Node 804 build questions.

[Backs1de]

Hi there!! Long time lurker looking for some recommendations, i have updated the thread with the possible build.

What do you guys think?? Will it NAS? =)

UPDATED 3/25 with purchased parts.

I have so far:
Case: Fractal Designs Node 804 $69
Power: Corsair RM550x $49
Boot: 2x Intel 320 40gb SSD $12 x 2
Motherboard: Supermicro X10SLM-F $100
RAM: 16GB 2x 8BG Hynix HMT41GU7BFR8A-PB $80

Looking to buy:
CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231V3 3.40GHz $130
CPU Cooler: not sure here yet.
Storage: 3-6x WD Red NAS drives (waiting on sale)

Help me get this thing built, thank you in advance for your help.

 

[Chris Moore]

GPU: if needed, not quite sure on this or if i would need it to use a monitor with HDMI.

No GPU needed.

Motherboard: Supermicro mATX budget is under $200
CPU: Budget is under $150
RAM: 16GB or 32GB depending on storage selection/price

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/

 

[Chris Moore]

I was looking at a Xeon E5-2650v2 or E5-2680v2 but not sure what mATX motherboard

That might be nice, but I don't think there is a good system board for that processor in a mATX form factor.

 

[Yorick]

Do you have a couple weeks that you can wait for? You mention 4K transcode, and that’s a bit tricky. You could see how the hw transcode support turns out, if it does land in -U4. That may sway you towards a CPU with built-in GPU and a chipset to support that, rather than a very high pass mark.

Other options are to build in a Fractal Define R5 or R6 with the E5 you had in mind; or to front-load the transcode by storing a handbraked 1080p version of 4k files and using a CPU with neither the Passmark for 4K transcode nor a GPU. Plex will choose the right version of a file; there are some file naming conventions to follow if memory serves. Streaming a 4K HDR file to a 4K HDR capable device does not transcode.

 

[ian351c]

One thing to think about (at least I've noticed this with my Plex system, which I built in 2014 using a Xeon E5-1620v3 and an X10SRL-F) is that transcoding isn't needed as much these days. At least at my house, just about all my devices support HD/4k resolutions and the various media file container formats natively. For 4k media, I do the same thing that @Yorick mentions above: a file in 1080p and a file in 2160p for the same movie/show. The best part of having the 1080p files ready to go is that if transcoding in needed, it's a lot easier to transcode a 1080p file to whatever is needed (usually lower quality for mobile) than a 4k file.

 

[Backs1de]

Thank you for the suggestions, I definitely want to use the Node 804 since I already have it so I might just settle for no 4K for the moment and upgrade to a larger case in the future. So if 4K is out of the question what do you guys think of this bundle??

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/352611570885

(1) SuperMicro X10SLM+-F MotherBoard + I/O Shield​

(1) Intel Xeon E3-1220 v3 3.10GHz Quad Core CPU + Heat Sink​

(4) Kingston 8GB 2Rx8 PC3-12800E RAM KVR16E11/8 (32GB Total)​

(1) SAS9211-8i LSI 8-Port SAS 6Gbps / SATA 6Gbps PCIe​

(2) SuperMicro CBL0278L01 64cm Mini-SAS SFF-8087 to 4 x SATA Internal Cable​

 

[Yorick]

You may not need the HBA. You have six SATA ports on there, and can boot from USB 2 sticks.

You can consider this instead, should be very close in price:

X11SSH-F
E3-1225v6 for hw transcode
16GB ECC DDR4 UDIMM, Crucial, x2 if desired
Corsair Force MP300 120GB as a boot drive, M.2 PCIe x2

That way you get your 4k transcode via the built-in GPU.

Your build looks solid, the only thing I have no experience with is the KIngston RAM. Samsung ECC DDR3 off eBay may be an alternative.

 

[Backs1de]

You may not need the HBA. You have six SATA ports on there, and can boot from USB 2 sticks.

You can consider this instead, should be very close in price:

X11SSH-F
E3-1225v6 for hw transcode
16GB ECC DDR4 UDIMM, Crucial, x2 if desired
Corsair Force MP300 120GB as a boot drive, M.2 PCIe x2

That way you get your 4k transcode via the built-in GPU.

Your build looks solid, the only thing I have no experience with is the KIngston RAM. Samsung ECC DDR3 off eBay may be an alternative.

Hey thanks a lot but that bundle I posted is $265 on the eBay link I posted, the one you are suggesting is just around $240 for the cpu and $170 for motherboard that’s why i was wondering if it would be a good pick, I’m trying to finish the full build with storage under $1000 also I already have the boot SSDs.

I think this eBay bundle might be my best best, I can always switch out the ram for Samsung if I have problems during memtest.

What do you guys think on that deal for $265.

 

[xcqn]

Actually there is a good E5 board in mATX formfactor. The Supermicro X10SRM-F

Just recently built a system with this board in a Node 804.

Ability to use 128GB RDIMM (more in theory) is what made me choose this over an E3 board.

 

[Backs1de]

Actually there is a good E5 board in mATX formfactor. The Supermicro X10SRM-F

Just recently built a system with this board in a Node 804.

Ability to use 128GB RDIMM (more in theory) is what made me choose this over an E3 board.

Thank you so much for the recommendation, what cpu did you end up using? It looks completely out of my budget but worth the info ;)

 

[xcqn]

Thank you so much for the recommendation, what cpu did you end up using? It looks completely out of my budget but worth the info ;)

Intel Xeon E5 1620v3 (4c8t)

Motherboard isn’t cheap but maxed out at 64gb ram on a E3 build would probably cost more in the long run.

I don’t need the power really, i’d probably still be running my trusty old Intel Xeon E3 v2 machine that i built around 2013 if it were to support more ram. I’m maxed out.

This build will last me 10 year easily.

It can take 20++ core Xeons and at least 128gb ram. E3 is maxed out at 4c and 64gb ram.

Edit: one more thing. Ability to use RDIMM maked RAM cheaper!

 

[Backs1de]

Thank you so much for the recommendation, what cpu did you end up using?

Intel Xeon E5 1620v3 (4c8t)

Motherboard isn’t cheap but maxed out at 64gb ram on a E3 build would probably cost more in the long run.

I don’t need the power really, i’d probably still be running my trusty old Intel Xeon E3 v2 machine that i built around 2013 if it were to support more ram. I’m maxed out.

This build will last me 10 year easily.

It can take 20++ core Xeons and at least 128gb ram. E3 is maxed out at 4c and 64gb ram.

Edit: one more thing. Ability to use RDIMM maked RAM cheaper!

Thank you so much for the explanation it makes much more sense with the price and limitations of ram on the other setups. You rock

 

[Backs1de]

I updated the original post, what do you guys think about it? any suggestions?

 

[Yorick]

Looks good. My mobile doesn’t want to open the RAM link for some reason - as long as that’s supported on that board you’re good.

You don’t need or want a GPU. It wouldn’t serve any purpose with FreeNAS.