0-20k Need help with a (used?) budget low-power-usage build for a NAS.

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ykumar00

Contributor
Hello. People on FB marketplace listing their used-for-8-years, i3 2rd Gen PC for 6k INR, and 10+ year used laptops with broken screens and broken keys for 4k+. Literal EWaste is being listed. So I come to you for help.

I am planning to use no more than 2 HDDs with no Raid and a nightly incremental backup. (Not running any important services so some random downtime is ok) I would also prefer a USB 3 port for data import.

I plan on running the following services:
Immich (approx 250 GB of photos)
Plex + Sonarr + Radarr (NO Transcoding, all my files direct play with external SRT Subs)
Network storage with SMB.
A couple other small docker containers.
Click to expand...
I can use either Ubuntu Server or CasaOS or Unraid, or XPenology.

I'm currently running a RPi with a external USB HDD, But I want to expand to a server with SATA HDDs.

I was hoping to grad a used Optiplex i5 (4th/5th gen) machine with 8GB RAM for around 7-8k (without HDDs), but I can't see them listed anywhere within 10-12k.
Is that an unreasonable price?
How is the power usage on these things? Are they suitable to run 24/7? Or would you guys suggest a mini PC? (Can't seem to find any of these with SATA ports, even external)

Thank you in advance for your help!
 
ykumar00 said:
Hello. People on FB marketplace listing their used-for-8-years, i3 2rd Gen PC for 6k INR, and 10+ year used laptops with broken screens and broken keys for 4k+. Literal EWaste is being listed. So I come to you for help.

I am planning to use no more than 2 HDDs with no Raid and a nightly incremental backup. (Not running any important services so some random downtime is ok) I would also prefer a USB 3 port for data import.

I plan on running the following services:

I can use either Ubuntu Server or CasaOS or Unraid, or XPenology.

I'm currently running a RPi with a external USB HDD, But I want to expand to a server with SATA HDDs.

I was hoping to grad a used Optiplex i5 (4th/5th gen) machine with 8GB RAM for around 7-8k (without HDDs), but I can't see them listed anywhere within 10-12k.
Is that an unreasonable price?
How is the power usage on these things? Are they suitable to run 24/7? Or would you guys suggest a mini PC? (Can't seem to find any of these with SATA ports, even external)

Thank you in advance for your help!
Click to expand...
I think now a days you get one for around 10k!
 
princeoo7 said:
I think now a days you get one for around 10k!
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That looked appealing, but $119 is the price without RAM or power supply or HDD cables. To use it as a server the kit costs $160, plus $30 shipping, PLUS customs, and indian customs are notorious for charging 100% or MORE for customs lmao, not to mention the OLD CPU.
 
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Seems like an old thread, but building NAS is a little complex.
One of the best ways is to repurpose an old computer, remove all unnecessary peripherals. Then get used HDDs and install them.
Then run Open Media Vault or similar NAS OS.
 
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There's another cheaper but possibly riskier option to get NAS-like functionality. Use a 3.5-inch USB enclosure and external power adapter. Connect them to a Router that has a USB port. Configure SAMBA. This is useful for backups and occasional media consumption.
 
alap4m said:
There's another cheaper but possibly riskier option to get NAS-like functionality. Use a 3.5-inch USB enclosure and external power adapter. Connect them to a Router that has a USB port. Configure SAMBA. This is useful for backups and occasional media consumption.
Click to expand...
Router data access speeds are atrocious. Do not recommend going down that road.
 
alap4m said:
Seems like an old thread, but building NAS is a little complex.
One of the best ways is to repurpose an old computer, remove all unnecessary peripherals. Then get used HDDs and install them.
Then run Open Media Vault or similar NAS OS.
Click to expand...
I figured that, but its impossible to find a system with low power usage, and SATA ports. All mini PCs I've seen have only one 2.5' disk drive.

Also I plan to run a couple services on the Nas so usb to router won't work.
 
ykumar00 said:
I figured that, but its impossible to find a system with low power usage, and SATA ports. All mini PCs I've seen have only one 2.5' disk drive.

Also I plan to run a couple services on the Nas so usb to router won't work.
Click to expand...
Go for refurbished (used) CPU+Motherboard+RAM combo on eCommerce platforms. Then get the cheapest possible iTX or Mini-ATX Cabinet and Power-supply of about 240W. This could allow about 4 HDDs. Should be cheaper than off-the-shelf NAS and allow services.
 
alap4m said:
There's another cheaper but possibly riskier option to get NAS-like functionality. Use a 3.5-inch USB enclosure and external power adapter. Connect them to a Router that has a USB port. Configure SAMBA. This is useful for backups and occasional media consumption.
Click to expand...

It has its shortcomings but it is the easiest way out. Ive had a 5TB attached to Asus AC86u for quite sometime as basically a media server and even 65 GB movie rips work perfectly fine on Samsung TVs connected through LAN/wifi. For data transfers USB 3 is the limiting factor in most cases whether transferring through wifi or lan.
 
beanstalk_230 said:
For data transfers USB 3 is the limiting factor in most cases whether transferring through wifi or lan.
Click to expand...
It is not usb 3 but "implementation of usb 3" in routers that is the limiting factor. Gigabit lan has max speeds of ~110MB/s while wifi will never see gbps speeds unless using 4*4 MIMO client with an expensive router while on usb 3 achieving 500MB/s is very easy.

alap4m said:
Go for refurbished (used) CPU+Motherboard+RAM combo on eCommerce platforms. Then get the cheapest possible iTX or Mini-ATX Cabinet and Power-supply of about 240W. This could allow about 4 HDDs. Should be cheaper than off-the-shelf NAS and allow services.
Click to expand...
Unless talking about very old used itx mobos like 2nd/3rd gen pentium/celeron which btw comes with max 2 sata ports, you won't find any used itx mobo worth their asking price. Best option is only one, get used matx mobo which comes with at least 4 sata ports anyway & smallest cabinet to fit those 4 hdd.
ykumar00 said:
I figured that, but its impossible to find a system with low power usage, and SATA ports. All mini PCs I've seen have only one 2.5' disk drive.
Click to expand...
@aasimenator
 
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