Help me spec a DIY NAS | Linus Tech Tips | Page 1

late onyx Dec 18, 2022, 4:37 PM

#

Hello,
I need a help with building a NAS. Right now I use Synology and I am not happy with it.
It will be used as a storage for personal stuff, videos and BR rips. I want to make Plex work flawlessly and the current NAS isn't ideal. Not to mention noisy (previous ARM-based NAS was quiet because how I built it).
The issue is that I live in EU and electricity price is kidna skyrocketing, so I need help spec-ing something that will be ideally <50W when idle.
I already have a storage (16, 12 and 10TB enterprise HDDs), idk how much should I spend on the components to encode 4K content in Plex (future proof).
Thanks a lot!

I want to transition to a NAS that I have complete control over. No closed software, tracking and getting contacted around bullsh*t propositions.

late onyx Dec 20, 2022, 7:42 PM

#

https://tenor.com/view/attention-notice-me-please-notice-me-need-attention-notice-me-senpai-gif-19829808

Tenor

slim locust Dec 21, 2022, 1:05 AM

#

late onyx https://tenor.com/view/attention-notice-me-please-notice-me-need-attention-notic...

I mean honestly, I forget if we are supposed to help the beggars or ignore them and Say I have no spare attention…

#

Have you thought of running a windows Pc and using it as a Server like Pc, I used an old one at work and it worked well as a “NAS “. if you could call it that.

late onyx Dec 21, 2022, 11:23 AM

#

slim locust Have you thought of running a windows Pc and using it as a Server like Pc, I use...

That's why I included the part about electricity bills.
I have "old" grandpa's PC. I guess it could work if I slapped a GPU in it. But that Pentium or whatever is in there will be so freaking uneffective in terms of compute power/watt.

#

I don't need to go with new parts, I just need to know if it is possible to make this not consume much power.

late onyx Dec 21, 2022, 11:25 AM

#

late onyx That's why I included the part about electricity bills. I have "old" grandpa's P...

...that PSU will probably suck and if I remember correctly it used some proprietary connectors. So tracking better compatible PSU would be a nightmare and expensive. Or get a standard ATX PSU, but then I need a new mobo with compatible connectors.

rare echo Dec 21, 2022, 12:28 PM

#

Did you look at your drives power consumption it will give you a power budget, four entreprise drive usually will already suck 20w on idle.

#

Also « not power hungry » and « can encode 4K » does not feel like compatible goals …

late onyx Dec 21, 2022, 12:29 PM

#

rare echo Did you look at your drives power consumption it will give you a power budget, f...

I am more concern about the CPU and GPU sucking at idle.

late onyx Dec 21, 2022, 12:30 PM

#

rare echo Also « not power hungry » and « can encode 4K » does not feel like compatible go...

rare echo Dec 21, 2022, 12:35 PM

#

Yes I was speaking of idle power draw, hdd suck easily 10w on active

#

Si you having something like 30w budget for a cpu and an gpu/encoding hardware

#

(Well that is, If running 4 disks)

#

An idle 1650 should draw around 10 also, and something like a j4125 should draw around 10w also so it could work

#

Maybe even try encoding with the iGPU ? I think Synology is going that way

late onyx Dec 22, 2022, 9:57 AM

#

Thanks. Do you thunk 1650 will do? And I should get Celetron? Not i3? Or even Pentium?

full cargo Dec 22, 2022, 10:11 AM

#

A 12100 would be a great option, but kinda expensive. Very powerful and efficient. Also OS you probably already know what you are gonna use?

late onyx Dec 22, 2022, 10:32 AM

#

full cargo A 12100 would be a great option, but kinda expensive. Very powerful and efficien...

Definitely Linux.

#

Most probably Ubuntu

#

NAS with few Docker containers...

#

Sadly no i3-12100 used. But I am not in any hurry... So I could buy up the components over month or two.

late onyx Dec 22, 2022, 10:35 AM

#

late onyx Sadly no i3-12100 used. But I am not in any hurry... So I could buy up the compo...

Is the an AMD equivalent?

full cargo Dec 22, 2022, 12:51 PM

#

late onyx Definitely Linux.

Would have done the same

full cargo Dec 22, 2022, 12:51 PM

#

late onyx Most probably Ubuntu

Don’t. I’d go for Fedora Server

late onyx Dec 22, 2022, 12:51 PM

#

full cargo Would have done the same

Especially if I want to squeeze as much performance out of watt.

full cargo Dec 22, 2022, 12:52 PM

#

late onyx Is the an AMD equivalent?

Ohh if you wanna go used, you can just go with an older 6 core CPU like 3600 (which is my favourite Server CPU)

late onyx Dec 22, 2022, 12:52 PM

#

full cargo Don’t. I’d go for Fedora Server

I have experience with Raspberry Pi OS and DietPi (headless/without GUI).

full cargo Dec 22, 2022, 12:52 PM

#

Yeah I can see why Ubuntu. But use Ubuntu Server

late onyx Dec 22, 2022, 12:53 PM

#

full cargo Ohh if you wanna go used, you can just go with an older 6 core CPU like 3600 (wh...

oh yeah! I have Ryzen 5 3600 from my boutique PC build!

full cargo Dec 22, 2022, 12:53 PM

#

you do?

