Cheap and Low Power NAS/Server

[Jared_1]

I am looking to build a low power (energy consumption), cheap and compact server/NAS. I want it to run Windows and if I can, snag a copy of Windows Server 2008 or 2012 from Microsoft Dreamspark. I know I'll need a WD Red NAS drive and a small HDD or SSD for the boot drive and OS. Can anyone give the me the most basic parts to make one? I'd prefer to have onboard gigabit ethernet on the mobo.

[Nena Trinity]

I am looking to build a low power (energy consumption), cheap and compact server/NAS. I want it to run Windows and if I can, snag a copy of Windows Server 2008 or 2012 from Microsoft Dreamspark. I know I'll need a WD Red NAS drive and a small HDD or SSD for the boot drive and OS. Can anyone give the me the most basic parts to make one? I'd prefer to have onboard gigabit ethernet on the mobo.

Not sure if this can be bought yet... 

http://www.cpu-world.com/news_2015/2015052501_Russian_Baikal-T1_processor_announced.html

 The CPU consumes less than 5 Watt and can be used in fanless designs.

[Jared_1]

Not sure if this can be bought yet... 

http://www.cpu-world.com/news_2015/2015052501_Russian_Baikal-T1_processor_announced.html

 The CPU consumes less than 5 Watt and can be used in fanless designs.

That's ARM.

[Nena Trinity]

That's ARM.

Not really!?

The first Baikal-T1 product is not based on the ARM core, and it uses MIPS microarchitecture, or specifically MIPS Warrior P5600 model. 

[Prysin]

just get a FX 8320e. These are based upon opteron. Downclock it 10%, or not, and you are golden. It should stay pretty lightly loaded unless you are doing big big file transfers.

For GPU, (for the server monitor), get a AMD based GPU with ATLEAST GCN 1.0

That will give you zerocore, which will shut off the GPU when you arent using it (like 99% of the time).

If not, Xeon....

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320E 3.2GHz 8-Core Processor ($128.98 @ NCIX US)

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($25.98 @ OutletPC)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($82.89 @ OutletPC)

Memory: Patriot Signature 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ NCIX US)

Storage: Crucial BX100 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($62.59 @ Amazon)

Storage: Western Digital Red 3TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($114.99 @ NCIX US)

Video Card: Asus Radeon R7 260X 2GB Video Card ($88.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Case: NZXT Source 210 Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($30.98 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($56.99 @ NCIX US)

Wired Network Adapter: Intel E1G42ETBLK 10/100/1000 Mbps PCI-Express x4 Network Adapter ($63.99 @ Amazon)

Total: $696.37

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-28 01:43 EDT-0400

just a suggestion. You can toy around with it. You can get a cheaper mobo, drop the network card etc...

I wasnt sure if 250 is GCN, i dont think it is, therefore it will consume power at the same rate of Nvidia cards when not used (always 10-25w standby usage). For servers with 24/7 operation, Zerocore will make a huge difference on your power bill

PS> even intel onboard uses a few W when turned off, unless they drastically revised it recently. It isnt much, like 3-5w...

edit>

For servers, you should get 80+ Gold MINIMUM. This thing will be on for most of the time, the efficiency and quality should not be skimped on on the PSU

[Captain_WD]

~snip~

 

Hey Jared_1,

 

What will you be doing with the NAS? Have you considered a pre-built option where you get support, much easier management and setup and possibly lower price? I really depends on what exactly you will be doing with this (either e pre-built or a custom-built NAS can be the better idea).

Here's what WD can offer as consumer-based NASs that have many features and can be useful for many things: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=oqNJi7

 

Captain_WD.

[Jared_1]

 

Hey Jared_1,

 

What will you be doing with the NAS? Have you considered a pre-built option where you get support, much easier management and setup and possibly lower price? I really depends on what exactly you will be doing with this (either e pre-built or a custom-built NAS can be the better idea).

Here's what WD can offer as consumer-based NASs that have many features and can be useful for many things: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=oqNJi7

 

Captain_WD.

 

I want storage. I also need Windows to set up a PXE server, a network printer from USB and I love messing around with domain controllers so I would need a Windows Server.

[Jared_1]

Here's my build so far: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/tDQ9Hx

 

I just need a PSU.