First Unraid Build – A Bit Overkill, but Is It Solid for Expansion and Future Use?

Hey everyone,

I’ve been planning my first Unraid build, and I’ll admit right away — the parts list is probably a bit overkill for what I need today. I know I could go cheaper, but I’m trying to strike a balance between a solid baseline and some degree of future-proofing.

Here’s the current build:

PCPartPicker Part List: https://no.pcpartpicker.com/list/hCzVPJ

CPU: Intel Core i5-14600K 3.5 GHz 14-Core Processor (kr2706.00 @ Proshop)

CPU Cooler: be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 5 CPU Cooler (kr1280.00 @ Proshop)

Motherboard: ASRock Z790 Steel Legend WiFi ATX LGA1700 Motherboard (kr3030.00 @ Proshop)

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-5200 CL40 Memory (kr2053.00 @ NetOnNet)

Storage: Samsung 870 Evo 1 TB 2.5" Solid State Drive (kr1269.00 @ Proshop)

Storage: Seagate Exos X18 18 TB 3.5" 7200 RPM Internal Hard Drive (kr4908.00 @ kl.ink - OOS)

Storage: Seagate Exos X18 18 TB 3.5" 7200 RPM Internal Hard Drive (kr4908.00 @ kl.ink - OOS)

Storage: Seagate Exos X18 18 TB 3.5" 7200 RPM Internal Hard Drive (kr4908.00 @ kl.ink - OOS)

Case: Fractal Design Define 7 XL ATX Full Tower Case (kr2818.00 @ Proshop - OOS)

Power Supply: be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply (kr1364.00 @ Proshop)

Case Fan: Noctua NF-A14x25 G2 PWM Sx2-PP 91.6 CFM 140 mm Fans 2-Pack (kr1044.00 @ Proshop)

Case Fan: Noctua NF-A14x25 G2 PWM Sx2-PP 91.6 CFM 140 mm Fans 2-Pack (kr1044.00 @ Proshop)

Case Fan: Noctua NF-A14x25 G2 PWM Sx2-PP 91.6 CFM 140 mm Fans 2-Pack (kr1044.00 @ Proshop)

Total: kr32376.00

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-06-24 15:52 CEST+0200

My use case:

• Plex Media Server (mostly direct play for 1080p and 4K local playback, maybe 1–2 remote users with occasional HW transcoding)

• NAS functionality (media storage, parity drive, some Docker containers)

• Possibly light VMs in the future, and some minor automation stuff

• Want the option to expand with more HDDs over time, maybe up to 6–8 drives

What I’m looking for feedback on:

• Even if some parts are technically “too much” now, does this look like a build that makes sense long-term — especially with future HDD expansion in mind?

• Are there any obvious bottlenecks or dumb component choices I’ve missed (power draw, thermals, compatibility with Unraid, etc.)?

• Is there anything here that’s clearly overkill without offering real-world benefits for my use case?

• Any “you really should switch that part out” kind of feedback?

I already have a few old HDDs I’ll reuse initially, but I want to build a foundation that won’t need a total overhaul a year from now.

Appreciate any input — whether that’s “looks fine” or “swap X for Y, you’ll thank yourself later.” I’d rather get it right up front. Thanks!