These were originally built as a VSAN which I plan on replicating once I build a proper home vSphere environment. Each of the 740s have about 12TB raw in them but I'd like to load the 8 empty bays in each, anyone know where I can get a stack of cheap/used 1.8TB 2.5" SAS drives? I care more about capacity compared to speed as I plan on making the 440 a standalone all flash host.
If you care about capacity over performance then IMO you should explore consumer SATA SSDs. At the capacity per device you're seeking you're going to be spending more going with SAS for that level of capacity.
I just looked at one of my lower priced sources of second hand SAS SSDs and it's over $200/ea (USD) for 1.6TB and in contrast the NEW 2TB SATA 2.5" SSDs from well known brands are about $120/ea (USD).
Also, unless you plan on using interfaces at or greater than 100gbps (as in NICs/equivalent) then you really will see zero value in going with SAS SSDs at all (unless PLP is a hard requirement for you, of course).
Slap TrueNAS on that and go fasssssssssst IMO ;)
Also, why no back pics and internals, etc??? CMONNN POST ~~FEEET~~ SERVER PORN XD