First FreeNAS build

[polandll]

Usage: The NAS is to replace my old ReadyNAS, and is to be used for:

• Plex media server
• Backup server for 2 Macbooks and 1-2 Windows 10 laptops that can be backed up to CrashPlan (business acct now, I guess)
• Media file storage (photos, videos, music, docs)
• The ReadyNAS will be backup for this server, since it's not very useful at this point

I'm in IT, so I know my way around a computer, both hardware and software. I have limited requirements for both backup and media, as our collection of media isn't that large. I currently use the ReadyNAS for backup, media storage and Plex media server, and it has about 1.6T used.

Proposed Specification:
CASE: Corsair Vengeance C70 (OK, dumb choice, but I've lusted after it for years)
PSU: SeaSonic - G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply (big enough?)
MOBO: SuperMicro X10SRi-F [LGA 2011, 10* SATA 6Gb/s, USB 3.0, Dual Intel Gigabit LAN, IPMI Port, ATX (Need BIOS v2.0+)]
CPU: Intel Xeon E5-1650 [v4 Broadwell, 3.6 GHz, LGA 2011-3, 140W, BX80660E51650V4]
CPU FAN: Noctua - NH-D9DX i4 3U 46.4 CFM CPU Cooler
RAM: I had intended to use 32GB Crucial 288-pin RDIMM (2 x 16GB) DDR4-2133 ECC memory, but I now can't find it anywhere. Need suggestion.
BOOT DRIVE: Samsung MZ-75E500B/AM 850 EVO 500GB 2.5" SATA3 Internal SSD Hard Drive (I know it's overkill.)
DATA DRIVE: WD Red 4TB x 2 in RAID (add more as needed later)

Feedback on the proposed specification is welcomed. I've pieced this together from a couple of other forum builds, but I'd rather than make some fatal mistake. I based this on Hazimil's post and Stux's post, both of which are bigger systems than I need. I'd rather overbuild a bit, because I probably have the same problem at home that many of you have ("you're replacing that computer already?") and so I'd like to futureproof just a wee bit.

Thanks,
Lorina

 

[Ericloewe]

It seems like massive overkill... Why Xeon E5?

 

[polandll]

It seems like massive overkill... Why Xeon E5?

Well, I do have some thought of using it to spin up VMs to try things out. Although I mostly do that through work on work systems, that was the idea. You are probably right. But I also saw that you recommended the E5-1650 as a good CPU choice.

 

[Jailer]

Well with 1.6TB of data your building a server that is going to be about %50 full right from the get go. I'd go with 2 larger drives or if you want 4TB drives start with 4 of them.

 

[danb35]

But I also saw that you recommended the E5-1650 as a good CPU choice.

It is a good CPU choice for many applications, and I'm sure it would work very well for you. But for your stated use case, it's gross overkill. Even an E3-1230 would be overkill, but not so much so (and considerably less expensive).

 

[polandll]

It is a good CPU choice for many applications, and I'm sure it would work very well for you. But for your stated use case, it's gross overkill. Even an E3-1230 would be overkill, but not so much so (and considerably less expensive).

OK, I appreciate the feedback. I just didn't want to underbuild, but clearly I overshot by too much.

 

[Dice]

Plex media server

Depending on the number of simultaneous transcodes there might be some merit to having a hot shot cpu.
In case the number is 1-2 of <transcodes> not <streams>, you'd get away with an i3-6100 at 1/3 of the cost of a 1230v5.

However, since throwing money at the problem doesn't seem to bother you, I'd get the 1230v5.

For fun and reference I run a boatload of VM's (powered via ESXi ) on my all in one box.
2x Win7, 1x Pihole, 1x pfsense, 1x FreeNAS, 1x debian.
All from one i3-6100.

Cheers.

 

[BigDave]

Xeon E3-1240 v5 $294 - X11SSM-F $200 - 16GB ECC RAM x2 $400 - Supermicro 32GB SATA DOM $65
Four 6TB WD Reds $852 - Corsair case from above $130 - Seasonic PSU from above $69

My recommendations, spending about 200.00 more and a 300% increase in the storage capacity!

 

[polandll]

Revised Proposed Specification:
CASE: Corsair Vengeance C70 (OK, still a dumb choice, but I still lust after it)
PSU: SeaSonic - G 550W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply
MOBO: SuperMicro X11SSM-F-O Micro ATX Server Motherboard LGA 1151 Intel C236
CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 Skylake Processor 3.7 GHz 8.0GT/s 3MV LGA1151
CPU FAN: None
RAM: Crucial 16GB DDR4 2133 MHz UDIMM Memory Module X 2 (32 GB)
BOOT DRIVE: SanDisk SSD Plus 2.5" 120 GB Internal SSD
DATA DRIVE: WD Red 6TB x 2 in RAID (add more later)

I'm still undecided whether to use the i3-6100 or an E3-1230 v5. For the difference of $140 for double the passmark value, it hardly seems worth being cheap. But you all are probably correct, and I just don't need the extra horsepower. This system comes in new at about $1300.

Thanks for the help. Please let me know if I've goofed up anything on this second pass at a spec.

 

[BigDave]

If the Core i3 is your choice, I invite you to consider:

i3-6100 @ 3.70 GHz with 3 MB cache $107.99 SuperBiiz

VS

i3-6300 @ 3.80 GHz with 4 MB cache $137.57 Fry's Electronics

 

[guermantes]

In regards to the revised specs isn't here an incompatibility between the RAM and the CPU? The i3-6100 is specced for RAM at 1.35 V while the proposed RAM is 1.2 V. The motherboard manual also specifies supported voltage at 1.2 V while saying nothing about any other voltage, so is really a CPU that wants RAM at 1.35 V okay for the X11SSM?

(Yes, I know it says the 6th Gen i3 are supported on the X11SSM, but I wonder how that can be when that CPU wants memory of another voltage than the Motherboard)

 

[Ericloewe]

In regards to the revised specs isn't here an incompatibility between the RAM and the CPU? The i3-6100 is specced for RAM at 1.35 V while the proposed RAM is 1.2 V. The motherboard manual also specifies supported voltage at 1.2 V while saying nothing about any other voltage, so is really a CPU that wants RAM at 1.35 V okay for the X11SSM?

(Yes, I know it says the 6th Gen i3 are supported on the X11SSM, but I wonder how that can be when that CPU wants memory of another voltage than the Motherboard)

That's just the voltage for DDR3, since Skylake IMCs only support DDR3 at 1.35V.

 

[guermantes]

So I was misreading the ark.intel specs. Thanks for clearing that out for me!
Is it then also correct that I should stay away from DDR4-2400 RAM (PC19200) if I want to use this processor, since the ark.intel page only mentions DDR4-1866/2133?

 

[Ericloewe]

No, it will just run at the fastest compatible speed.

 

[Chris Moore]

I'm still undecided whether to use the i3-6100 or an E3-1230 v5. For the difference of $140 for double the passmark value, it hardly seems worth being cheap. But you all are probably correct, and I just don't need the extra horsepower. This system comes in new at about $1300.

I would go for the Xeon CPU, I did in my current builds. I have never had a complaint about my systems being too powerful, but I did a past build with a Pentium and complained about it not having enough resources...

 

[Chris Moore]

CASE: Corsair Vengeance C70 (OK, dumb choice, but I've lusted after it for years)

I have wanted one of those myself. I don't have an excuse to buy one though. :)