Creating a PC to substitute a NAS
Creating a PC to substitute a NAS
Hi everyone!
I’m currently using a NAS for these tasks:
- Running a torrent client
- Running a Plex or Emby media server
- Storing photos and videos
- Running Home Assistant
Because Synology is becoming costly, especially with their own HDD/SSD needs, I’m thinking about building a small PC that can handle everything 24/7 while using reasonable power. Since it will run continuously, power consumption should be a priority in my recommendations. There could also be some 4K movie transcoding involved, so that’s something to keep in mind.
I assume Windows will likely be the operating system. It would be nice if I could upgrade the PC later if the hardware ever proves inadequate.
What are your thoughts—is this a solid idea, or should I stick with a NAS instead?
Thanks a lot!
No requirement for Windows...
Check out "TrueNAS" (previously known as "Free NAS").
https://www.truenas.com/freenas/
https://www.truenas.com/blog/hardware-guide/#:~:text=In celebration of the upcoming FreeNAS
Specifically:
https://www.truenas.com/truenas-community-edition/
Just a note: this isn't an endorsement or recommendation.
Other ideas and suggestions might be shared.
But it's worth taking a look while you can.
Concerning 4K movie conversion, are you planning to edit home recordings, such as GoPro clips, adjust resolutions (from 4K down to 1080p), or handle other tasks?
I operate four TrueNAS servers, but I find it simpler to work with videos in a Windows setup. Using Topaz Video AI for enhancement and stabilization, Handbrake for standard conversion, and Premiere Pro for editing works well.
Converting lengthy 4K videos demands significant CPU and GPU resources, which can be challenging if you aim to complete the job quickly. This might conflict with your goal of minimizing continuous power usage.
It would be wise to retain your older Synology device as a photo archive (provided the storage is ample), while setting up a Windows-based system for more demanding processing and possibly as a video repository. The key factor depends on how rapidly your video/photo collection grows each year. I estimate adding around 600GB of RAW, JPG, and MOV files during every four-week break.
My outdated Xeon HP Servers (8-disk RAID-Z2) use about 100W—less efficient compared to current hardware—but my Windows 7950X/RTX 4070 model consumes roughly 420W during 4K conversions. Two systems, different power demands. I don’t run any machines around the clock (which would cost me approximately US $0.33 per kWhr).
Have you thought about using QNAP to avoid purchasing Synology-branded drives for some of their newer mid-to-high models?
Even better, as @Ralston18 mentions, you can adapt almost any older PC to run TrueNAS. One of my 8-disk TrueNAS servers runs on a worn-out 4-core AMD FM2 processor—sufficient for basic storage but not for advanced plugins.
The essential needs for a simple TrueNAS installation are ample RAM (at least 16GB is ideal) and booting from a compact SSD, not a USB stick. I use 64GB ECC RAM in the HP servers, whereas my desktop PC uses 16GB non-ECC. I start TrueNAS on the HP’s from 32GB mSATA SSDs.