Usefulness of a second-hand Dell Poweredge R610?

[Michael Dimech]

Dell Poweredge Rack Server R610

Basically I was browsing for parts to build a cheap home server, and I stumbled upon this.

Usually I like building my own machines but this seems like too good an offer to pass upon, especially for someone who's still new to this networking/server stuff.

Spec sheet : http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/pedge/en/server-poweredge-r610-specs-en.pdf

Considering how cheap it is, would it be actually useful for a cheap NAS/starting web server?

 

[pricklypunter]

It would do you as a good web server, but it's lacking storage space for a NAS. They are decent servers, but don't really fit in your AIO scenario too well, plus they are power hungry too. Remember, it's only a good deal if it meets your requirements

 

[Michael Dimech]

It would do you as a good web server, but it's lacking storage space for a NAS. They are decent servers, but don't really fit in your AIO scenario too well, plus they are power hungry too. Remember, it's only a good deal if it meets your requirements

I too thought having 6 drive bays was a bit of a low number at first, but I don't think I will need any more than that to be honest. I was looking at a couple of 2U and 3U chassis since usually those can house anywhere between 10-24 drives for a circa €1000 build, but I'm not sure if I will both need it, or be able to increase my budget to have such an expansive chassis for that matter.

I was more looking into processing power in general considering how old the system is in general, with drive bays being secondary.

 

[Deslok]

I wouldn't touch the one you linked the PERC6/iR can't handle disks larger than 2tb and is only SATA3 it's not bad hardware but it's slower than the H700 that replaced it. if you're looking for something from that generation I'd look towards a R710 3.5 hdd's will offer a lot more storage if you get one with the newer raid controller that or more smaller drives, either works and they aren't hugely seperate on price.

 

[Michael Dimech]

I wouldn't touch the one you linked the PERC6/iR can't handle disks larger than 2tb and is only SATA3 it's not bad hardware but it's slower than the H700 that replaced it. if you're looking for something from that generation I'd look towards a R710 3.5 hdd's will offer a lot more storage if you get one with the newer raid controller that or more smaller drives, either works and they aren't hugely seperate on price.

I guess coincidentally it's a good thing then that I was going to throw a set of 2TB WD Reds.

As far as choice goes, this is pretty much the only used server I could find in my country after scrolling the better part of 60 pages worth of results, and I don't think I would be able to find anything better than this.

I wasn't able to find information on this, but with regards to the PERC6/iR controller, is it possible to change that controller, or is it integrated into the board?

 

[NetWise]

Note that the r610 is a 1u chassis so 6x2.5" disks. As those don't come > 2tb, the PERC6 limitation isn't that big of a deal. Throughout will hurt at the top end due to SATA3, but only when you really max it out - or if you were loading it full of SSD's.

You certainly can change the controller out. A PERC H700p will fit in the integrated slot, or an H700i any PCIE slot - there are two in the unit.

I didn't think they made WD RED's in 2.5"?


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[pricklypunter]

Before we all have to get out our crystal balls, what exactly is your planned use for the hardware?

 

[NetWise]

Cheap NAS/web server, as per OP.


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[pricklypunter]

Cheap NAS/web server, as per OP.


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If that truly were the case, an rPi3 and an external disk could do the job fine for a lot less money, but I suspect the OP has much bigger plans for this...

 

[Deslok]

Note that the r610 is a 1u chassis so 6x2.5" disks. As those don't come > 2tb, the PERC6 limitation isn't that big of a deal. Throughout will hurt at the top end due to SATA3, but only when you really max it out - or if you were loading it full of SSD's.

You certainly can change the controller out. A PERC H700p will fit in the integrated slot, or an H700i any PCIE slot - there are two in the unit.

I didn't think they made WD RED's in 2.5"?


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actually although hard to find 3 and 4tb 2.5 inch drives do exist, I was able to find both the ST4000LM016 and ST3000LM016 on CDW and ebay, not sure about in his country but you could fit 8x4tb in an R710 now easily enough, or 6x4tb in the 610 with a h700 perc(I'd probably lean towards the 710 with 2 small os ssd 2 large fast ssd and 4 4tb spinners to do SSD+cache but that's above and beyond what he's looking to build)

 

[NetWise]

Interesting, totally wasn't aware! Though there's a HELL of a price swing. Up to $500 each on eBay, as low as $139 on Amazon. Probably not a lot of folks going that way for a NAS to keep costs down vs 3.5", but good to have options. Even at 5400rpm, twice the spindles in 2u makes up for that in a hurry.

I'd totally put one in a laptop optically bay slot though, now that I know of them!


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