DS380 Build Advice - First Time unRAID

[Tschuki]

Hello sirs!

 

I need your advice on my planned build.

I am coming from a LianLi with 6x2TB WD Reds in NAS4Free and like to go to a more expandable build.

 

I already purchased

• 2x 6TB WD Reds through a SuperBowl Deal 
• DS380.

I am wondering which MB, RAM and CPU I should get.

Also, do I need different coolers? 

 

I like to use all 8-bays in the case, so the configuration should support 8 SATA Ports.

For 8-Ports MBs I just found the ASRock - C236 WSI Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard, which is quite expensive.

Perhaps a less expensive MB with a SATA Expansion Card would be better?

 

This NAS should take of:

• Data Storage with 1-Parity Drive
• serving as a StreamServer for my Samsung 4k-TV (so usually no transcoding required)
• serve as a TorrentDL, with automatic episode downloader and sorting in the right directorys (just mentioning it, because I don't really know which dockers could handle it)
• use a VPN to connect to the outside world
• serve as a DC+ Server for LANs
• running 24/7

 

I know much more is possible with unRAID and VMs, but I cannot think of other use cases right now.

Also

• power efficient
• silent

 

 

Any suggestions for MB, CPU and RAM ?

 

Thank you

Cheers,

Tschuki
 

[tdallen]

Hello and welcome.

 

unRAID is a pretty light OS compared to Freenas.  In a minimal configuration you can run it on a Pentium and 4GB.  Since you want to run some Dockers, I'd suggest a Pentium G4560 or G4620 with 8GB as a starting point.  Three things you mentioned can add load to the system - transcoding, torrents, and OpenVPN.  It can make sense to upgrade to a Core i3/5 and more RAM.  At the high end you could go with a Core i5 or low end Xeon and 16GB of RAM.  Nothing you've mentioned suggests that you'll need more than that.

 

The ASRock WSI board has been used in a number of unRAID builds.  You can go cheaper but then you'll need a SATA controller - you definitely want an LSI based controller, not Marvel.  A lot of us in the US get LSI based cards on eBay.  I think ECC RAM makes sense in an always-on server, but it isn't a requirement for unRAID.  ECC requires specific motherboard support and a Pentium, Core i3 or Xeon.

 

There's a huge DS380 thread here that you should read, and I'd recommend searching the forums for more information.  It typically requires some easy cooling mods.

 

Lastly - it sounds like you are in Europe.  It's pretty hard for those of us in the US to make specific recommendations because prices and availability vary so much.  You might want to post what you are finding there for good prices so we can comment.  There are a number of European contributors on this forum, as well.

[Tschuki]

Thx tdallen,

 

i know about the cooling issues with the DS380 and I am willing to put some cardboard between

I will check out your recommendations! 

 

Thanks so much for your detailed reply! You're awesome!

And yeah, I'm from Germany

[Tschuki]

So......

 

I got the case at home. Now I am about to pull the trigger on the rest:

 

•  ASRock - C236 WSI Mini ITX LGA1151 Motherboard
• Intel Core i3 7100 2x 3.90GHz So.1151 BOX (this has ECC Support, right ? I googled it, and it seems so)
• 8GB of RAM , but unsure which manufactorer
• flat SATA cables
• PSU https://www.pccasegear.com/products/35146/corsair-sf450-450w-sfx-80-plus-gold-power-supply

Also, do I need an SSD Cache Drive ? I see many build guides with them in it.

 

Thanks for the help