microserver gen8 vs custom build for esxi

[mihaii]

Current situation:

I have a custom build ESXI G2030, 16GB RAM non ECC, 500GB datastore and 2 physical disks (1TB+2TB)

I wanna dig deeper into VMware, but I exclude the Xeon / ECC ram because of the costs
I currently use it as a fileserver machine, some airvideo transcoding, a vpn (openvpn)
In the future i'm planning a Windows Server for tests + windows clients, additional linux machines

Basically I would like a machine to act both as server and storage (it will have 2x2TB or 4x2TB) that doesn't consume a lot in idle (let's say 30W) and silent (it's 5 meters away from my bed)

My options are a microserver gen8 G2020T, 2GB RAM, 2x2TB HDD for about 400 euro to use for storage or try to build a custom machine and get a better result for the money.

I took a NAS into consideration, but I find it more expensive than the microserver and less useful.

Pluses and minuses for the microserver:
+ small, compact machine
+ILO
+cheap
+ RAID
- expensive memory
- no VT-D
- noisy

Pluses and minuses for custom build
+ more powerful (if properly chosen)
+ more than 4 hdd
+ silent (if properly chosen)
+ VT-D
- no RAID (what is a good cheap raid card to get?)
- more bulky
- no ILO

Can you give me some examples of decent custom builds? (no Xeon or ECC RAM)

 

[Siba]

I built the following in an Antec ISK110 using the provided dc-dc PSU:

Intel i5 4590S
Asrock E3C224D2i motherboard
16gb PNY DDR3
Samsung 850 EVO 250gb
Noctua NH-L9i

You can fit a second 2.5" drive, either a 2tb spinpoint m9t or a second SSD in the case. I'm very satisfied with my build, it's tiny and silent beyond 6 inches in most scenarios.