AsRock X300 storage configuration for TrueNAS

[mobycl1ck]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some input or fresh ideas on storage configurations for the AsRock X300.

This compact little setup already has a 4650 APU, 16 GB DDR4 3200, and will serve as a remote TrueNAS server at my family’s house. Its compact size and low power draw were the main reasons for choosing this system.

Here’s the current storage layout: the motherboard has 2 SATA ports and 2 M.2 slots. Unfortunately, the WiFi card slot doesn’t support SATA expansion cards. With that in mind, these are the options I’m considering:

1. 2 x 2 TB NVMe in RAID1: This setup provides fault tolerance for one disk failure. I’d also use a single SATA SSD as a vDEV and dedicate the second SATA slot for OS storage.

1. 2 x 2 TB NVMe + 1 x 2 TB SSD in a ZFS Pool: This configuration would have lower read/write speeds, but all the drives would be part of the ZFS pool and I'll get more storage space. The remaining SATA slot would hold the OS storage.

1. 2 x 2 TB NVMe in RAID1 + 2 x identical SATA SSDs in RAID1: This offers fault tolerance for both the NVMes and the SATA drives, with the OS installed on a more reliable RAID base.

I’m going with 2 TB drives due to budget constraints, even with the Black Friday sales. Still kicking myself for not grabbing 4 TB NVMes when the 2 TB ones were going for $80!

Would love to hear your thoughts, suggestions, or feedback. Thanks in advance!