Budget File Server vs NAS

[BeornBear]

I am considering on building a budget file server with 2 sata harddrives (Raid 1) or 3 sata harddrive (Raid 5). Possible with an AMD Athlon 3000g or AMD Ryzen 3. Alternatively a 2-3 drive NAS. I have a budget of $600 CDN, including taxes. Does anyone have any suggestions?! 

[TubsAlwaysWins]

1 hour ago, BeornBear said:

I am considering on building a budget file server with 2 sata harddrives (Raid 1) or 3 sata harddrive (Raid 5). Possible with an AMD Athlon 3000g or AMD Ryzen 3. Alternatively a 2-3 drive NAS. I have a budget of $600 CDN, including taxes. Does anyone have any suggestions?! 

If you want to build one then I dont have much to say, But I would look into what Synology has to offer. Easy setup. Great interface. Easy backups. You can even use them as a NVR for cameras

[Jarsky]

If it's just a fileserver, then for 2 drives have you considered just using a prebuilt NAS unit?  Even a Synology DS220j is pretty cheap 

 

Theres plenty of cheap 4 bay units as well if you want to support more drives https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=4+bay+nas

 

[BeornBear]

I have been looking at different brandname NAS. However, it seems that Synology has the best name due to its superior software and interface with come with the NAS. I only have 65 GB of files. A two-bay NAS would make more sense. I have two extra WD 1 TB Sata Harddrives. I am leaning towards the Synology DS220j. I am hopeful that it can be used as a Plex Server. (I do not have 4K television nor computer monitors). I would like to have 1080p30 videos. I am uncertain if Plex will offer software to transcode original DVDs to digital format. I was attempting to use Handbreak. However, Handbreak will not convert copyright DVDs (even though that I own the DVDs). 

[Electronics Wizardy]

13 hours ago, BeornBear said:

I have been looking at different brandname NAS. However, it seems that Synology has the best name due to its superior software and interface with come with the NAS. I only have 65 GB of files. A two-bay NAS would make more sense. I have two extra WD 1 TB Sata Harddrives. I am leaning towards the Synology DS220j. I am hopeful that it can be used as a Plex Server. (I do not have 4K television nor computer monitors). I would like to have 1080p30 videos. I am uncertain if Plex will offer software to transcode original DVDs to digital format. I was attempting to use Handbreak. However, Handbreak will not convert copyright DVDs (even though that I own the DVDs). 

Yea those will work fien, and will run plex.

 

You can'd do dvd ripping on a synology, you still need to use your pc for that. 

 

You can rip copyrighted dvds in handbrake with libdvdcss2.