FreeNAS ECC Build Review - Plex & Media Powerhouse

[tpaul99]

Hi Everyone,

I have been thinking about a FreeNAS setup to replace an old Drobo 5N that I have. Will keep this short and sweet.

NAS Priorities:

1. Transcode & Stream (3 x 1080p - 20 Mbps Max) Plex Media - Mostly Movies & TV Shows (Acquired legally of course)
2. Run Jails with Couchpotato, Sonor, NZBhydra, PlexPy, Plex Requests, NZBGet. (Which are all currenty running a Rasberry Pi 3)
3. Backup multiple Mac computer and iOS devices in the house.
4. Use as a shared drive for family photos and music

Plan:

• Configure single pool in ZFS with all the WD Red drives.
• Use SSD Evo Pro 500 as a drive for Jails.

Build:

[PCPartPicker part list](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/RzrcBP) / [Price breakdown by merchant](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/RzrcBP/by_merchant/)

Type|Item|Price
:----|:----|:----
**CPU** | [Intel Xeon E3-1275 V5 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/ZYgPxr/intel-cpu-bx80662e31275v5) | $336.99 @ SuperBiiz
**CPU Cooler** | [Noctua NH-U14S 55.0 CFM CPU Cooler](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/DMjG3C/noctua-cpu-cooler-nhu14s) | $64.89 @ OutletPC
**Motherboard** | [ASRock C236 WSI Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/fk98TW/asrock-motherboard-c236wsi) | $197.99 @ SuperBiiz
**Storage** | [Western Digital Red 4TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/rkV48d/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd40efrx) | Purchased For $0.00
**Storage** | [Western Digital Red 4TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/rkV48d/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd40efrx) | Purchased For $0.00
**Storage** | [Western Digital Red 6TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/DhsKHx/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd60efrx) | Purchased For $0.00
**Storage** | [Western Digital Red 6TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/DhsKHx/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd60efrx) | Purchased For $0.00
**Storage** | [Western Digital Red 8TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/4fvZxr/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd80efzx) | $299.99 @ Amazon
**Storage** | [Western Digital Red 8TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/4fvZxr/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd80efzx) | $299.99 @ Amazon
**Case** | [Fractal Design Node 304 Mini ITX Tower Case](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/BWFPxr/fractal-design-case-fdcanode304bl) | $79.99 @ Newegg
**Power Supply** | [SeaSonic 520W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular Fanless ATX Power Supply](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/W37wrH/seasonic-power-supply-ss520fl) | $126.50 @ Jet
**Case Fan** | [Noctua NF-A15 PWM 140mm Fan](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/znPfrH/noctua-case-fan-nfa15pwm) | $20.88 @ OutletPC
**Case Fan** | [Noctua NF-A9 PWM 46.4 CFM 92mm Fan](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/JhM323/noctua-case-fan-nfa9pwm) | $21.88 @ OutletPC
**Case Fan** | [Noctua NF-A9 PWM 46.4 CFM 92mm Fan](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/JhM323/noctua-case-fan-nfa9pwm) | $21.88 @ OutletPC
**Other**| FreeNAS| Purchased For $0.00
**Other**| Plex Pass - Lifetime Subscription| Purchased For $0.00
**Other**| Crucial 16GB DDR4-2133 UDIMM| $99.99
**Other**| Crucial 16GB DDR4-2133 UDIMM| $99.99
| *Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts* |
| **Total** | **$1670.96**
| Generated by [PCPartPicker](http://pcpartpicker.com) 2016-12-28 02:36 EST-0500 |

Questions/Concerns:

• Are there any Red Flags with this build?
• Do I really need an SSD for Jails or would a jail in the same pool as the media data be just as fast for transcoding and loading of a large media library?
• Does Plex Pass run and update consistently in a Jail?
• Will I have any issue with the 8TB WD Drives and ZFS?
• Should I buy an ASRock E3C236D2I over the ASRock C236 WSI be better? The only advantage I see is Integrated IPMI 2.0 but I believe the 2 more SATA ports (ASRock C236 WSI) might be more useful in the future with a NAS.
  • Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B96248O?tag=pcpapi-20&pldnSite=1
  • Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B9624AM?tag=pcpapi-20&pldnSite=1

Please let me know what you think. I would like to avoid wasting any money on foreseen items due to my lack of experience with FreeNAS.

tpaul99

 

[engmsf]

I find the Node 304 to be perfect for 6 drives. RaidZ2 with WD Red 3TB with consumer non-ecc motherboard.

Why are all your drives different sizes? 2x4TB, 2x6TB and 2x8TB? Will all the drives just mirror each other?

I too like the ASRock C236 WSI Mini ITX, as I can expand to 6 drives and 2 parity without needing an HBA. One thing I don't like about the ASRock is the lack, or my perceived lack of support. I mean, no BIOS update for a year now? Some of the drivers are a year old with no updates. I am sure they are prefect with no issues. Some have reported that ASRock will not/hardly return messages.

Have you considered one of these Supermicro X10SDV ITX motherboards? I have no intentions of running Plex or transcoding needs, so that is why I am looking at it right now. Supermicro motherboards are very well supported.

I have a SeaSonic 400FL2 fanless power supply. I regret buying this. The dust that connects in the power supply is incredible over time. You will need a vacuum to help clean it up. I would get one that has a fan.