sneer

Budget: 500-600 - it is more learning kind of thing than "my life depends on this data" project 🙂 Hardware (to be bought): Dell Precision T7610, Xeon E5-2603 v2, 64GB ECC 1866Mhz (found one for ~ 300USD) Drives: 8TB Iron Wolf or 4x3TB Seagate NAS drives (both availabe for 150usd secind hand - have not decided which one would be better) There is included 500GB SSD and 1TB HDD in this dell server. But I was thinking it would be better to get 1 at the time with bigger capacity and expand over time if it flays, that populate all slots with smaller drives - is it even doable? Expandability, long term goal: CPU upgrade if needed. Would changing to something like Xeon E5-2637 v2 have significant benefits at start of this project (3.4 instead of 1.8 GHz)? Additional apps: Docker, VM, Jellyfin Spare parts: - Main desktop: i5-11700k, 32GB, 4,5TB (2x 500GB, 1x2TB m.2 and 500GB m.2 as system), RTX3070 - eGPU RTX3060Ti, and old GTX 1070 - Synology 920+ 4x4TB GOAL: First of all I want to learn. Second - have a decent performance VMs running on it - I have in mind that I would be able to run 2 VMs on this server connected through 1Gb LAN cable to my laptop (to make my office dead silent), with option to access it outside also: - 1st running GTX 1070, or 3060Ti - for games and fun (i know 3060Ti is a bit overkill, but it is what it is) - 2nd just for office work - only CPU and RAM (or 1070 if it fits) Apart from it, I would like it to use for streaming media (jellyifn), open for outside access - streaming, and leave Synology as main Backup device for all files or second backup for important files (this is why I am not afraid to put used drives in it, or run old hardware). *Optional option 🙂 : My livingroom rig is quite powerfull (listed above), I was also thinking to convert it into NAS/VM runner. But I am a bit afraid that something may break and I will not be able to revert it to previous state - it is in constant leisure use. (I have it configured the way I want, lots of games and apps - connected to 4k 120Hz display - I guess this may be an issue to make VM support this resolution, unless I spend tons of money on active HDMI cables right? ~30m distance) What do you - people with experience - think about my idea? Am I crazy, or is it doable?