i3 + H55 for FreeBSD/ZFS-based NAS with transcoding

dighn

Lifer
Aug 12, 2001
22,820
4
81
My VIA C7-based file server is approaching capacity, and to upgrade it I'll need to use some kind of RAID-like setup, so I'm considering ZFS for its excellent fault detection and correction. The current hardware won't cut it for ZFS, so if I'm gonna upgrade, why not go the extra mile and make it do transcoding as well.

Anyway the requirements are:

- Reliable
- Relatively low power
- 4+ SATA ports (6 preferrable)
- Fast GigE
- 64-bit, 2GB+ (for ZFS)
- FreeBSD compatible
- Can transcode 720p .h264 MKVs (this is not a must)

It looks like an i3 530 and basically any H55-based mobo will do, but I've been out of the PC building scene for a while. Is there anything I'm overlooking?

Thanks
 

alyarb

Platinum Member
Jan 25, 2009
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0
76
for most applications, i3 is overpriced. for this system it's a perfect fit. everything you need comes on the board so all you need is the i3 and some RAM, unless your server's PSU lacks the 24-pin ATX. you might want that.
 

dighn

Lifer
Aug 12, 2001
22,820
4
81
I think my PSU is new enough but I'll check, thanks.

I just realized this NAS will be more powerful than my main machine... hmm
 

Blastman

Golden Member
Oct 21, 1999
1,758
0
76
If you're looking for low power consumption on a system that will be on 24/7, the i3-530 is probably the ticket.

See … review … where an i5-650 (3.2Ghz), just a faster i3 core with turbo, idled at just 27 watts.

I just built a i3-530 with a Gigabyte H55M-UD2H, but you will need to go with something the H55M-USB3 if you want RAID. Also, I used my 8 year old 20-pin ATX Enermax 350W power supply. The manual actually says my motherboard is compatible with a 20-pin ATX psu. Your old psu still needs a 4-pin +12v (EPS) connector. If your not running a quad core with a heavy duty graphics card, 20-pin will be fine (as will a 4-pin EPS connector into an 8-pin EPS motherboard). Under load they are < 100 watts.
 

dighn

Lifer
Aug 12, 2001
22,820
4
81
The PSU I have is the Corsair VX450 (450 W, yes I know it's vastly over speced but it was on sale and I thought upgrades were possible) so I think it should be fine.

Anyway looks like I'm on the right track, I'll be ordering:

i3 530
Asus P7H55-M Pro
G.SKILL 2x2GB RAM (it's on Asus's compat list)
+ some hard drives

I'll be using RAIDZ from ZFS so "hardware" RAID is unnecessary.

thanks for the input
 
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