Breaking into the Vault (a Look Inside the new HP Data Vault)

The new HP Data Vault is really nothing more than a rebranding of the HP MediaSmart Server targeted at the SoHo market (which I think it's a great idea). So it's no surprise that the hardware will be pretty much the same as well, but let's take a look anyway shall we? As the case is identical to the MediaSmart Servers, this means the standard disassembly instructions work here as well.

The layout looks virtually identical to all of the HP MediaSmart Sever mainboards going way back to the EX470. You'll find the processor up front, the chipset behind that and the RAM on the left; when looking from the front (click on image below to enlarge).

The Data Vault continues the use of the same CN9 KVM connector, which means that you can connect a VGA monitor, keyboard and mouse if you so desire (and have the right connector hardware).  JP1 is (I believe) is to reset the CMOS and JP2 is to enable the keyboard. People have had mixed results with JP2 using a USB keyboard and I can't get it to work either. There is discussion that you need a PS/2 keyboard hooked up. You can read more about this on MediaSmartServer.net (hey Alex, notice the silkscreened "C").

Here is a shot of the P.O.S.T. screen (I apologize for the blurry camera work).

I mentioned in the last article that the power supply has changed over that of the EX47x (especially the fan placement). In the photos on the front and back on the mainboard/power supply, you can see the fan in now in the back on the unit pushing air out, instead on in the front pushing air in.

The processor in the Data Vault X510 is the Intel dual code E5200 which runs at 2.5 GHz. Below is how it is reported with CPU-Z. Technically the chip is NOT an Intel Core 2 Duo 9as reported by CPU-Z, but a Pentium Dual-Core. From the product comparison matrix on Intel's website, it looks like the Data Vault X510 is ripe for an upgrade to an E5300 (2.6GHz) or an E5400 (2.7GHz).

The mainboard is reported as a Wistron (same as the EX47x, EX48x and EX49x series) model 532837-ZH1 and the BIOS is AMI (American Megatrends, Inc). The Southbridge chipset is the Intel 82801IR (ICH9R) (PDF datasheet from Intel).

The four internal SATA drives connect via the ICH9R's AHCI controller, while the single eSATA port is connected to a second SATA controller, the Silicon Image SiI 3531, which does support a port multiplier. Yay!

Here is a look at the Device Manager showing most of the pertinent hardware.

Bottom Line

The HP Data Vault continues the tradition of the MediaSmart as a sturdy little workhorse. The memory is already maxed out at 2GB and the CPU is a snappy 2.5GHz. The 2.6GHz or 2.7GHz CPU upgrade that I eluded to above is probably not even worth the money for the little performance increase that you will see. Therefore I don't think you will see this unit "hacked" in too many ways. It's pretty nice just the way it is.