'Green rackmount HA Server'

[felixrosbergen]

I know there's been some post on this but i thought it woudl be good to consolidate, and it will help me build me shopping list.

I am looking to build a rackmounted home automation server that will run 24/7 and functions for:
- SageTV (1 direct TV connection, multiple HD extenders, approx 4 'tuners)
- CQC or similar HA package
- ELK RM/RP
- about 2 TB or storage

I would like this to be a rackmount server, it seems than Antec take4 case is recommended, but it has a 450 PSU which appears to be overkill. From the math i can see no need for more than about 350. Also the antec case PSU is very specific to that case and is not 'High Efficiency'. THe Antec NeoHE 380 looks like a nice PSU to me but doesnt fit in the antec take 4 case. Any suggestions for a good rackmount case that takes a normal ATX PSU (not sidevent like the take 4)?

Is there paritcular motherboards that are more power efficient or have better power management features (e.g. CPU throttling, etc, similar to laptops)?

It seems the Western Digital 'green' hard drives are the best bet at the moment, any other options?

 

[Waynedb]

I bought my rack mount server cases from this place, very good prices here.
http://store.chassisoutlet.com/index.html

 

[felixrosbergen]

I bought my rack mount server cases from this place, very good prices here.
http://store.chassisoutlet.com/index.html

Hows the airflow in those cases? They look very 'open' (i.e. air can come in anywhere). This can work both for and against you...it's difficult to control airflow direction that way...

 

[Waynedb]

I bought my rack mount server cases from this place, very good prices here.
http://store.chassisoutlet.com/index.html

Hows the airflow in those cases? They look very 'open' (i.e. air can come in anywhere). This can work both for and against you...it's difficult to control airflow direction that way...

The 4U case I am using for SageTV has a couple fans in the middle of the case but it did not have a rear exhaust fan, my Intel core 2 duo 6550 cpu ran a little hotter but the chips on the motherboard ran much cooler. I added a fan I had laying around to the back of the case and it was better but I need to order a higher cfm fan. The back exhaust took a 60mm fan and all I had that would fit was a cpu fan off of a Pentium 3 heatsink. I was using a Silverstone HTPC case and the motherboard chipset temps were way too high for me to feel comfortable with. This is the case I am using for my SageTV server.
http://store.chassisoutlet.com/4uramoatx2xu6.html

I also have a 2U case from them that was $70.

 

[felixrosbergen]

I have one similar to that...it's heavy as hell...

 

[Waynedb]

Yes, it is heavy but it is built really well for such a cheap case.

 

[CollinR]

What are your Sage sources and clients? and how many?