First FreeNAS build - File Storage and 4k PLEX

[Velcade]

Here's the build so far:

1. Intel Xeon E5-2670v2
2. SuperMicro X9SRL-F LGA2011
3. Samsung PC3-12800 16GB RDIMM 1600 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (x4)
4. SeaSonic Focus Plus 550w Platinum
5. Intel 40GB 2.5" SATA SSD
6. Western Digital 500GB 2.5" SATA SSD
7. Western Digital RED 4TB 3.5" SATA HDD (x4)
8. Coolermaster Cosmos
9. ASUS BW-16D1HT

I would like to be able to create a Windows VM that could rip and transcode my media files.

What am I missing, what have I overlooked, where am I getting carried away? I thought it would be beneficial to have a separate Jail Drive (the WD 500GB). Items in the red color are already owned.

Thanks!

 

[Chris Moore]

Slideshow explaining VDev, zpool, ZIL and L2ARC
https://forums.freenas.org/index.ph...ning-vdev-zpool-zil-and-l2arc-for-noobs.7775/

Terminology and Abbreviations Primer
https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/terminology-and-abbreviations-primer.28174/

Why not to use RAID-5 or RAIDz1
https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-raid-5-stops-working-in-2009/

The 'Hidden' Cost of Using ZFS for Your Home NAS
https://louwrentius.com/the-hidden-cost-of-using-zfs-for-your-home-nas.html

Hardware Recommendations Guide Rev. 1e) 2017-05-06
https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?resources/hardware-recommendations-guide.12/

Hardware Recommendations by @cyberjock - from 26 Aug 2014 - and still valid
https://forums.freenas.org/threads/hardware-recommendations-read-this-first.23069/

Proper Power Supply Sizing Guidance
https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/proper-power-supply-sizing-guidance.38811/

 

[SweetAndLow]

Here's the build so far:

1. Intel Xeon E5-2670v2
2. SuperMicro X9SRL-F LGA2011
3. Samsung PC3-12800 16GB RDIMM 1600 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (x4)
4. SeaSonic Focus Plus 550w Platinum
5. Intel 40GB 2.5" SATA SSD
6. Western Digital 500GB 2.5" SATA SSD
7. Western Digital RED 4TB 3.5" SATA HDD (x4)
8. Coolermaster Cosmos
9. ASUS BW-16D1HT

I would like to be able to create a Windows VM that could rip and transcode my media files.

What am I missing, what have I overlooked, where am I getting carried away? I thought it would be beneficial to have a separate Jail Drive (the WD 500GB). Items in the red color are already owned.

Thanks!

That cpu won't even come close to transcoding a 4k steam. You need 2 of those cpu's.

 

[Velcade]

That cpu won't even come close to transcoding a 4k steam. You need 2 of those cpu's.

Passmark gives it a score of 14995 which is enough according the PLEX's CPU guideline.

 

[Chris Moore]

That cpu won't even come close to transcoding a 4k steam. You need 2 of those cpu's.

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Xeon+E5-2670+v2+@+2.50GHz&id=2152

https://support.plex.tv/articles/201774043-what-kind-of-cpu-do-i-need-for-my-server/

 

[Yorick]

That passmark doesn’t tell the whole story either. A lot depends on the Xeon generation. A 1230v6 in my home could just keep up with a HDR 10-bit transcode, with the occasional buffering or hiccup. I replaced it with a 1225v6, and without hw transcode, I now get one smooth 4K HDR transcode going. Despite a lower clock and no HT and a Passmark of about 8k. It’s possible that HT actually slows transcode down. I don’t know what caused the 1225 to handle it better than the 1230, but it definitely does.

As to why a low passmark CPU can do that - efficiency of the instruction set being used during transcode maybe? Could be generational.

Handbrake is still a thing. If that CPU here can’t do a single 4K transcode, there’s always the option to store a 1080p version of the media alongside. Plex will choose the right version depending on which device you’re streaming to.

 

[Velcade]

That passmark doesn’t tell the whole story either. A lot depends on the Xeon generation. A 1230v6 in my home could just keep up with a HDR 10-bit transcode, with the occasional buffering or hiccup. I replaced it with a 1225v6, and without hw transcode, I now get one smooth 4K HDR transcode going. Despite a lower clock and no HT and a Passmark of about 8k. It’s possible that HT actually slows transcode down. I don’t know what caused the 1225 to handle it better than the 1230, but it definitely does.

My thought was as long as I was on the upper end of the Passmark requirement (>12000) I'd be 'ok'. What made you think you go from 1230v6 to a 1225v6? The bump in single thread performance? Interesting test and certainly something to keep in mind; the Passmark score is not an absolute.

 

[Yorick]

I went to the 1225 so I could use hw transcode if/when that becomes available. Scheduled for U4 right now, but it's been pushed back a few times.