Cracking Open the Adaptec Snap Server 520
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Rack mountable server
Rack mountable server
Rack mountable servers save space and power and are a standard part of most any enterprise communications network. The Adaptec Snap Server 520 is one of the more typical examples of this type of server, so we decided to Crack It Open to see what was inside.
Rivets
Rivets
Much of the Snap Server 520 is riveted in place. (Red ovals) However, the front face plate is removed easily by way of side locking mechanisms.
Slides
Slides
The slide rails are what make the server mountable in a rack. One screw and sideways tug and they are removed.
Specifications
Specifications
This is the specification page from the product page on the Adaptec Web site.
One lone screw
One lone screw
This single screw is all we need to remove to get inside the Snap Server 520.
One, two
One, two
After removing the screw (oval), you press the tabs (arrows) and slide the top of the case off.
Big motherboard
Big motherboard
The motherboard is fairly straightforward. Several of the major parts of the Snap Server are marked.
Transistor
Transistor
The chip marked with the arrow in this photo is listed as a transistor. My assumption that is has to do with the clock cycles, but I would welcome any additional input.
Flipping
Flipping
Flipping the previous image 180 degrees gives us a better look at the chips. One of the chips marked with the arrow is an 8 Mbit LPC Flash Memory chip that acts as the Firmware Hub for the Snap Server. The ATI Rage XL chip is the graphics controller. Since this is a server, only basic graphic capabilities are required.
BIOS
BIOS
This section of the motherboard houses some of the BIOS components.
Flip it over 180
Flip it over 180
As you can see the BIOS is made by American Megatrends.
Internal connections
Internal connections
Here we get a close look at the IDE and SATA drive connections.
Ethernet
Ethernet
I could use some confirmation from the experts out there. I am thinking the chips under the silver heat sink are Gigabit Ethernet controllers. What do you think?
CPU and RAM
CPU and RAM
Here we get our first good look at the heat sink that sits on top of our CPU.
Say hello to your fans
Say hello to your fans
There are 10 fans lined up side-by-side. Servers work hard and it is important to dissipate as much heat as possible.
I got the power
I got the power
Not only does this section of the Snap Server control power from one supply, it also must monitor for a second power supply.
The edge
The edge
The edge connections makes the process easy.
Standard memory
Standard memory
Adaptec ships the Snap Server 520 with 512MB of RAM, but with three more slots, the amount of memory can be upgraded as necessary.
A CPU
A CPU
Removing the heat sink reveals a chip with a ton of thermal paste on it.
More paste
More paste
I know the AMD CPU chips run notoriously hot, but does it really need all this thermal paste?
Faceplate removed
Faceplate removed
Removing the front faceplate reveals a bank of four hard drives.
Swap drives
Swap drives
Simply pull the lever and out slides the hard drive.
By the numbers
By the numbers
A few of the more pertinent serial numbers.
Maxtor
Maxtor
Our Snap Server 520 shipped with four 250GB Maxtor SATA hard drives.
A snap
A snap
The Adaptec Snap Server 520 is your basic standard rack mountable server. According to plan, there is very little wasted space to be found inside the case.
