I've been wanting for quite some time to set up a file server for 1) redundant storage for important files from our PCs and 2) a media server library. This will be a home server with 2 users, currently my wife's PC is connected to our home net via wifi but I plan to run a cable... I'd ideally also want to serve 3 Rokus (attached to standard-definition TVs) via Plex over wifi.
The primary purposes: Vastly increased storage space, reliable storage for treasured home media (family photos and home videos), media library storage and ideally media library streaming (to rip and serve CDs and DVDs to any HTPC-equipped room in the house, currently all standard-def).
Not a primary purpose: Blazingly fast storage speed from our PCs (though it would be nice if the wife didn't get frustrated by delays when trying to save/browse home pictures and videos).
The build I have in mind:
Supermicro MBD-X10SLM-F-O ($155), which Amazon says is an Ultra ATX, but Supermicro's site says it's uATX which to me means micro-ATX... Newegg has this for less in an open box, but I'm not sure that's a wise route to take. All of that aside, I like being able to run the current generation of Core i3 CPUs.
Alternative, slightly cheaper: Supermicro X10SLL-F-O ($135)
Intel Core i3-4130T ($126) - because in my mind, with no particular real-world calculations to back it up, this saves money in the long run vs. using an Intel Core i3-4130 ($115)... (also because I have an irrational preference for Intel due to bad experiences with various other CPU brands in the far, far distant past)
16 GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600 SDRAM ECC Unbuffered ($200) - I don't particularly love Crucial, but I'm having trouble finding other brands of RAM in the right size and speed and at a reasonable price
Fractal Design Define R4 ($85) - enough drive bays for now and room for future expansion; fan filters, fairly quiet, and will hold the motherboard as long as it's not really an Ultra ATX as Amazon claims...
CORSAIR TX Series CMPSU-650TX 650W (effectively free) - because I have one sitting around in an unopened box just gathering dust; I know, I know, I should get 80 Plus Gold and this is only 80 Plus Bronze...
5 or 6 WD Red WD40EFRX 4TB ($190 each) - I was originally going to buy the WD Green WD40EZRX 4TB at $155 each, after promo code, but the Red vs. Green thread has me scared that I would be sitting at my computer waiting for hours or even days if I try to open a file on a NAS that uses these. (Overstating a bit, but qualitatively I think that's the gist of the message I took away from that thread.) I'm thinking of using RAIDZ3 because the Hardware Recommendations thread points me to dire warnings that if I rely on anything as primitive as RAIDZ1 after the year 2009 I may as well throw my disk platters into the kitchen garbage disposal, and RAIDZ2 isn't much better because even if one of my drives fails and I need to recover, I'll discover that at least one of my other drives is bound to be a miserable sucking black hole from which data never escapes, at least not sufficiently for the recovery process to work.
So... Where can I save money on this build while still having a quality home NAS that we can depend on for many centuries to come? Or at least several years. And did I miss any compatibility issues? And am I planning on enough RAM for my stated purposes for home use?
Thank you!
The primary purposes: Vastly increased storage space, reliable storage for treasured home media (family photos and home videos), media library storage and ideally media library streaming (to rip and serve CDs and DVDs to any HTPC-equipped room in the house, currently all standard-def).
Not a primary purpose: Blazingly fast storage speed from our PCs (though it would be nice if the wife didn't get frustrated by delays when trying to save/browse home pictures and videos).
The build I have in mind:
Supermicro MBD-X10SLM-F-O ($155), which Amazon says is an Ultra ATX, but Supermicro's site says it's uATX which to me means micro-ATX... Newegg has this for less in an open box, but I'm not sure that's a wise route to take. All of that aside, I like being able to run the current generation of Core i3 CPUs.
Alternative, slightly cheaper: Supermicro X10SLL-F-O ($135)
Intel Core i3-4130T ($126) - because in my mind, with no particular real-world calculations to back it up, this saves money in the long run vs. using an Intel Core i3-4130 ($115)... (also because I have an irrational preference for Intel due to bad experiences with various other CPU brands in the far, far distant past)
16 GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600 SDRAM ECC Unbuffered ($200) - I don't particularly love Crucial, but I'm having trouble finding other brands of RAM in the right size and speed and at a reasonable price
Fractal Design Define R4 ($85) - enough drive bays for now and room for future expansion; fan filters, fairly quiet, and will hold the motherboard as long as it's not really an Ultra ATX as Amazon claims...
CORSAIR TX Series CMPSU-650TX 650W (effectively free) - because I have one sitting around in an unopened box just gathering dust; I know, I know, I should get 80 Plus Gold and this is only 80 Plus Bronze...
5 or 6 WD Red WD40EFRX 4TB ($190 each) - I was originally going to buy the WD Green WD40EZRX 4TB at $155 each, after promo code, but the Red vs. Green thread has me scared that I would be sitting at my computer waiting for hours or even days if I try to open a file on a NAS that uses these. (Overstating a bit, but qualitatively I think that's the gist of the message I took away from that thread.) I'm thinking of using RAIDZ3 because the Hardware Recommendations thread points me to dire warnings that if I rely on anything as primitive as RAIDZ1 after the year 2009 I may as well throw my disk platters into the kitchen garbage disposal, and RAIDZ2 isn't much better because even if one of my drives fails and I need to recover, I'll discover that at least one of my other drives is bound to be a miserable sucking black hole from which data never escapes, at least not sufficiently for the recovery process to work.
So... Where can I save money on this build while still having a quality home NAS that we can depend on for many centuries to come? Or at least several years. And did I miss any compatibility issues? And am I planning on enough RAM for my stated purposes for home use?
Thank you!