I am starting to build my first unRAID server (actually my first server ever, my first non-Windows PC, and my second self-built PC at all) and am looking for advise where to start and what hardware to get. I am particularly surprised that hardware seems to be quite expensive, or at least more expensive than I thought---I was under the impression that a server doesn't need much more than some old components that you have lying around. Particularly the cases (and HDD cages) seem to be expensive, where I thought these matter the least since the server will be somewhere in the basement or another place where look and noise don't matter much.

 

Here is what I am looking for:

 

• Purpose: Media & Backup Server
  
• Applications: Serving media files to HTPCs, acting as central file server for normal workstations, being used as backup server, downloading torrents/NZBs, converting files for iOS devices
  
• Budget: money is not an issue, but I want to save where I can. In particular, I don't care much about look or noise since the server will be hidden somewhere.
  
• Drives & Expandibility: I currently have one external 2TB USB drive (WD Green) which is almost full (thus the wish to build a server now). My goal is to start small and then add new drives whenever needed. Thus, I want to start with the smallest drive configuration which is more than 2TB, and expand from that point on. I probably will stick with the green ones, but actualy was going to ask on the forums what the best drives are for an unRAID server.
  
• Spare Parts: My old PC consisting of a full-size tower, AMD Athlon, Gigabyte board, Graphics card, RAM, CD-Rom; my old laptop, a Lenovo ThinkPad Edge with an i3-380UM “Arrandale-3M” 1333 MHz, 2GB DDR3 Ram, etc. (see here)
  
• Addons: SABnzbd/CouchPotato/SickBeard, unTorrent, mySQL Server; maybe: AirVideo, HTTP server (with PHP), streaming, playing with other stuff like IP telephony
  

Your server doesn't have to be expensive.  A few drives in a standard tower case is more than adequate as long as your needs remain small.  In my forum surfing it seems most experienced builders recognize that building a server with room to grow means spending money up front for fewer hassles down the road when it comes time to add more hard drives.

 

Somebody posted a few weeks back about how the drive cages are overkill for a small server with a few hard drives but they become essential when you've got 10 or more drives in your system.  So if you want to start small then don't worry about the cages, focus on an excellent motherboard and processor. 

 

Your old PC may be adequate for serving up unRAID, but I doubt it can deliver all the addons you've got listed if its an older single-core.  But I expect the case and PSU should be fine for an entry level server as long as you have a motherboard with enough SATA ports (three are the minumum to fully make use of the free version of unRAID.)

 

Just some thoughts.  I got my server started small and I don't have any addons.  I'm running the basic AMD Sempron 145 on a AsRock 880GM-LE FX motherboard.  WD Red 3TB for parity and a couple of Seagate 2 TB drives for data.  Not counting hard drives I think I spent under $200 for CPU, MB, PSU, case, and RAM.  This will hold me until I get more than 6 drives.

 

I'm one of those guys who likes to put old computer equipment to use, but if the stuff is more than a few years old you'll probably be better off buying new.  Also put some thought (and money) into a decent uninterruptable power supply.  If you've got an old one of those around, new batteries can be had for a reasonable amount.  Good luck, and don't worry too much - just put it together and boot up unRAID.  You'll know soon enough if you need to upgrade your parts.

Start off with what you have lying around.. Allmost anything will do.

 

Most people however come to the conclusion that they now HAVE this system makes for data (media) to be collected and makes it necessary to expand, or get some extra horsepower in to make that last plugin fit a bit more nicely..

 

I would however advice on starting with any old stuff.. Even if you know the case will not hold enough drives, just make do and check out if you like it, if so: then do some soulsearching to find out what you will need in future and buy specifically for that scenario..

 

My setup (and the setup of a lot of people) does what your requirements are. Does not need a really fast system, it is worthwhile however to not buy the cheapest possible motherboard but spend time on getting a system with a lot of sata connectors, that will save on expansion cards in the future..

For hard drives, the best bang for the dollar is 3TB drives.  If you want max capacity, 4TB drives are the way to go.  I would get two, 3TB drives the next time they go on sale, you could get 3.  That will let you use the free version of unraid to get your feet wet in your current hardware.  You will be very surprised at how fast you burn though storage at first.

 

If you think you will be expanding the system over time, and Unraid is the way to go, then buy a Norco 4224 case if you have room and go from there.  You will not believe how much easier it is with cages if you are going to expand the system.  I would then wait to R5 stabilizes to decide on the motherboard.  If i was doing it again, I would probably spend the little bit more upfront an go the super micro route with  multiple PCI-e 4X slots to support more drives.

 

Better to spend a little more to upfront to get a good flexible system upfront then to have re-buy parts to expand.  I have come to the conclusion overt time that on the majority of purchases, I am to poor to purchase the cheapest solution.    Better to spend more upfront and do it correct the first time.