this post was submitted on 29 Nov 2023
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I'm just curious to get other people's thoughts on this since 45Drives just recently released their 15-bay rackmount case that's supposed to be aimed toward the homelab community.

Some of the items being sold in the e-store don’t make sense to purchase, specifically the LSI 9600-16i HBA and the x540 10Gbe NIC.

Why would the top of the line LSI 9600-16i be offered (for $1.1k)? Wouldn’t the more reasonably priced 9400 series card make more sense? I guess this would be if you’re running NVME drives (which the 9400 can also do)? It just seems strange to offer the top of the line and not anything else. Especially when the HL15 is aimed at the homelab community.

Also, the intel x540 network adapter. We go from the most recent, top of the line LSI 9600-16i HBA to a network adapter that was released in 2012 (for which they’re still asking $400 for). Wouldn’t it make more sense to offer the x550, or better yet, the x710-T2L?

I also understand that companies need to make money but the profit margin on these add-ons and accessories seems extreme. For example, the Intel XL710-QDA2 40 gig NIC is being sold for $818 while at FS.com it’s being sold for $520. That’s a 57% markup for an already marked-up item.

Is the HL15 and accessories really geared toward homelabbers?

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Personally, I don't think they're really targeting home labbers, they're really targeting home / small business (meaning <10-15 employees up to maybe 20 or so) who need the capacity, but also can't swing the true business prices.

Since someone else mentioned Jeff from Craft Computing, I'll use him as an example:

  • It's a lot easier to drop money on a server (storage or otherwise) when the server itself and it's recurring costs (the power usage and the extra HVAC costs) can all be written off as business expenses.

  • 45D's prices are still far cheaper than true "enterprise storage" and the headaches they come with (like the relentless sales reps you have to deal with to buy one) with most of the features they'd have (IE - Nimble or any other SAN provider in this case) minus the warranty SLA - obligatory "F@#$ you very much CDW, Dell EMC, and HP"

  • On that previous point, yes, you can source parts and build it cheaper. Like any other OEM, what you really pay for is the warranty. Instead of having to deal directly with LSI, Intel or whoever because [component] failed, you call up 45D, given them the unit serial number, and go from there - as my boss likes to say "it's one throat to choke" - If that storage is vital to your business, downtime costs money squared. Again using Jeff as an example: If he's screwing with the server off camera, that's time he probably should have been on camera recording something else. If he is making a video about the issue, then it's going to take him 3 times longer than it otherwise would have to just fix it (many YouTubers have been vocal about everything taking 3 times longer for the camera than it does to just do it) and at that point, the video is being made as a piece of revenue generating content to try to help offset the cost of the downtime.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

For the case I actually think it’s a fair price for the product. The problem is the product is not a good fit for the homelab market.

The markup on everything else is absolutely insane though.

Also competing with used gear that is going through e-recycling facilities is going to be hard for them.

They made a good product but missed the mark imo.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Those drive prices are absolutely absurd, too. $181 for a 4TB drive? Go fuck yourself 45Drives.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

I checked a few against CDW and CDW's list prices are cheaper.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

We do not know if FS is taking a loss or what their profit margin is. FS.com also sells in a MUCH higher volume and similar companies like BJ’s we don’t know what items could be loss leaders.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

To answer the question you asked: No.

The prices are totally logical for what you're getting. But what to buy doesn't make sense for the majority of true "homelabbers". Even the base price of the HL15 at $800 USD doesn't make sense. I got a Phanteks Enthoo Pro 2 Full Tower and shoved 16 drives into it, some extra cables, a standard ATX power supply... all brand new and you can get the RAM/CPU and other accessories for significantly under than $800 price tag.

I would argue that the HL15 is a great option...for a small business.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Is the HL15 and accessories really geared toward homelabbers?

kinda, but also on small businesses. 45d's pricing has always been ridiculous for home lab scenarios alone, even considering the fact that they develop/maintain some software for their products and for general public

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Somehow, I just don’t think the product or the accessories they are selling, are truly aimed at the homelab community. I think they are aimed at the tech bro crowd who want to go and sip overpriced drinks While telling their buddies that they have a new homelab even though they haven’t figured out how to turn it on yet

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

I think they are aiming for “cool stuff, easy mode” for those that want to pay for it.

That’s great and all, but if you’re creative there’s cheaper things you can do. Which to me that’s more fun anyways.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Is there an easy way to buy the 45 bay chassis bare? i dont want to use the daughter boards, i really just want a case that can hold more than 28 drives. honestly i just want the metal chassis and front/back panels, but im sure they would charge $$$.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

I bought the full build, no sales tax/ shipping, just a 61.77 international fee. :). Definitely would not buy anything on the estore though because can just google and get it cheaper :).

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