Plex nas build

[aylo8]

I know, i'm one of many on the internet. But really i'm just putting it out there to see if there are some major flaws with the build and to perhaps help others not make the same mistake like i would've.

 

The reason to build my own nas is i like making stuff myself and the biggest reason is for expansion/upgrades.

I'm not adding the drives to the build/pricing because that's something i can upgrade over time if needed.

Most of the parts are chosen because either i have them or there is a deal for them in my area. 

 

Let's start with what i'm using the nas for.

Mainly it's for plex use and perhaps make automated backups for a couple of devices, but certainly not a must and not the main point of the nas.

I have a raspberry pi running HomeAssistant and i guess it'll be easiest to keep it running on there.

 

Parts

Cpu: Intel Xeon E3-1275LV3 

Cooler: Just a stock or €20 cooler

Case: Fractal Design Node 804

MB: ASRock B85M PRO 4

Ram: Corsair Vengeance CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9R (2x4Gb)

power supply: Corsair CV550 (went with more than 500w to be sure. If it's overkill tell me)

 

OS

I'm thinking of using unraid because from what i can read it's more user friendly than truenas.

 

Total of this would be around $300/350. Cpu is the biggest cost, this one is $100.

 

Edited August 1, 2021 by aylo8

[Electronics Wizardy]

2 minutes ago, aylo8 said:

Cpu: Intel Xeon E3-1275LV3 

Why this cpu? The e3 1230 v3 or a 1245 v3 is cheaper and faster.

 

4 minutes ago, aylo8 said:

Ram: Corsair Vengeance CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9R (2x4Gb)

Do you have this already, id get a single 8gb stick if you haven't

 

What os and raid/drive setup are you going to be using?

 

You can probably get cheaper with a used server board for the platform. How about this guy https://www.ebay.com/itm/303710536288?epid=1607605938&hash=item46b68f0260:g:aywAAOSwHUdfdNwB

 

And then you get a igpu on the board so you don't need a cpu with graphics.And you get impi on that board too.

[aylo8]

Thanks for the quick and thoughtfull response! This was exactly the reason i put it up.

 

12 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

Why this cpu? The e3 1230 v3 or a 1245 v3 is cheaper and faster.

 

I've been using this spreadsheet as a starting point and the rest was searching the web. The TDP of the E3-1275l v3 is only 45w and most others are 80w or up. I thought the bigger price would pay itself back in less energy cost. If this is wrong than i'll gladly follow your advice, because they are indeed faster and cheaper.

 

15 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

What os and raid/drive setup are you going to be using?

Completly forgot to mention that! I'll probably use unraid because from what i read it's easier to use than truenas.

19 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

You can probably get cheaper with a used server board for the platform. How about this guy https://www.ebay.com/itm/303710536288?epid=1607605938&hash=item46b68f0260:g:aywAAOSwHUdfdNwB

 

And then you get a igpu on the board so you don't need a cpu with graphics.And you get impi on that board too.

This one look indeed better, the fact it has an igpu is very handy!

[Electronics Wizardy]

10 minutes ago, aylo8 said:

 

I've been using this spreadsheet as a starting point and the rest was searching the web. The TDP of the E3-1275l v3 is only 45w and most others are 80w or up. I thought the bigger price would pay itself back in less energy cost. If this is wrong than i'll gladly follow your advice, because they are indeed faster and cheaper.

 

TDP doesn't matter here, as thats only under max load, at idle power is about the same and thats what the cpu will be like almost all of the time as a plex server/nas. The cpus don't even hit their max tdp under full load in my experience from a e3 1231 v3. And you can also limit power if needed

 

11 minutes ago, aylo8 said:

Completly forgot to mention that! I'll probably use unraid because from what i read it's easier to use than truenas.

33 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

What drive config do you have? 

[aylo8]

15 hours ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

TDP doesn't matter here, as thats only under max load, at idle power is about the same and thats what the cpu will be like almost all of the time as a plex server/nas. The cpus don't even hit their max tdp under full load in my experience from a e3 1231 v3. And you can also limit power if needed

Ok that sounds logical if i think about it! 

 

Again about the RAM, what would be the reason to go with one 8gb stick instead of 2 4gb sticks? I have the 4gb sticks, but RAM isn't that expensive so if needed i'll buy it too. Also what is your opinion on ecc memory?

 

15 hours ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

What drive config do you have? 

