Looking to Upgrade Motherboard

[chiman]

Hi,

I built a Freenas system, mainly for storage and being a Plex media server probably in 2013. It's a very basic built, with a motherboard with a integrated CPU. So far it's been fairly good, but I've found that it struggles a bit now streaming some of the newer media files. I am by no means a expert in technology and I haven't really kept up with the technology available out there.

My question are:
What's available out there that is a decent upgrade and easy to replace the current motherboard/CPU/GPU combo?
Also is it easy to replace a motherboard in a Freenas build?

My current build:
Processor: AMD E-350D APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics (2 cores) - https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/E350M1/
8GB ram
3 - 3TB wd hard drives
Coolmaster Elite 120 Advance case
Freenas running on a USB

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[chiman]

Also is it possible to switch to a Intel mother board with onboard CPU?

 

[Newfoundland.Republic]

Onboard CPU or GPU? Or, do you mean a motherboard that has the fixed (as opposed to socketed) CPU?

 

[chiman]

Onboard CPU or GPU? Or, do you mean a motherboard that has the fixed (as opposed to socketed) CPU?

Yes. I think it's called an embedded solution motherboard, where the CPU is stuck to the motherboard. They are basically low powered motherboard/CPU combos.

would this be a viable upgrade? https://www.amazon.ca/ASRock-J4105-ITX-2-5GHz-Mini-ITX-Motherboard/dp/B079GHRQD9

 

[Newfoundland.Republic]

I'm partial to server equipment/parts for servers How about something like this:https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Supermicro-...963480?hash=item3b3b2e5858:g:VEcAAOSwNopdrfEQ

 

[Newfoundland.Republic]

Now, this is pretty sweet (but pricy...) https://www.ebay.ca/itm/NEW-Supermi...735020?hash=item4d6557ce2c:g:rtsAAOSwhmJZ4j7P

 

[elorimer]

Yes. I think it's called an embedded solution motherboard, where the CPU is stuck to the motherboard. They are basically low powered motherboard/CPU combos.

would this be a viable upgrade? https://www.amazon.ca/ASRock-J4105-ITX-2-5GHz-Mini-ITX-Motherboard/dp/B079GHRQD9

I'm running the j5005 version of this with FreeNAS, working just fine at 22 watts with 3 4TB drives and 1 SSD boot drive. CPU has plenty of room for software Plex decoding. I'd switched the motherboard in to replace an AMD E2100/I board (which I repurposed purely for backup). It is a revelation how easy it is make a new install and import the existing pool.

The huge downside is no ECC memory and only 4 SATA ports. It's wrong for this application and I'll change it out when I see a better low power ECC alternative.

 

[chiman]

I'm partial to server equipment/parts for servers :) How about something like this:https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Supermicro-...963480?hash=item3b3b2e5858:g:VEcAAOSwNopdrfEQ

I've seen these as an option. A little bit expensive for my budget. I'll take a look though.

 

[chiman]

I'm running the j5005 version of this with FreeNAS, working just fine at 22 watts with 3 4TB drives and 1 SSD boot drive. CPU has plenty of room for software Plex decoding. I'd switched the motherboard in to replace an AMD E2100/I board (which I repurposed purely for backup). It is a revelation how easy it is make a new install and import the existing pool.

The huge downside is no ECC memory and only 4 SATA ports. It's wrong for this application and I'll change it out when I see a better low power ECC alternative.

I'll check this one out too. Is the j5005 a mini-itx board? I'm okay with 4 Sata ports. My current board is non-ecc. So ECC memory is preferred for zfs pool I read.

 

[chiman]

I'm running the j5005 version of this with FreeNAS, working just fine at 22 watts with 3 4TB drives and 1 SSD boot drive. CPU has plenty of room for software Plex decoding. I'd switched the motherboard in to replace an AMD E2100/I board (which I repurposed purely for backup). It is a revelation how easy it is make a new install and import the existing pool.

The huge downside is no ECC memory and only 4 SATA ports. It's wrong for this application and I'll change it out when I see a better low power ECC alternative.

Are you running your SSD through the M2 port or is a 2.5" form factor? I'm reading that the M2 port doesn't support SSD. Just checking.

 

[elorimer]

My SSD is on one of the SATA ports. The M2 port is just for WiFi/Bluetooth modules.