, just with a dual-core Athlon X2 instead of the Sempron.

I also won't need 7 HDDs anytime soon, personally, but 6 would be great (5x 1.5TB + 1x 320GB for OS).

This thread is more about listing and discussing all the options, with a ton of parts you can mix and match; so thank you for the input, it's much appreciated!

Now, if scat refines his system a little bit, I'll add his final selection of parts to the options in the OP. The more options everyone has, the better!