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Suggestions for NAS

WhenKittensATK

WhenKittensATK

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 6, 2009
Messages
320
Background:
Earlier this year, I built a HTPC/NAS combo with the intention to split it once I received additional funds.

Purpose of Machine:
1) Storing/Streaming media files
2) Storing backups
3) Torrents and Streaming services (Plex Media Server)

Budget:
$200-300 (For CPU, Mobo, and Ram)

Currently Own:
3x Seagate ST3000DM001 3 TB (SATA 6 GB/s)
Seagate ST1500DL003-9VT16L 1.5 TB (SATA 6 GB/s)
Seagate ST31500341AS 1.5 TB. (SATA 3 GB/s)
Corsair CX430 V2 PSU
Chieftec Dragon Case (until I find something better)
All machines on network are running Windows + Nexus 7 Tablet.

Motherboard Features (I would like):
SATA 6 GB/s (Is it even necessary?)
mATX (unless an ATX board is much cheaper)
AMD APU / Intel Sandy Bridge (Celeron/Pentium)

Operating System:
Not sure, newbie at this. I've recevied suggestions from FreeNAS, WHS, WinServer2008/2012, and FreeBSD w/ ZFSGuru. I've browsed the ZFSGuru site and they really don't provide much information. The ZFS file system seems very interesting and I'm leaning more towards that than a Windows Server.
 
Where are you located?
If you need to buy an operating system, can it be included with the budget or will it have it's own budget?


For those mechanical hard drives SATA III is not needed since they don't saturate SATA II throughput. However, most boards these days have a couple or more SATA III ports anyway.
 
I live in Florida, United States (no access to Micro-center or Fry's in-store only deals). I have access to MSDNAA, so I have access to all of the M$ OS'. As for licenses for other OS, they will be considered in their own budget.
 
It can fit 6 HDDs. It was the case from my first build (years ago), so just going to use that since I already have it. Saves me $50-120 for now. I'll just wait for a good sale on a computer case that has a lot of hard drive bays facing towards the side panels.
 
Then check out this build:
$68 - Intel Pentium G860 CPU
$80 - MSI H77MA-G43 Intel H77 mATX Motherboard
$37 - Corsair CMV8GX3M2A1333C9 2 x 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM
---
Total: $185 shipped
 
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I saw this $70 ($50 after MIR) Biostar H77MU3 H77 mATX board. Its similar to the MSI board above, but a little cheaper. However, I couldn't find information if it supported UEFI BIOS or not. The manual on their site said UEFI, but I couldn't find anything else that did (not on any product pages).

Any thoughts about Biostar?

Also saw this $84 ($64 after MIR) Gigabyte GA-B75M-D3P B75 mATX. Has 8 on-board SATA ports.
 
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I'd stick with the MSI over that Biostar since it's guaranteed UEFI and it's slightly better reviewed.

That Gigabyte mobo is a relatively new mobo. As such, its quality and reliability can't be ascertained with any degree of certainty
 
ZFS is awesome but without the proper drives and memory for caching is almost not even worth it
 
I emailed Biostar's Tech Support and they verified that the H77MU3 has native UEFI support. It also seems that the Gigabyte GA-B75M-D3P is often for Hackintosh, however I can't say it'll be supported as well for FreeBSD.

kijikadal said:
ZFS is awesome but without the proper drives and memory for caching is almost not even worth it
Click to expand...
Not entirely sure if it'll be worth it for my uses. This is mostly a media server. It's mostly going to be Reads than Writes.

In any case I put together a build for ECC memory to see the price difference:
$64 - AMD Athlon II X3 450
$90 - ASUS M5A97 R2.0
$56 - Kingston 8GB (2x 4GB) DDR3 1333 (ECC Unbuffered) KVR1333D3E9SK2/8G
Total: $210

I haven't built an AMD rig since 2005-2006, so I have no clue about its hardware. If someone can think of a more efficient build for ECC memory, I'm all ears.
 
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Whether or not you should go for an AMD setup is pretty much determined by how absolutely sure you are about a ZFS setup. Going for an AMD setup will introduce certain issues.
 
After some snooping:
I can get an Athlon II + ASUS board + ECC memory for $175.
I can get an A4-3300 + MSI A55M-P33 + non-ECC memory for $110 before $20 MIR = $90.

Oh man, so many choices, now that I got them even cheaper its hard to choose.
 
No point in going AMD if you're not using ECC. That's pretty much AMD's sole advantage over Intel for ZFS since Intel uses less power, has higher single-threaded performance, and generates less heat.
 
What Athlon II would you recommend? Would an X2 or X3 be better for my usages? The combo I saw includes an X3 that unlocks to quad, but I can easily trade down to an X2 if its overkill to lower power consumption.
 
Krazyxazn said:
What Athlon II would you recommend? Would an X2 or X3 be better for my usages? The combo I saw includes an X3 that unlocks to quad, but I can easily trade down to an X2 if its overkill to lower power consumption.
Click to expand...
To be honest, I really can't recommend going AMD for the reasons I've already stated earlier. But if you really absolutely dead serious on ZFS and ECC, then go for the cheapest Athlon X2 to lessen your CPU per $ loss.
 
I can see your point, if I went with a Windows/Linux + Raid5 solution. I would have an easier time using torrenting and streaming apps. I think I would get the same usable space regardless of Raid5/Raidz-1. The Sandy Bridge Celeron/Pentiums are just too efficient compared to what AMD offers at the same price point. I'll have to think it over some.

Would I need to use expensive $100-300 Raid controller cards if I wanted to expand storage (if I went with Raid5)?

I really hate how inefficient these Athlon II CPUs are. I also really hate AMD and Intel for not including ECC on their APU and Celeron/Pentiums :p
 
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Krazyxazn said:
The Sandy Bridge Celeron/Pentiums are just too efficient compared to what Intel offers at the same price point. I'll have to think it over some.
Click to expand...
:confused:

The SB Celeron/Pentiums ARE Intel CPUs....
Krazyxazn said:
Would I need to use expensive $100-300 Raid controller cards if I wanted to expand storage (if I went with Raid5)?
Click to expand...
If you're using Windows, definitely yes. If you're using any non-Windows OS, then no you don't need such a card unless you need the extra ports.
 
I was able to pick up a Pentium G630 and 16 GB of RAM for $105 today. The Pentium G630 has similar performance to the Pentium G860. So not to shabby. I'll see if I can pick up an used motherboard instead, but if it comes to it I'll buy one of the above.
 
Hmmm, not what I would have done but whatever. Good luck with the build.
 
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