DIY Windows 10 Home/File Server

[chengsun]

This will be a little project for myself.

My Synology is more than 3 years old, no more warranty support. Instead of going for another ready-made NAS box, I am thinking to assemble 1 myself. I will use Windows 10 because I want to try out the Storage Space function and Windows is a platform I am more familiar with. It will be simple network sharing, for my other devices to access the datas. Other than that, I will use it for BitComet/uTorrent download and maybe set it up as Plex centre. It will be headless, I will only RDP in. I have no need to remotely access my data.

For processor, I am considering G4560. I do not need something more powerful I assume.

For MB, I have no idea yet. I want something that can accommodateat least 5 SATA (1 SSd and 4 HDD), but it seems that will be very expensive. My other option is to use a cheap, simple MB with maybe 2 SATA ports, and add on a HBA card or RAID card in HBA mode, to connect more SATA HDD. Which option is better, cheaper?

For RAM, I am thinking 8GB. Enough?

For Casing, I am considering eirther 1 of CM Silencio 452 or CM N300 or CM Elite 343. If I am not wrong, all these 3 cases can accommodate at least 4 HDD + 1 SSD at the same time. The 343 is the cheapest among all, $59.

PSU, no idea yet, any suggestion?

Windows 10 license, I have 1 lying around.

I hope to find out more information now, and determine my choice. Hopefully there will be promo during Black Friday.

For HDD, will be either Toshiba or Hitachi. I have an old 128GB SSD for OS as well.

 

[Elijahonli]

i have a similar diy nas setup that maybe u can take reference to?

Intel G3258 + GigaByte H97N-WIFI (6 Sata ports)
8gb ram
1*SSD
3*HDD
using a Fractal Node 304 case
Windows 10 Pro, however not using storage space, just normal share drives
running 24x7 qbittorrent&utorrent for RSS torrenting and folder monitoring

something u might want to consider is the space that ur DIY nas will take up, of course having something smaller would be that it would cost more to have more sata ports

i paid about close to 400 for the system, but for a potiential 6 drive bay setup, its considered low

 

[yusoffb01]

mine is
intel n3150
4gb ram
300w psu
1x hdd and 1x ssd
cooler master elite 110
on average use 15w.

used for ripping bluray iso, torrent, downloading, and uploading to google drive

 

[shiroyuki03]

i have a similar diy nas setup that maybe u can take reference to?

Intel G3258 + GigaByte H97N-WIFI (6 Sata ports)
8gb ram
1*SSD
3*HDD
using a Fractal Node 304 case
Windows 10 Pro, however not using storage space, just normal share drives
running 24x7 qbittorrent&utorrent for RSS torrenting and folder monitoring

something u might want to consider is the space that ur DIY nas will take up, of course having something smaller would be that it would cost more to have more sata ports

i paid about close to 400 for the system, but for a potiential 6 drive bay setup, its considered low

just to check with you.. your diy nas, are you able to connect remotely via phone to access your files? also, you are using windows os as the platform for your diy nas?

 

[yusoffb01]

If your nas is windows, you can also stream games

 

[Allanlee82]

you could always use teamviewer to remote into your system to perform any changes you want via phone or PC

if using though another pc, can drag and drop files also

 

[chengsun]

i have a similar diy nas setup that maybe u can take reference to?

Intel G3258 + GigaByte H97N-WIFI (6 Sata ports)
8gb ram
1*SSD
3*HDD
using a Fractal Node 304 case
Windows 10 Pro, however not using storage space, just normal share drives
running 24x7 qbittorrent&utorrent for RSS torrenting and folder monitoring

something u might want to consider is the space that ur DIY nas will take up, of course having something smaller would be that it would cost more to have more sata ports

i paid about close to 400 for the system, but for a potiential 6 drive bay setup, its considered low

Bro, may I know what is your LAN file transfer speed?
And, for $400, what are included?