For the moment it'll be 2 WD red plus 4tb, but maybe i'll buy an extra already.

Edited August 2, 2021 by aylo8

[Electronics Wizardy]

6 hours ago, aylo8 said:

Again about the RAM, what would be the reason to go with one 8gb stick instead of 2 4gb sticks? I have the 4gb sticks, but RAM isn't that expensive so if needed i'll buy it too. Also what is your opinion on ecc memory?

If you have the sticks id use them. But if your buying sticks, its much easier to upgrade with fewer sticks.

 

6 hours ago, aylo8 said:

or the moment it'll be 2 WD red plus 4tb, but maybe i'll buy an extra already.

Id personally shuck some external 8tb hdds, not much more and gives you much more space.

 

Since you want to expand soon, unraid will work very well here.

[Guest willies leg]

Jellyfin is pretty slick too, I know a lot of people use Plex, but Jellyfin is another nice media organizer

[aylo8]

16 hours ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

Id personally shuck some external 8tb hdds, not much more and gives you much more space.

 

From what i can find, the 4tb for €99 are a better deal than the 8tb, over €200. €/Gb is better with the 4tb ones.

 

Don't know your opinion on second hand drives, been looking and the price difference looks good. But not sure if it's smart...

 

16 hours ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

Since you want to expand soon, unraid will work very well here.

Allright so unraid it is then!

[aylo8]

14 hours ago, willies leg said:

Jellyfin is pretty slick too, I know a lot of people use Plex, but Jellyfin is another nice media organizer

Been reading about jellyfin and i have been thinking about it! What's are the main differences? Like i don't know how it does transcoding and if it can hardware transcode... Been thinking about taking plex premium lifetime (€100 isn't that bad) because of the hardware transcoding.

[tikker]

2 hours ago, aylo8 said:

Been reading about jellyfin and i have been thinking about it! What's are the main differences? Like i don't know how it does transcoding and if it can hardware transcode... Been thinking about taking plex premium lifetime (€100 isn't that bad) because of the hardware transcoding.

This depends on the playback devices and how it will be used, but even better than transcoding is to simply store it in a format the target device(s) understand. That way you can Direct Play without any transcoding whatsoever.

[Guest willies leg]

57 minutes ago, tikker said:

This depends on the playback devices and how it will be used, but even better than transcoding is to simply store it in a format the target device(s) understand. That way you can Direct Play without any transcoding whatsoever.

 

^^ this

I encode everything with official->general->hq 1080p30 surround in HandBrake, plays on everything I have without transcoding at all.

Jellyfin on my Raspberry Pi 4 in docker.

 

But if you must, yeah, jellyfin does hardware transcoding.

 

[Electronics Wizardy]

7 hours ago, aylo8 said:

From what i can find, the 4tb for €99 are a better deal than the 8tb, over €200. €/Gb is better with the 4tb ones.

 

Don't know your opinion on second hand drives, been looking and the price difference looks good. But not sure if it's smart...

 

Allright so unraid it is then!

You don't want the 4tb drives as there smr, you want the 8tb or bigger external hdds from WD as there all CMR

 

 

[aylo8]

2 hours ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

You don't want the 4tb drives as there smr, you want the 8tb or bigger external hdds from WD as there all CMR

 

 

Isn't the WD red plus the cmr line-up, that's what i can find here also: https://shop.westerndigital.com/nl-nl/products/internal-drives/wd-red-plus-sata-3-5-hdd#WD40EFZX

[aylo8]

7 hours ago, tikker said:

This depends on the playback devices and how it will be used, but even better than transcoding is to simply store it in a format the target device(s) understand. That way you can Direct Play without any transcoding whatsoever.

Yeah i know but it's mostly for the odd one out haha

[Electronics Wizardy]

1 minute ago, aylo8 said:

Isn't the WD red plus the cmr line-up, that's what i can find here also: https://shop.westerndigital.com/nl-nl/products/internal-drives/wd-red-plus-sata-3-5-hdd#WD40EFZX

Yea the reds pluses are fine. I was thinking you were getting a external hdd where 8tb + is cmr. Id go external as its cheaper.

[aylo8]

1 minute ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

Yea the reds pluses are fine. I was thinking you were getting a external hdd where 8tb + is cmr. Id go external as its cheaper.

ah ok you meant it like that. Didn't know it, but definitely going that route then. Man i would have made alot of stupid 'mistakes' already!