NAS build upgrade (low power)

[skit]

Hi,

I currently have a E350 based NAS wich was fine (excellent for power usage) until a couple of days ago when I started messing around with VMs and now I find the need for more cpu power.

So I would like to possibly upgrade it to a Micro ATX (maybe FM2) mobo and corresponding CPU.

I would like some recommendations please. My main concern is idle power usage. Im trying to find a solution with a power consumption as close to the E350 (that is, very low) as possible.

I was considering going with an AMD Trinity cpu (possible solution: A4-5300). GPU power is useless. It needs to be good enough for 1080p transcoding btw.

Thank you!

Current specs:
OS: OpenMediaVault (basically Debian)
CPU: E350 (1.6Ghz/2C)
Mobo: Asus E35M1 Deluxe + HP Quad gigabit pci-e
Mem: 8GB
Disks: 4x WD20EARX

 

[skit]

After some reading I'm also condering a 3220T to be an option.
Or even a "normal" 3220 since most people and reviews claim the idle pw consumption is exactly the same.

Any advice?

 

[Dangman]

Personally, I go with the 3220 due to the better clock for clock performance. With that said, the AMD FM2 route would get you mobos with 8 SATA ports for a lot less than the Intel route.

 

[skit]

Thanks.

I don't really mind about the SATA ports to be honest. I've been considering a M1015 if I end up growing the array a lot more (but I can't see it happening soon).

My main focus really is PW consumption. I do need a "bigger" CPU but I can't 'afford' to see the difference on the electricity bill.

I've been reading some reviews but the idle/load pw cons. numbers differ so much from review to review I can't make my mind up!

 

[Aesma]

With the i3 and a good mobo (C2XX chipset) you can use ECC memory, not so with the AMD APU.