 

[ov2rey]

Go amazon purchase

ASRock J3455
8GB LPDDR3
HGST 4TB x 2 or 4 as you like.
PSU 300w
Any cheap ITX casing.

And install freenas.

Everything settles.

ASRock J3455 only eat 10w and support 4k resolution display

 

[tmfwy]

Windows 10 File Server

Currently undergoing testing for fault redundancy

Under real world testing, still hitting 30W power consumption

J3455
8gb Ram
Raid HBA

I chose this case because it was a case built for NAS purposes
8x HDD Aluminium Case

File Transfer Speeds as per normal as if it is a local drive

I didn't go for G series Proc due to the power Draw.

 

[Elijahonli]

Bro, may I know what is your LAN file transfer speed?
And, for $400, what are included?

actual cost is 449

Parts include
Intel G3258
GigaByte H97N-WIFI (6 Sata ports, Dual gigabit Lan, WIFI)
2x4gb ram
Seasonic S12G-450W
Fractal 304 Case

lan xfer speed should be same as hdd transfer speed

tested copying one file from my nas to my desktop SSD, getting about 81MB/s

 

[chengsun]

Currently undergoing testing for fault redundancy

Under real world testing, still hitting 30W power consumption

J3455
8gb Ram
Raid HBA

I chose this case because it was a case built for NAS purposes
8x HDD Aluminium Case

File Transfer Speeds as per normal as if it is a local drive

I didn't go for G series Proc due to the power Draw.

is G series processors drawing a lot more power than J?

 

[chengsun]

Did a bit more reading, it seems all B250 series MB have 6 SATA ports. Think I will couple G4560 with any of the cheaper B250 MB, but still will set me back about $210.

 

[kracie17]

Currently undergoing testing for fault redundancy


Under real world testing, still hitting 30W power consumption

J3455
8gb Ram
Raid HBA

I chose this case because it was a case built for NAS purposes
8x HDD Aluminium Case

File Transfer Speeds as per normal as if it is a local drive

I didn't go for G series Proc due to the power Draw.

hi. may i know what is the OS you use for your nas?

 

[tmfwy]

hi. may i know what is the OS you use for your nas?

Basic Windows 10 Home / Pro ( whichever one you have )

 

[kracie17]

Basic Windows 10 Home / Pro ( whichever one you have )

are you able to access your diy nas via externally, meaning outside of your home network? is it connected via ftp?

 

[tmfwy]

You can config the PC to be able to be accessed externally. Port forwarding, Firewall...etc
BUT
I did not allow the DIY NAS to be able to be accessed externally for security reasons

I have a cheapo throwaway synology for external access for data that is not sensitive.

 

[chengsun]

are you able to access your diy nas via externally, meaning outside of your home network? is it connected via ftp?

I think you need to be more specific, as in, access in what way? If you want to control your Windows NAS, you can use teamviewer, or configure portforwarding and ddns in your router to allow RDP access. If you are talking about accessibg/consuming the data inyou NAS, I think there is no Windows builtin function for that but you can always use Dropbox or Google drive, ect.

 

[kracie17]

You can config the PC to be able to be accessed externally. Port forwarding, Firewall...etc
BUT
I did not allow the DIY NAS to be able to be accessed externally for security reasons

I have a cheapo throwaway synology for external access for data that is not sensitive.

your diy nas is meant for home server like? is win server 2012 any better than win 10?

 

[kracie17]

I think you need to be more specific, as in, access in what way? If you want to control your Windows NAS, you can use teamviewer, or configure portforwarding and ddns in your router to allow RDP access. If you are talking about accessibg/consuming the data inyou NAS, I think there is no Windows builtin function for that but you can always use Dropbox or Google drive, ect.

accessing it like dropbox. alright! thanks for the tip!

 

[tmfwy]

your diy nas is meant for home server like? is win server 2012 any better than win 10?

To me, its the same

I use the NAS as a shared storage

Any one of the PCs in my home can connect to the NAS work off central storage
Eg: Outlook, LightRoom, Video Editing Projects