![hpdv4[1]](http://www.wegotserved.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/hpdv41_thumb.jpg "hpdv4[1]")
First Looks
The X510 utilizes the same chassis as the MediaSmart Server, with a different badge (sticker) at the base of the unit. It’s a great looking piece of hardware that you wouldn’t mind having on show at the home or in the office. You’ll have a lot worse lurking around, I’m sure!
Up Front
For those new to HP’s home server chassis, let’s talk through the front panel. The front panel of the server contains 4 LED lights positioned in front of each drive bay which are used to denote drive access. These lights illuminate aqua white if a drive is installed, and red is there’s a problem with a drive – so it’s very easy to see the status of your Data Vault at a glance.
A display panel at the base of the unit contains additional indicators for power, network connection, and server health plus a front USB 2.0 socket (for accessing an external hard drive or other device). You’ll also find a small paper clip sized hole on the front panel which is used to place the server in the recovery state should you ever require a re-installation of the server itself.
The front panel of the MediaSmart server swings open on a left hand hinge to reveal the four removable hard drive bays. The X510 can be purchased with 1, 2 or 3TB of storage, or alternatively, you can fit your own. Each bay will take up to a 2TB hard disk, and you can expand storage further using eSATA drive enclosures or external USB hard drives, so there’s a lot of expansion available.
Each drive bay is hot swappable – lifting a plastic handle at the front of the bay allows you to remove it from the system.
Around the Back
If you’re the kind of person who is concerned about connecting computer cables, the X510 shouldn’t give you any sleepless nights. You’ll find a power socket, an Ethernet socket to which you connect your router with the supplied Ethernet cable, and that’s all you need to do! The external expansion options I noted above are enabled via the eSATA and 3 USB 2.0 ports also found at the rear of the Data Vault.
Under the Hood
A you can see from the table below, X510 comes with the same hardware specification as HP’s new consumer-oriented EX495 MediaSmart Server.
| EX495 | X510 (1 TB version) | |
| Processor | Intel Pentium Dual-Core 2.5GHz E5200 | Intel Pentium Dual-Core 2.5GHz E5200 |
| RAM | 2Gb PC2-6400 | 2Gb PC2-6400 |
| Storage | 1.5TB (Single Drive) | 1TB (Single Drive) |
| Networking | Gigabit Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet |
| Dimensions | Width: 14cm (5.5″) Height: 25cm (9.8″) Depth: 23cm (base)-25cm (top) (9.2″-9.5”) | Width: 14cm (5.5″) Height: 25cm (9.7″) Depth: 23cm (9.2”) |
| Weight | 5.00 kg (11.0 lb.) | 5.00 kg (11.0 lb.) |
| Power | Sleep: 1W Idle: 44W Active Load: 46W Extreme Load: 70W | Not listed |
| Price (US$) | $699.99 | $699 |
Very minor specification differences except for the same price, one gets a 1.5TB drive on the EX495 vs. the X510’s 1TB drive.
The hardware specification provided on the X510 is more than capable for whatever backup, storage and media conversion activities you wish to throw at it. Power consumption is not the best available in the home server category, (a concern given the need for these devices to be on 24 hours a day) but power management options are available to minimize the Data Vault’s power consumption.
