Hello all. 

 

I'm looking into rebuilding an old unraid server that was built using different parts scrapped from different computers. 

 

This is what i have for now. 

 

Gigabyte Z97X SLI-CF with i5-4570 and 32 gig of ram. 

I have a 10 disk licence with 8 disk main array and 2 ssds for cache. 

i use it as storage and Plex server with some heavy transcoding because i have bad users in my family. 😄 

 

I'm looking for some good advice as to what i need to look for in order to renew my hardware. i wont be renewing the storage s it is already good.

 

Sata connectors is not a problem because i have a IBM sas 8 port controlleur in IT Mode. and it has been working fine. Maybe i would look into replacing my SSDs for cache and replace them with nvme for beter performance. 

 

might also add a nvidia GPU for transcoding instead of using integrated GPU.

 

Many thanks for your suggestions. 

 

👋Hey tomtom,

Your current setup has clearly been getting the job done nicely, but if you're feeling it's time for an upgrade without touching your storage drives, here are a few exciting improvements you might consider to refresh and enhance your Unraid server:

1. CPU & Motherboard Upgrade

-Since you do heavy Plex transcoding, upgrading to a newer platform with Quick Sync or dedicated GPU transcoding will make a huge difference.

-If you're an Intel guy, consider 10th-gen and up (i.e., i5-10600, i7-11700, or newer) for better integrated Quick Sync performance.

-If you prefer AMD, look at Ryzen 5000/7000 series, but keep in mind that AMD lacks Quick Sync, so a dedicated GPU is recommended.

 

2. Dedicated GPU for Plex Transcoding

-Adding an NVIDIA GPU for transcoding is a solid move. Some good options:

-----Quadro P2000/P4000 – Hardware unlocked for unlimited Plex transcodes.

-----T400/T600/T1000 (Ampere-based) – Efficient, supports newer codecs.

-----RTX 3050/3060 – Consumer-grade but works well with Plex.

-Be sure to patch Plex’s hardware transcoding limit if using a consumer GPU.

 

3. NVMe Cache Upgrade

-Replacing your SATA SSD cache with NVMe is a great idea for improved performance, especially if you deal with large file transfers.

-Consider a PCIe 3.0 or 4.0 NVMe drive, depending on your motherboard.

-If your board lacks NVMe slots, you can use a PCIe adapter (just be aware of the the potential bottlenecks and issues here).

 

4. Power Supply & Cooling Considerations

-Ensure your PSU can handle a GPU upgrade (look for 80+ Gold or up with sufficient wattage).

-Improved cooling may be needed if you’re adding more powerful components (I'm an air cooled guy in my server. Liquid + Data = No from me dawg).

 

Your IBM SAS controller in IT Mode is a solid choice (same here!), no need to change that unless you’re looking to expand your storage. I tried to throw a little bit of everything in here for you with a CPU/motherboard upgrade, a dedicated GPU for Plex, and NVMe cache, you should see a big performance boost without having to overhaul the whole system (semi-budget friendly depending on what/when you buy it).

 

If you have any questions or ever want to pick my brain some more, feel free to reach out, always happy to help! Wishing you the best of luck with the rebuild! Hope it all comes together smoothly.

Best & Success,

-DirtyDarrell