New to FreeNAS, new build with constraints

[fass]

Hi guys,
I'm totally new to FreeNAS and DIY NAS so I'd love to pick your brains about the build I'm starting on.
I've got my hands on a U-NAS NSC-400, which is basically a 4 bay BYO chassis
http://forums.vr-zone.com/hardware-...eted-nas-case-best-case-diy-your-own-nas.html
So I am in the market for a setup using a mini ITX board and also a 1U PSU.
I am planning to go for a RAID 5 3+1(or maybe 2 vdev?) setup using Western Digital Caviar Green 2 or 3 TB (depending on which I can afford haha)
So I am gonna let ZFS handle the RAID so I won't need any onboard RAID capability.
Intel G620
Asus P8H77-I (4 or 8 GB RAM?)
Or
SuperMicro X7SPA-H (max 4 GB RAM)
4 x WD Caviar Green 2 or 3 TB
1U PSU (kinda limited options, suggestions welcome, there are some models within the FSP family that I may explore) http://www.fspgroupusa.com/fsp250601u/p/477.html

Any thoughts about running FreeNAS off a CF card? I don't suppose there are any performance drawbacks?

 

[ProtoSD]

Hi Fass,

Can't say much about the Asus board, but take a look at my profile and/or my blog. I have a SuperMicro X7SPA-HO, which will actually let you use 8GB of RAM. Get to my blog by clicking "Unofficial FAQ" link in signature below.

Also, there's @TECK thread about his SuperMicro X7 (I'll have to update this post with the link)

http://forums.freenas.org/showthread.php?1310-My-new-NAS-box-running-on-8-0-2

I'm actually only doing a 5 disk raidz2, I wanted to keep that 6'th port open to either hook up disks to import data, or backup data.

There are several people here running FreeNAS off of a CF card, but, you might want to consider that DOM (disk on module) port built into the SuperMicro board and buy a SATA flash drive to plug into it. Although, I think I discovered if you do that you lose one of the 6 SATA ports for your other disks.

I just bought a cheap USB header cable and used one of the USB headers on the MB and plugged my USB flash drive into that.

 

[fass]

Ok I also just realised none of the 2 motherboards I am thinking of using has IDE ports so that kinda nixes the CF idea. Oh well, I do have a few sticks of thumb drives hanging around.
I like the idea of the USB header, will look into that