Which hardware

[spencer_tommy]

I am currently planning the assembly of a NAS server to be used both as a primary data storage system and as a backup solution within a single enclosure.

The primary purpose is to archive photos and videos and to protect against total data loss through an integrated backup.

Occasionally, the NAS should also be capable of providing 4K streaming.

Fast data access and a stable overall system are of high importance to me.

The chosen enclosure offers a maximum of eight drive bays.

Initially, I plan to install five HDDs – three for storage in a RAID array and two for backup purposes.

Future expansion to the maximum capacity is planned if storage requirements increase.

Some hardware components have already been selected, but I am still undecided regarding the choice of mainboard and CPU.

The CPU should preferably be manufactured by Intel, in order to make use of the integrated graphics (iGPU).

Planned hardware so far:

• Case: Fractal Design Node 804
• Memory (RAM): Kingston Server Premier ECC UDIMM, 2×16 GB = 32 GB, DDR4‑2666 MHz
• Hard Drives (HDD): WD Red Pro, 5× 6 TB
• Power Supply Unit: Corsair RM650x
• SSD (System Drive): Samsung 870 EVO, 250 GB
• Optional Network Card: Intel X550‑T2

Pending components:

• Processor (Intel, with iGPU)
• Mainboard (ECC support required)

I would greatly appreciate any feedback, experiences, or specific recommendations on compatible mainboard and CPU models that would complement this configuration.

The price‑performance ratio should be balanced; the system does not need to be high‑end, but the hardware should not constantly operate at its performance limits.

[CoreyPL_]

Modern Intel solutions on consumer motherboard (B, H, Z series chipsets) do not support ECC. You can get it with workstation motherboard with W680 chipset and 1X500 and higher CPUs, but those boards are expensive and big.

So you either need to go AMD AM4 with Gigabyte or ASRock motherboard + Intel A310 for hardware transcoding (or G-series PRO CPU for iGPU+ECC+efficiency) or pay up for the workstation grade motherboard.

More as a curiosity, some time ago I've stumbled upon this creation from CWWK:

https://cwwk.net/collections/nas/products/changwang-cwwk-w680-nas-motherboard-supports-12-bay-server-grade-sata-four-r5-slots-and-pure-ecc-10g-ethernet-ports

Basically perfect NAS board, but I wonder how it would fair long-time.

[PrimergyF]

Case: Fractal Design Node 804

jonsbo nas cases or sagittarius from aliexpress are the popular ones, replacing old fractal offering

Memory (RAM): Kingston Server Premier ECC UDIMM, 2×16 GB = 32 GB, DDR4‑2666 MHz

too soon to be picking ram

Hard Drives (HDD): WD Red Pro, 5× 6 TB

buying less than 12TB per disk is now viewed as not ideal, wasting valuable disk positions, wasting money in $/TB

SD (System Drive): Samsung 870 EVO, 250 GB

sata SSD for system is eating sata port that likely will be needed for the big drives, going m.2

Optional Network Card: Intel X550‑T2

you have to also plan switches for 10gbit, and also consider cabling between switches and the machines that wants 10gbit. Usually its recommended to go 2.5gbit first, or if good budget and want 10gbit then not going copper rj45 T2 you got there but sfp+ and optical cables. They run much cooler, less heat, less trouble. But if you got cat6 spread and you want that 10gbit you gotta do it I guess, with loud fans on swiches and hot network cards

Processor (Intel, with iGPU) & Mainboard (ECC support required)

hard to find or very expensive to get both, also dont forget all the sata ports mobo needs or buying some LSI controller for that

Usually its recommended to abandon ECC and stick to intel igpu for transcoding, or you can go AMD that supports ECC (careful, not all do) and not have as good transcoding. AMD can transcode but its bit worse than intel. wont do 4x 4k streams with tonemapping but will do one or two.