I am going to build my first unRaid server. I am planning to use following parts. Mostly I will be using it for Plex streaming.

 

CPU :  Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor

MOBO : Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard

Memory : PNY XLR8 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory

Case : Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case

PSU :  Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply

Cache : Corsair Force LS 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive

Parity : Seagate Desktop HDD 4TB 3.5" 5900RPM Internal Hard Drive

 

Let me know if it looks good.

 

My only concern is the PSU you've identified.  I don't have any firsthand experience with the Corsair CX line, but I recall reading here that they don't have the reliability that many builders are looking for.  It may have been the TX line, hopefully someone with some experience with this unit can give you better information.

 

You can get an 80 Plus Gold PSU for not much more money.  In addition to being a better quality product you would likely save money over the long term.  The deciding factors in doing a cost comparison are your cost per kilowatt-hour for electricity, the amount of uptime for the server, and the average power draw for the entire system.

 

You can estimate the annual electricity costs by doing the following calculation:

 

AnnualKWH = SystemPower * 365 * Uptime / PSUEfficiency / 1000

 

AnnualCost = AnnualKWH * CostPerKWH

 

If your system draws 100 W of DC power from the PSU, your electricity costs $0.15 per KWH, and your uptime is 24/7 then the annual electricity costs are roughly:

 

Bronze:  100 * 365* 24 / 85% / 1000 * 0.15 = $154.59

 

Gold:  100 * 365 * 24 / 90% / 1000 * 0.15 = $146.00

 

Over three years time, you save $25 in electricity costs.  This analysis changes based on your actual usage and power costs.  I find it worthwhile to compare several PSUs at differing load ratings to see how the economics pan out.  When looking at total costs of ownership over three years, the bronze and the gold usually come out even.  If you need a lot more power or your electricity is really expensive then the gold will definitely win out over the bronze.

 

Details on individual power supplies are available at http://www.plugloadsolutions.com/80pluspowersupplies.aspx

 

What I suggest you take away from this is to realize that saving $20 at purchase may end up costing you more in the end, or at least be a wash.  So buy a good quality PSU that has the features you want and don't let purchase price be the driving factor.

CPU :  Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor

Unless the price makes this a moot point the "K" series indicates an unlocked CPU which is pointless for unRAID.

 

MOBO : Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SLI ATX LGA1150 Motherboard

You will need to use unRAID v6 due to the network chip or use an add-in network card to use unRAID v5.

 

What is your use expectations?

Thanks Chugiak !!

 

I will look into better power supplies. Do you have any PSU in your mind that you can suggest?

 

 

mr-hexen

 

My mostly usage of this as Plex Media Server. I may use two 1080 streams simultaneously thats why I am planning to use i5 processor. I am not sure sure why you said that I can not use i5 4690K.

 

 

I didnt say you couldnt use it, just that the "K" series indicates an unlocked processor for overclocking which is not something you should do with a server. You could save some money and get a non "K" series CPU.

Corsair power supplies are fine, but I don't recommend using a CX series unit.

 

The TX and HX series are MUCH better choices.  There's a nice rebate at the moment on this excellent HX unit:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139012

 

I have a corsair TX650 for sale if you're in Canada

I am in USA. Also reason I bought i5 4690K is I got good deal at my local Microcenter CPU + MOBO = $249.00.

Depending on your needs, you might consider the following:

 

Low power, the SilverStone SST-ST30SF.  Mid power the SeaSonic SSR 450RM, and for higher power needs the Rosewill CAPSTONE 550M.

 

These ones come up as being the least cost of the few I analyzed.  Features and reliability will no doubt affect your decision but the first two brands are rock solid in PSUs.  I think Rosewill is on the road to excellence but doesn't have the reputation yet of SilverStone or SeaSonic.

 

This is just based on average power costs.  You want to make sure your selected PSU can also deliver the power needed during max draw, such as bootup.