Advice On First Unraid Server Built From 2 PC's Please


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Hi Everyone,

 

Looking to build an Unraid Server utilising the parts from the below PC’s that I have. May also add a 10tb WD Elements drive to the server and additional 16gb DDR4 memory if needed. The Server will be used primarily as a Plex Server and running a few dockers such as Radarr, Sonarr, Sabnzb and maybe a few others as needed. Would also like to backup my Mac to it. Cant see myself running any VM’s, like I said primarily a Plex Server. The Server will live in the media cabinet as there is nowhere else it can go so that it can be directly connected to the router. Is there any parts that you think that I should change over or add to the build please advice.

 

Current HTPC

Case – Corsair Air 240

Mainboard – Asus Z170M-Plus MATX Board

Cpu – Intel I5 6400 Skylake Socket 1151 LGA @2.70Ghz

Cooler – Noctua Low Profile NH-L9i Intel CPU Cooler

Memory – Corsair 8GB DDR4 Vengeance LPX 2666MHz (1066Mhz)

Graphics Card – EVGA Nvidia Geforce GTX 1050 TI 4GB GDDR5

SanDisk 256GB X400 Fast M.2 SATA SSD/Solid State Drive

HDD 2×6tb 1×4tb

PSU – Seasonic EVO 620W Full Modular Power Supply

 

Personal PC

Case – Corsair Obsidian 550D (To big to go in the media cabinet)

Mainboard – Asus Z170-K Skylake ATX Board

Cpu – Intel I5 6500 Skylake Socket 1151 LGA @3.2Ghz

Cooler – Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo Cooler

Memory – Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2*8GB) DDR4 LPX 2666 (1066Mhz)

Graphics Card – ATI Radeon HD 4600 Series 1GB

HDD – 1*4tb 1*3tb Kingston 240GB SSD V300

PSU – Corsair RM 550W Gold

 

Old Htpc

Case – Zalman HD160XT

Specs – To old to use.

 

Unraid Server 1st Draft

Case – Zalman (can handle 5*3.5 drives) or Corsair Air 240 (can handle 3*3.5 drives) or open to suggestions for something more suitable.

Mainboard – Asus Z170M-Plus MATX Board

Cpu – Intel I5 6400 Skylake Socket 1151 LGA @2.70Ghz

Cooler – Noctua Low Profile NH-L9i Intel CPU Cooler

Memory – Corsair 8GB DDR4 Vengeance LPX 2666MHz (1066Mhz)

Graphics Card – EVGA Nvidia Geforce GTX 1050 TI 4GB GDDR5

HDD 2×6tb (New 10tb as parity drive) or 1*6tb parity 1*6 and 1*4 for media as I only have 5tb of data and add the 10tb when needed?

SanDisk 256GB X400 Fast M.2 SATA SSD/Solid State Drive (for caching??)

PSU – Seasonic EVO 620W Full Modular Power Supply

 

Client

Should I build another HTPC with the left over parts or go for Nvidia Shield Pro 2019 or Apple 4K TV as a client which I think would be easier and less hassle than building another HTPC.

The client will be connected via ethernet and also connected to a Denon 3300W via HDMI

Other Equipment used is a Sony 4K TV and 5.1 Surround Speakers.

Would be using it for Plex Client, Amazon Prime, Youtube and possible IPTV

I am also looking towards getting an Asus Router to add VPN safety.

 

Day to Day I use an Imac.

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2 hours ago, SteveA said:

to backup my Mac to it

 

2 hours ago, SteveA said:

Day to Day I use an Imac.

Some MAC user report slow in network transfer, so suggest put either PC in Unraid and minimise the change, make sure outcome full-fill your requirement first.

 

I will use 6500 for Unraid, because higher base clock, and 6400 would't save much power.

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Thanks Benson

I can always continue to use the hdd connected to the mac for time machine so its not a big deal, would just of been nice to have everything in one place.

I will use the 6500 in the build as you suggested may have upgrade the fans as well as they seem a little loud ( stock fans with the Corsair Air 240)

 

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

Hi,

Have decided to change up a couple of things. Have gone for a Fractal Design 7 case and an additional 16GB Memory. Will also re-apply thermal paste as i have ordered some new. Question i have is do i need a graphics card if am only using the server as a plex server and not doing VM's?? Also i brought a 14TB WD elements external drive should i use it just as an external backup or would it be better used as a parity drive??

Thanks

Steve

 

Unraid Server 2nd Draft

 

Case – Fractal Design 7

Mainboard – Asus Z170M-Plus MATX Board

Cpu – Intel I5 6500 Skylake Socket 1151 LGA @3.2Ghz

Cooler – Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo Cooler

Memory – Corsair 32GB DDR4 Vengeance LPX 2666MHz (1066Mhz)

Graphics Card – EVGA Nvidia Geforce GTX 1050 TI 4GB GDDR5

Hardrives  – 2x6tbHDD 1x4tbHDD  1x3tbHDD  240GB Kingston SSD And A SanDisk 256GB M.2 Sata For Caching 

PSU – Seasonic EVO 620W Full Modular Power Supply

 

Edited by SteveA
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4 hours ago, SteveA said:

Also i brought a 14TB WD elements external drive

I won't use it as parity, its too big and waste too much.

Better don't connect thr USB, shuck it and connect thr SATA. If you like you can use a 5.25 SATA dock to connect it. 

 

https://www.icydock.com/goods.php?id=283

 

It can connect 2.5 and 3.5 HDD, but I am not sure the 5.25 available if you put Fractal disk plate in different location.

 

1550691468848249150.jpg

 

Edited by Benson
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Hi Benson,

Yeah i was thinking along the lines of it being to big, Ive just brought a 8tb WD external disk, am just running the WD extended test on the drive through usb to check the drives ok then am going to shuck it and use it as parity drive. The 14tb drive i think am going to put on eBay. Its only a month old and their about £270 new so hopefully should most of my money back that i paid for it.

 

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