Server Advise - Home file/plex server

[Sir Cloudius]

Hi would like some advise.

 

I had a TerraMaster F2-210 with 4tb hard drive, a simple home server for files and hosting a plex server for a few years.

 

It stopped working and I'm currently weighing my options on if I want to try and get the Terramaster back up and running or build my own server from old pc parts I have and run HexOS that I have a license for.

 

Plex wise I have 1080p videos on there for ease of streaming, I do have 4k videos on the server but I personally access them through the server browsing rather than plex. Plex is just for my parents to make it easier for them to navigate.

I have a old gaming pc that some parts still function properly such as:
I7 4790K
16Gb Ram
GTX 970 

 

Some parts of the PC such as motherboard and PSU are on their way out (motherboard posts memory errors and will only run on 1 stick, bend cpu pin and PSU fan is going)

 

What is better off, still using the Terramaster or buying extra parts?

 

To use the I7 4790k which would require:

 

New motherboard (ITX for smaller form)
New PSU (could get one with a case)

New Case for smaller form factor (something like this? https://www.scan.co.uk/products/cit-mtx-008b-mini-itx-desktop-chassis-300w-tfx-bronze-80plus-psu-2x-usb30-hd-audio-mic-in-black)

New CPU cooler (to fit small form)

 

From searching online I've seen that the 970 wont really help with a plex server.

 

Also if I rebuilt the I7 would it be good enough to run game servers casually (4-8 people, varying on game) like Project Zomboid as an example.

 

Look forward to your advise ^^

[Needfuldoer]

The PC's going to draw a lot more power than the Terramaster did.

 

If you're going to build an ITX machine anyway, I'd suggest something like an Intel N100 based board. Or at the very least, swap the GTX 970 out for something like an ARC Alchemist GPU. Since all you really need for a Plex server is hardware transcoding (assuming you have Plex Pass), having a recent encode engine is more important than rendering performance.

 

Or you could go completely off the rails and build a Cascade Lake based 2U server like I did. 

[dreamcast4599]

last year i built a file/storage server based around a used socket 2011 supermicro dual cpu server board paid around 120 for the board and bought a fractal define 7xl server case and love it currently have 68tb worth of HDD storage sure the 4790k might use more power if you build it as a server but if you have the parts then why not i mean my board is old and power hungry but i love it she has 24 dimm slots lol and she fits my needs