NAS build platform suggestions

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bubsterboo

Member
Dec 15, 2019
42
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Hey Guys,

Starting yet another NAS build thread.
I'm looking for mobo/cpu platforms for a freenas build which fit my requirements but are also financially concious.

Some requirements
- Will run freenas exclusively.
- I have 6x sata drives to use. Potentially some sata SSDs for caching. Must have 6+ sata ports or PCIE expansion lanes available for controller.
- 10gbe networking is required. This can be via an expansion card if lanes are available.
- IPMI is required
- Power consumption matters. No need for a 150w TDP CPU. I expect this unit to be on 24/7


From the little research ive done there are a few nice looking mini itx boards on the horizon.
This one would be super nice - ASRock Rack > X570D4I-2T
But probably overkill and expensive.

Is there a specific platform you would recommend? Atom? PentiumD? It doesn't have to be microitx.
A good deal on a motherboard from an older generation platform but still without crazy TDP would be pretty tempting.

Thoughts?
Thanks!
 

Rand__

Well-Known Member
Mar 6, 2014
6,626
1,767
113
Why not an older Xeon E3 system - should be cheap enough, not too thirsty and have more then enough performance.

Going for a specialized platform/size always adds to the price
 

ajs

Active Member
Mar 27, 2018
101
36
28
Minnesota
I'd go with an Atom 3000 processor, or EPYC equivalent. There are plenty of boards with all the goodies integrated (10Gb lan, SAS, etc). Look at supermicro and asrockrack for their offerings.

You are going to pay for it though, but taking all the features into account it makes it easier to stomach the price tag.
 
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