Will a uATX MB fit in a Supermicro SC846 chassis?

[Fritz]

I've got a couple of FreeNAS boxes that contain at present dual server boards and boatloads of memory. This is total overkill for what they are. I'm thinking about downgrading the guts to uATX SM boards and low power CPU's. Is this doable?

 

[Rand__]

Why wouldn't it?

 

[T_Minus]

microATX (sometimes referred to as µATX, mATX or uATX)

Should have same holes as ATX right? Just not as many due to smaller size so you may have to re-position one side/some of the standoffs...

 

[i386]

I don't think that should be a problem. I use a flexatx mainbord and there was just one mounting hole missing.(Supermicro SC826 + Xeon D)

 

[Fritz]

Thanks all. Decided to go with a X9SCM-F and a E3-1230V2. With 16gb ram the total outlay will be about 300 bucks.

 

[BlueFox]

Yes, it will work. Pretty much anything will fit. I've had mATX and even ITX boards in mine. Power cables get pretty stretched at that point though unfortunately.

 

[Aestr]

Also fan cables may be a problem. Nothing extensions can't fix.

 

[Fritz]

I sorta figured cabling might be an issue. Looks like maybe the power cables from the distribution board might be also. I have some fan extension cables on hand, hopefully that's all I'll need. Board, CPU and memory are in transit and should arrive by the end of the week. I held off upgrading to FreeNAS 10 until after the transplant. Looking forward to seeing how much less power the box consumes. I know the fans suck up a lot of juice but still hoping for a nice drop anyway.

 

[Fritz]

All the parts for the rebuild should arrive today. I hooked a power meter up to the box and at idle it's pulling just north of 300 watts (301 to 304). Lantronix SLP metered PDU says 2.75 amps.

Chassis - SM 846
PSU (only 1 installed) - PWS-1K28P-SQ
MB- X8DTE-F
HBA- Dell H310 (IT Mode)
CPU- Xeon L5630 x2
Memory- 96GB (12 x 8GB DDR3 RDIMMs)
21 Spinners- 10 x 1TB and 11 x3TB (2 vDevs)
Boot Drive- Intel 320 80GB

After rebuild

MB - X9SCM-F
CPU- Xeon E3-1230V2
Memory- 8GB (2 x 4GB DDR3 UDIMMs)
Boot Drive- Innodisk 64GB SATADOM

System has been running 24/7 for about 2 years and has been a rock. Hopefully it will continue to be so but at a lower power consumption.

 

[Patrick]

Build log time!

 

[Fritz]

Mission Accomplished. I had planned to take pics but in my haste to get it done I completely forgot.

One screw hole didn't line up.
One fan header missing so only one of the rear fans are spinning. Temps are fine so I'll leave it at that. I did put the fan shroud back in.
There was enough cabling slack to get everything hooked up without having to resort to using extension cables.
Loaded FreeNAS 9.10 on the SATADOM and then restored my config - Done deal.

Power consumption at idle is 220 watts, 2 amps. Not gonna reach payback any time soon but It should make it thru the hot summer months a lot cooler now.

Next step is to upgrade to Corral and them test performance. Most likely I'll upgrade the memory somewhere along the way. Gonna re-purpose the 8XDTE-F and memory into a workstation. I have a set of E5649's that will replace the L5630's.