Nas Recommendations

[Shaunf1992]

Hey all. I want to build a nas but not really sure where to start in terms of parts. I want something that is powerful enough but not overly expensive, I can always upgrade in the future. I plan to build in the fractal design node 804 for the hdd space. I don’t plan to fill them right away but I plan to add more in the future that’s why I’ve chose this case. I would prefer a cpu with integrated graphics for ease of use and looking to maybe spend around $500 at most. It will mostly be for backing up pictures and videos. Maybe recording/editing or a Minecraft server if it’s doable for that price range. 
 

Also what would be best to run on it  truenas, unraid etc, from what I’ve ready unraid is easier to expand storage in the future and that’s what I plan to do but is slower?
 

Nas are something I don’t really know too much about so any advice would be great

[BiotechBen]

1 hour ago, Shaunf1992 said:

Hey all. I want to build a nas but not really sure where to start in terms of parts. I want something that is powerful enough but not overly expensive, I can always upgrade in the future. I plan to build in the fractal design node 804 for the hdd space. I don’t plan to fill them right away but I plan to add more in the future that’s why I’ve chose this case. I would prefer a cpu with integrated graphics for ease of use and looking to maybe spend around $500 at most. It will mostly be for backing up pictures and videos. Maybe recording/editing or a Minecraft server if it’s doable for that price range. 
 

Also what would be best to run on it  truenas, unraid etc, from what I’ve ready unraid is easier to expand storage in the future and that’s what I plan to do but is slower?
 

Nas are something I don’t really know too much about so any advice would be great

The NAS overall is super low demand for resources unless you are looking at like high availability or home lab/VMs

 

Could I interest you in something like this: 

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/2KsNkJ

(Half the price of Node 804, but DOES have TONS of internal drive storage, and doesn't look an eyesore. Also has 5.25" bays if you wanna also make it a media ripper server.)

And with RAID 10 on those drives: unless you are a Creator: the 6TB of redundant long term storage should be more than enough)

[johnt]

56 minutes ago, BiotechBen said:

The NAS overall is super low demand for resources unless you are looking at like high availability or home lab/VMs

 

Could I interest you in something like this: 

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/2KsNkJ

(Half the price of Node 804, but DOES have TONS of internal drive storage, and doesn't look an eyesore. Also has 5.25" bays if you wanna also make it a media ripper server.)

And with RAID 10 on those drives: unless you are a Creator: the 6TB of redundant long term storage should be more than enough)

I would still go with the 804 over this CM case. I would consider a Jonsbo case too. What do you mean RAID10? You need four drives for RAID10 and it's a striped and mirrored setup. That is a pretty uncommon way to setup your drives if you are going for storage.

[BiotechBen]

16 minutes ago, johnt said:

I would still go with the 804 over this CM case. I would consider a Jonsbo case too. What do you mean RAID10? You need four drives for RAID10 and it's a striped and mirrored setup. That is a pretty uncommon way to setup your drives if you are going for storage.

Sorry, RAID 1E. Similar to RAID 10, but can be done with 3 drives (1.5drive capacity with single drive loss) 

I KY reason I am steering away from the Node, is that of the $500 total budget, it eats up about 1/4 of it at $125, which you can distribute more to storage. Now if the plan is to load this up with cheap 2-4TB drives and have hella redundancy: great idea.

 

The Node has eight 3.5" slots, the cheaper case has 7, offers similar or better expansion, and is half the cost. Is it PRETTY: not as pretty as the Node 804, but this isn't going to be an HTPC in the living room console. 

[johnt]

45 minutes ago, BiotechBen said:

Sorry, RAID 1E. Similar to RAID 10, but can be done with 3 drives (1.5drive capacity with single drive loss) 

I KY reason I am steering away from the Node, is that of the $500 total budget, it eats up about 1/4 of it at $125, which you can distribute more to storage. Now if the plan is to load this up with cheap 2-4TB drives and have hella redundancy: great idea.

 

The Node has eight 3.5" slots, the cheaper case has 7, offers similar or better expansion, and is half the cost. Is it PRETTY: not as pretty as the Node 804, but this isn't going to be an HTPC in the living room console. 

Heh... you never know where folks are planning to place a NAS/server machine. My plan was to have it in my office until I bought modern enterprise marketed spinning drives. SO NOISY! Were they always that loud? Bless the person/people who created SSDs.

 

I was able to find the Define R5 for $75. It's a little easier on the eyes and I can fit up to 8 drives without any modifications. I actually purchased two... one for my NAS/server and one for my back up server. But if I am honest I wish I went with smaller cases in general. They take up quite a bit of room... roughly the same size as the CM you linked but a little wider.

 

You provided a pretty good system though. I was eyeing that MB for my devices but I really needed something with faster networking.

[BiotechBen]

3 hours ago, johnt said:

I was able to find the Define R5 for $75. It's a little easier on the eyes and I can fit up to 8 drives without any modifications.

It is indeed easier on the eyes. Very nice case.

 

3 hours ago, johnt said:

You provided a pretty good system though. I was eyeing that MB for my devices but I really needed something with faster networking.

Beauty of add-in cards. Can get a 2.5gpbs TP-Link tx201 dual port NIC for about $20-25 and then you've got plenty of connection speed, and then use the full slot for an HBA and go with a 9211-8i for about another 30, and then you have OODLES of drives able to be connected.