Creating a comprehensive home server solution
Creating a comprehensive home server solution
Hi, sorry for the repost but I wanted to make a proper thread. I've changed and added some components (increased budget) for better raid support (motherboard), gpus for passthrough/4k streaming and bigger case for more storage space. I still have some questions and wanted some advice about this build.
Why Are You Upgrading: I have this used pc that's my all-in-one home server, but it's getting slow, and hosting game servers (insert games here since putting the title is consider spam) is difficult with it. I wanted to build my own self-hosting server and plan to add more hard drive space later down the line. I wanted to run some vms (not all at once) that has windows 11/98 and fedora 42 (maybe some more in the future but I doubt).
Comments: My experience with the builtin ethernet port on my pc has been awful (both pc/server is using realtek), to the point where I had to waste a pcie slot for a network card, replacing my usb port pcie card on my main pc. I'm worried that I will need to the same on my server build. Also, this motherboard doesn't have enough sata ports. Does a pcie card with more than 6 sata ports (with hardware raid support) exist, or should I just replace my motherboard or is my build completely wrong? I have some spare drives that I want to mount, and this case supports up to 18 drive mounts. I'll also be buying more in the future, but not now.
My main concern is this: Will I need to buy a network card and are there even pcie cards that have more than 6 sata ports (that also supports raid)? Is my build optimal for my case or should I just rework everything?
Purchase Date: within this week, possibly earlier since theres some sales.
Budget Range: 2000-2500
Do you need to buy OS: No, wanted to try out proxmox but I'm used to truenas if that doesnt work.
System Usage from Most to Least Important: hosting a couple of game servers when needed, a couple of vms (windows/linux not running all at once), media content (jellyfin, immich, syncthing, nextcloud), Home Assistant and file storage. (I wouldn't say these are in order and wouldn't say that file storage isn't important)
Parts Not Required: PC accessories (mouse/keyboard/monitor/etc) only planning to buy the pc itself.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg, amazon, bestbuy preferred but willing to try other websites retail stores like micro center (the nearest one is 5 hours away from my home)
Location: Florida, United States
Preferences: No need for fancy rgb lights or anything like that, prefer to keep everything black.
Overclocking: No
SLI or Crossfire: No
PCPartPicker Part List:
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/zK8LRV
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7900X 4.7 GHz 12-Core Processor ($350.79 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 77 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($90.35 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus X870 MAX GAMING WIFI7 ATX AM5 Motherboard ($249.99 @ ASUS)
Memory: Patriot Viper Elite 5 Ultra 96 GB (2 x 48 GB) DDR5-6400 CL32 Memory ($295.53 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital WD_Black SN850X 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($94.99 @ SanDisk)
Storage: Seagate BarraCuda 24 TB 3.5" 7200 RPM Internal Hard Drive ($260.45 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate BarraCuda 24 TB 3.5" 7200 RPM Internal Hard Drive ($260.45 @ Newegg)
Video Card: PNY VCQP1000-PB Quadro P1000 4 GB Video Card ($145.87 @ Amazon)
Video Card: XFX Speedster SWFT 210 Core Radeon RX 7600 8 GB Video Card ($265.76 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Define 7 XL ATX Full Tower Case ($255.13 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Rosewill CMG1000G5 1000 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($127.56 @ Amazon)
Total: $2396.87
You haven't mentioned a budget.
If the VM feature is meant alongside the game servers, a high core count CPU will likely be needed. This can be achieved in several ways, but for a consumer desktop it usually means sticking with R9 AM5 options.
What are your plans for the base operating system? Are you aiming for a virtual environment focused on the main use case or using dedicated hardware?
My budget falls between 1800 and 2200, though I accidentally posted my thread before it was ready. Here’s what I currently have.
Sorry, I submitted my thread too soon and pressed enter instead of shifting plus enter to add a space
🙁
My budget range is 1800 - 2200
I was using TrueNAS for my server and I'm assuming on hardware is having my GPU pass through into one of my VMs for some light gaming.
PCPartPicker Part List:
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/3gJTcx
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7900X 4.7 GHz 12-Core Processor ($350.79 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 77 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($90.35 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI PRO B650-P WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard ($169.99 @ iBUYPOWER)
Memory: Silicon Power XPOWER Pulse Gaming 64 GB (2 x 32 GB) DDR5-6000 CL38 Memory ($202.52 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital WD_Black SN850X 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD ($94.99 @ SanDisk)
Storage: Seagate BarraCuda 24 TB 3.5" 7200 RPM Internal Hard Drive ($318.92 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate BarraCuda 24 TB 3.5" 7200 RPM Internal Hard Drive ($318.92 @ Newegg)
Case: DARKROCK Classico Storage Master ATX Mid Tower Case ($95.67 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Rosewill CMG1000G5 1000 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($127.56 @ Amazon)
Total: $1769.71
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-08-12 18:00 EDT-0400
A lot of this is going to depend on how many games or how many other things such as VM are going to be running at any given time, alongside how much storage you really need.
IMO there is already an issue with too little RAM and far too much dependence on HDD storage unless this is one or two use case scenario. If the system is going to be for watching movies and playing older games it may well be overkill but at that same time for modern games and quick access to mutiple VM you might be shooting it in the knee counting on platter storage.
I own a large collection of movies and TV shows from my Blu-ray/CD discs, which has used up quite a bit of hard drive space. I thought the RAM would suffice, but if you're suggesting I need more, could you recommend an appropriate amount or a specific brand? For gaming, I intend to play some older titles and newer ones, but I won't be using them in high graphics settings. Thank you.
A lot hinges on how many users are online at once and their activities.
My QNAP NAS handles it well with 16GB, maybe even better with 8.
It’s mainly about the VMs needing RAM, since each one uses its own dedicated section.
8 or 16GB per VM is a possibility.
Well honestly, I think I'll stay under four VMs and I forgot about the home assistant VM. I'm thinking about installing Windows 11, Windows 98, and Fedora 41. I'm not sure if going over 128GB would be necessary, and my motherboard seems to handle up to 192GB.