#

I mean it is my favourite CPU for Servers as a middle ground. You could even get some ECC memory

late onyx Dec 22, 2022, 12:53 PM

#

I had to keep it after going 5800X because the warranty claim could be done only the whole PC

late onyx Dec 22, 2022, 12:54 PM

#

full cargo I mean it is my favourite CPU for Servers as a middle ground. You could even get...

ehm...3600 supports ECC?

#

I dont think I will be doing anything so complicated it need ECC

full cargo Dec 22, 2022, 12:54 PM

#

late onyx ehm...3600 supports ECC?

All Ryzen afaik technically support ECC

late onyx Dec 22, 2022, 12:58 PM

#

Bruh xd

full cargo Dec 22, 2022, 12:59 PM

#

haha

#

yeah. That’s why I said technically

late onyx Dec 22, 2022, 12:59 PM

#

https://tenor.com/view/which-one-choices-food-gif-14089544

Tenor

full cargo Dec 22, 2022, 12:59 PM

#

Linus also mentioned it in the cheap NAS Build video

#

exactly

late onyx Dec 22, 2022, 1:00 PM

#

full cargo Linus also mentioned it in the cheap NAS Build video

oh true, I havent looked if LTT has done a vid on this

#

#

#

hmm

full cargo Dec 22, 2022, 1:01 PM

#

Yeah they work but are not validated to do

#

Only what I have heard, have not tested it myself

late onyx Dec 22, 2022, 1:03 PM

#

Those SKUs are mobile ones. idk why he mentioned those.

late onyx Dec 22, 2022, 1:03 PM

#

full cargo Only what I have heard, have not tested it myself

ECC is only really needed for data heavy stuff that needs to not fail, right?
Not a NAS with some databases and Dockers

#

Should I prioritize 2.5 Gig LAN and no. of SATA connectors on a motherboard? Or just get expansion card(s)?

full cargo Dec 22, 2022, 1:19 PM

#

If you’re in need of speed, then go for a board with no matter what LAN but more S-ATA ports, then buy a dedicated NIC

quasi dagger Dec 22, 2022, 1:31 PM

#

late onyx Is the an AMD equivalent?

5600g/5700g tbh

full cargo Dec 22, 2022, 1:31 PM

#

yeah. But I’d not go that high end

quasi dagger Dec 22, 2022, 1:34 PM

#

with either of these apu's cpu performance wise is that of a 3600/3700x so no, not high end, it gets beaten by a 12100 alone

full cargo Dec 22, 2022, 1:34 PM

#

I know in gaming but not in productivity

#

But if he already has a 3600, he’s fine

quasi dagger Dec 22, 2022, 1:35 PM

#

cheapo mobo then

#

an asus prime a320m-k for example should be about $40 ish

late onyx Dec 22, 2022, 2:03 PM

#

quasi dagger an asus prime a320m-k for example should be about $40 ish

22$ used, 60$ new

quasi dagger Dec 22, 2022, 2:10 PM

#

worth it tbh

quasi dagger Dec 22, 2022, 2:30 PM

#

you can get up to an 8 port sata extension card that uses pcie x1 slots

late onyx Dec 22, 2022, 4:51 PM

#

quasi dagger you can get up to an 8 port sata extension card that uses pcie x1 slots

Sadly I can find only one expansion card with most 6 ports. Others have 4 or they are 300$ and more

ionic matrix Dec 22, 2022, 5:07 PM

#

Wolfgang has a lot of interesting infos on this topic: https://youtu.be/MucGkPUMjNo

YouTube

Wolfgang's Channel

Building a Power Efficient Home Server!

WD Red Drives: https://www.westerndigital.com/en-us/products/network-attached-storage.internal

Follow me:
Mastodon https://mastodon.technology/web/@notthebee
GitHub https://github.com/notthebee
Twitch https://twitch.com/notthebeee

Support the channel:
Patreon https://patreon.com/WolfgangsChannel
PayPal (one time donation) https://www.paypal.co...

▶ Play video

quasi dagger Dec 22, 2022, 5:46 PM

#

late onyx Sadly I can find only one expansion card with most 6 ports. Others have 4 or the...

what country?

nova estuary Dec 22, 2022, 6:19 PM

#

Not sure about AMD, but on mid to upper end mobo should have cpu power setting. You just lock it to 5 watt so max and idle uses only 5 watt and that solved CPU idle issue. So you can in theory use any Intel cpu to achieve this

late onyx Dec 22, 2022, 8:13 PM

#

quasi dagger what country?

Czech Republic

late onyx Dec 22, 2022, 8:13 PM

#

ionic matrix Wolfgang has a lot of interesting infos on this topic: https://youtu.be/MucGkPUM...

Thanks will watch it

late onyx Dec 22, 2022, 8:14 PM

#

nova estuary Not sure about AMD, but on mid to upper end mobo should have cpu power setting. ...

But what really is idle? If I will have 24/7 Docker containers on it...

#

...and on Linux.

#

My POV is power limit definitely can be done either Intel or AMD, but correct me if I am wrong.

#

I just don't want to end up with something that sucks >100W all the time. That way I am willing to stick with cr*ppy Syno

#Help me spec a DIY NAS