Home Server Hardware

Synology has announced the launch of two new NAS devices, and side-by-side, they could not look more unalike. The DS213air is a sleek, petite, i-stlye box that could easily pass for a UPS rather than a NAS. It is undenaiably geared toward the consumer market. Not just because it's cute and priced right at $307, but because it comes with an 802.11n radio built-in. The integrated Wi-Fi can not only be used for connecting the DS213air to the network wirelessly, however ill-advised that might be, but it can also be used to turn the DS213air into a wireless hotspot or a wireless router when connected over Ethernet.

The DS2412+, on the other hand, is a 12-bay beast of a NAS. At $1700 and packing features such as ADS support for up to 100,000 users or groups, the DS2413+ is squarely aimed at the SMB market, though it sounds like Synology is also trying to make a case for a role in the professional photography market as well. I suppose if one had enough Blu-Ray discs that they absolutely had to rip to ISOs, there could be case for the DS2413+ at home, but the DS213air sounds like it might have real potential.

The DS213air is one of the innovative products to grace the NAS market this year. In their quest to offer differentiating features, Synology seems to have found an interesting niche. The DS213air is based on the DS213 platform (Marvell Kirkwood based 2-bay NAS). It integrates a single band (2.4 GHz) 802.11n radio (we are awaiting clarification on the exact speeds - 150 Mbps / 300 Mbps / 450 Mbps. 

Anandtech

We are currently about halfway through the release cycle of the most recent Intel processor family. Ivy Bridge has now been with us for several months and we are still several months from the release of Haswell, Ivy Bridge's successor. For processor afficionados, these might be the doldrums, but for anyone looking to go Mini-ITX for a new HTPC or home server build, MSI and Gigabyte might have what you need to spark a bit of excitement. MSI has announced the Z77IA-E53, a new high-end Mini-ITX board based on the Intel Z77 chipset. The Z77IA-E53 is overclocking-friendly for those so inclined and packs the usual accoutrements such as a PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slot and 4 SATA ports, but it also comes with a mini-PCI-Express slot and a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth dongle.

The rest of the features include single PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slot, one mini PCI-Express slot, two DDR3 DIMM slots with support for up to 16GB of DDR3-1600 (2600 OC) memory, two SATA 6Gbps and two SATA 3Gbps ports, eSATA port, four USB 3.0 ports (two via header), six USB 2.0 ports, integrated 7.1-channel audio, HDMI and D-Sub outputs, Gigabit Ethernet, integrated (via dongle) 802.11bgn WiFi and Bluetooth 3.0.

Fudzilla

Gigabyte is also showing the Z77 chipset some Mini-ITX love with the Z77N-WiFi. Gigabyte's take of the Z77 looks to be fairly similr to MSI's, except that rather than provide Wi-Fi and Bluetooth via dongle, Gigabyte has chose to provider an adapter that fits into the board's mini-PCI Express slot with antenna outs on the back panel. HTPC builders will probably be drawn more to the H77N-WiFi, with should provide just about all of the same functionality with its H77 chipset as the Z77N-WiFi, but at lower price and with an S/PDIF output to boot.

With the exception of the name silk-screened on the board, the H77N-WiFi looks all but identical to the Z77N. Although the platform hub hiding under the heatsink is different, you don't lose much with the H77. The lack of support for dual-x8 multi-GPU configurations is moot given the board's single PCIe x16 slot. The H77 offers only limited multiplier control for overclockers, but the cramped nature of Mini-ITX enclosures is far from ideal for pushing clock speeds.

Techreport

Mini-ITX always seems to be right on the cusp of bursting into the mainstream. Low-power and cool running processors abound and many of the major manufacturers are offering compelling mini-ITX motherboards, but for those of us that like to roll our own systems, the biggest challenge in selecting components for a mini-ITX build is often in selecting the right case. Mini-ITX cases tend be studies in trade=offs. Go too small and give up too much choice in expandability and drive slots, but go big and give up the space-saving advantage of the form factor; not to mention that mini-ITX cases often seem to be grouped into just two groups: cheap but low-quality or high-quality but expensive. However, we might finally be seeing some manufacturers finding that "just-right" sweet spot. The SilverStone FT03 Mini is certainly one contender, and now comes the BitFenix Prodigy. There might still be some rought edges, but it sound like the Prodigy may just be the Goldilocks mini-ITX case, offering configurations that allow it to serve in home server, HTPC, or gaming desktop roles all without breaking the bank.

There's also been a slow trickle of new mini-ITX enclosures designed to support that kind of hardware, but even these enclosures have had their limits unless you were willing to spend through the nose on a Lian Li case. That changes today with the BitFenix Prodigy, a $79, full-frills mini-ITX enclosure designed for maximum performance in minimum space. If you're looking to build a powerful mini-ITX system with a single graphics card, this may very well be the case you've been waiting for.

Anandtech

For most folks, a home server chassis needs only meet two criteria: hold a lot of hard drives and remain unobtrusive. A case that holds a lot of hard drives might have trouble remaining visually unobtrusive, but that's what closets are for. Instead, it is often more important to find a good, quiet case. Any of the Antec Sonata and Performance One cases in this roundup should do a fine job as a reasonably quiet standard chassis, though it sounds like the Sonata might benefit from some sound dampening before loading it up as a server chassis. The adjustable fans should also help in balancing sound and cooling.

The three system cases from Antec that I have tested today are all very quiet (at the minimum speed of the preinstalled fans, of course) but also very different. The only thing they have in common is the handy and easily accessible block of I/O ports. The quality of manufacture is high with every product, too.

X-bit Labs