junk. slow, 100mbps junk.

get the dlink dns-323 instead.

Unfortunately #1, even the GbE capable units aren't very capable of GbE. This is because they typically use an X-Scale (ARM-based) microcontroller of 300MHz or less, or similar MIPS, Power, etc... design. Microcontrollers are great for doing one thing and one thing only, but not a lot of things like a general server.

e, Intel X-Scale IXP have network processing engines (NPE) are great for TCP off-load in a server NIC card. Unfortunately, when you're also doing storage and running a full service OS on them, then really can't keep up.

I'd buy a $60 Celeron 220 Mini-ITX board+processor (Intel calls this the "smaller MicroATX compatible") and add whatever you want in addition via it's PCI slot. You can mount it in whatever you want as well (small or big).

Unfortunately, #2, you're missing the point: it's not all about performance. These little NAS boxes are inexpensive, use very little power, are very quiet and setup in a snap. It will cost you more money to build the cheapest server even with your Celeron mobo, it will use up more power, take up more space and make more noise. Also, you have to factor in the time to set it up. It's all a matter of compromise; I use my DNS-323 to keep my music files and it does a great job. Its performance is perfectly adequate, and it's small and quiet enough that I can tuck it away in a closet.
Oh, and please visit this page: http://www.cgl.uwaterloo.ca/~csk/its.html
Thank you.

#3, thanks for the link enlightening me to the correct usage of "it's" and "its". Now go get a life.

#4, glad to be of service.

Each one of you owe me $1 for the time I spent reading your rodeo cowboy posts.