NAS Server

[Michael Joeden]

I am looking into building a NAS server for my house and us it as a HTPC in our living room. The server needs to be accessible over our local network and possibly around the world in the future. 

 

• How much RAM I will need for these tasks?
• I also want to use some ssd's as a cache, but I have no idea what I will need to access all of the time. How much cache should be enough? Or should I use SSHD's
• What graphics card would be enough to push 4k 60hz video playback off of local storage?
• Is there a case that has around 8 hard drive bays, and has good cooling, but also good sound dampening? i am unsure about putting this in the most commonly used room in the house.

[Jarsky]

Since you wan't to run it as an HTPC as well, I recommend just going Windows 10 with Kodi and use storage spaces to create the storage. In that case you can just go with the minimum 4GB of ram required by Windows 10. 

 

Why do you need a cache? Do you have 10Gbit networking? Your 8 disks will more than saturate the 1Gbit (125MB/s) of your local network. 

 

If its an HTPC, get an intel such as the i3 8100, and a board with an HDMI2.0/DisplayPort1.4 out. The Intel HD830 graphics are compliant for 4K HDR10 and with the before mentioned interfaces, support HDCP 2.2 and PlayReady 3.0 DRM. 

 

You might struggle with a compact or media style case that supports 8 bays. I used to have a Silverstone Lascala LC17 case in my theater setup, which officially supports 6 hard drives, but you can use a 5.25" adapter to get  2 more hard drive bays. It would run hot or loud though if you don't have ventilation in the back of the cabinet. You might consider getting a cube case like the Fractal Design Node 804 and running it outside of any cabinet, that way it would keep cool and quiet. 

[aezakmi]

Unless you want to game from that PC cache isn't needed

 

You should get not less than 4GB of RAM and maybe a 2400G for CPU+GPU combo

[Mihle]

People have told me you don't need a GPU or a powerful CPU at all if the devices you watch it on can play those files themselves and you don't need to transcode it.

 

I don't know what you need tho.