FreeNAS aficionado friends,
I'd appreciate help confirming optimal hardware options for my FreeNAS build in progress as follows:
NAS requirements:
Extended redundant storage for media library / torrent box / Plex serving a probable maximum of 3-4 concurrent streams at the moment, with future (not very probable) expansion in mind to up to 6 streams.
Pending technical feasibility, I would also like to be able to stream game CD Images (maximum of 1 at any point) from the server to an emulator box, if the term "streaming" is accurate in this usage.
At the moment, my main storage pool will be the 10 HDDs, but the chassis can take 5 more HDDs and I would want to be able to expand storage capacity if I ever need to do so.
Parts purchased so far:
Chassis: SuperMicro CSE-933T-R760B ( http://www.supermicro.com/products/chassis/3U/933/SC933T-R760.cfm )
SATA Interface Extension: IBM ServeRAID M1015
HDDs: 10x6TB HGST Deskstars
Parts pending discussion:
Motherboard:
This is basically the big decision, where I'm torn between:
1) Working with what seems to be the defacto standard build options of the LGA 1150 Supermicro X9/X10 SLM-F / SL7 based build and be restricted to the maximum 32 GB of RAM, or;
2) Go for a dual LGA 2011 socket class of motherboard (Which I am finding trouble finding reference builds for) and gain the overhead in RAM capacity and CPU performance in exchange for overall build cost differential.
CPU:
In case of option 1 above, it seems Xeon E3-1230v3 is the standard option. In case of option 2, since I couldn't find an applicable reference build, I'm not sure which CPU would be optimal, aside from it probably being a Xeon E5.
RAM:
Similarly, compatible RAM off the QVL should be fairly simple to find once the motherboard is decided. I realize that in case of option 2 I'd be eyeing DDR4 and that would also change things a bit.
Budget:
There is no mark set in stone for this, but the general expectation was initially in the range of $1~2K USD. I have no problem with exceeding this however if there is any justified advantage for my case.
Misc:
I'm not sure if I forgot something else I'd need, and since this is my first build I totally expect messing up with some decisions, but would like to at least be careful about any avoidable mess-ups, so I'd appreciate any suggestions on additional parts I'd need or want, if any.
TL;DR version:
HGST 10x6TB Z2, Supermicro based build needs optimal choices for Motherboard, CPU and RAM with reasonable room for expansion, preferably in the budget range of $1-2K USD.
Thanks a lot in advance!
- Fahad
I'd appreciate help confirming optimal hardware options for my FreeNAS build in progress as follows:
NAS requirements:
Extended redundant storage for media library / torrent box / Plex serving a probable maximum of 3-4 concurrent streams at the moment, with future (not very probable) expansion in mind to up to 6 streams.
Pending technical feasibility, I would also like to be able to stream game CD Images (maximum of 1 at any point) from the server to an emulator box, if the term "streaming" is accurate in this usage.
At the moment, my main storage pool will be the 10 HDDs, but the chassis can take 5 more HDDs and I would want to be able to expand storage capacity if I ever need to do so.
Parts purchased so far:
Chassis: SuperMicro CSE-933T-R760B ( http://www.supermicro.com/products/chassis/3U/933/SC933T-R760.cfm )
SATA Interface Extension: IBM ServeRAID M1015
HDDs: 10x6TB HGST Deskstars
Parts pending discussion:
Motherboard:
This is basically the big decision, where I'm torn between:
1) Working with what seems to be the defacto standard build options of the LGA 1150 Supermicro X9/X10 SLM-F / SL7 based build and be restricted to the maximum 32 GB of RAM, or;
2) Go for a dual LGA 2011 socket class of motherboard (Which I am finding trouble finding reference builds for) and gain the overhead in RAM capacity and CPU performance in exchange for overall build cost differential.
CPU:
In case of option 1 above, it seems Xeon E3-1230v3 is the standard option. In case of option 2, since I couldn't find an applicable reference build, I'm not sure which CPU would be optimal, aside from it probably being a Xeon E5.
RAM:
Similarly, compatible RAM off the QVL should be fairly simple to find once the motherboard is decided. I realize that in case of option 2 I'd be eyeing DDR4 and that would also change things a bit.
Budget:
There is no mark set in stone for this, but the general expectation was initially in the range of $1~2K USD. I have no problem with exceeding this however if there is any justified advantage for my case.
Misc:
I'm not sure if I forgot something else I'd need, and since this is my first build I totally expect messing up with some decisions, but would like to at least be careful about any avoidable mess-ups, so I'd appreciate any suggestions on additional parts I'd need or want, if any.
TL;DR version:
HGST 10x6TB Z2, Supermicro based build needs optimal choices for Motherboard, CPU and RAM with reasonable room for expansion, preferably in the budget range of $1-2K USD.
Thanks a lot in advance!
- Fahad