NAS Build Recommendations

[Enquiries]

Hi,

I’m a huge fan of your YouTube channel & this website.

I want to build the ultimate future proof home NAS/server with a budget of up to 10,000 USD (there is no such thing as overkill). Also, I want a board with as many Gen 4 or 5 PCIe lanes as possible (x16 and x8).

The board, memory, chip, and etc are up to you.

I really appreciate your input. Thank you.

[ed]

With a $10,000 budget and the goal of a powerful, future-proof NAS/server build with extensive PCIe lanes and massive storage capacity, here’s a setup that should check all the boxes for performance, flexibility, and scalability. Let’s break down each component:

1. Motherboard & CPU
For this kind of setup, I’d suggest looking into server-grade or high-end workstation boards that support PCIe Gen 4 (or even Gen 5, though availability is limited) with multiple x16 and x8 lanes.

Motherboard: ASUS Pro WS WRX80E-SAGE SE WiFi (for AMD) or Supermicro’s X13 family (for Intel). These boards support a significant number of PCIe lanes and are well-suited for high-performance storage configurations.
CPU: AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 5995WX (for the ASUS board) or Intel Xeon W-3400 series (for the Supermicro board). These processors offer numerous cores and excellent multi-threading, which will be highly beneficial for data-intensive tasks.
2. Memory
Go big on RAM to handle caching, virtualization, and multitasking with ease:

Recommendation: 128GB–256GB of ECC DDR4/DDR5 RAM (depending on motherboard support) should ensure smooth operation under heavy workloads, plus ECC is essential for data integrity.
3. Storage Configuration
To hit 250TB, you’ll likely need to mix high-capacity HDDs for storage with SSDs for caching.

Primary Storage (HDD): 14x 18TB or 20TB Seagate Exos or Western Digital Ultrastar drives in RAID 6 or RAID 60 for redundancy. These drives are enterprise-grade, meaning they’re built for durability and heavy usage.
Cache (SSD): 4x 2TB NVMe SSDs, such as Samsung 990 Pro or Seagate FireCuda 530, configured for read/write caching. You can also consider using high-endurance SSDs for sustained performance (look for SSDs with high DWPD ratings, like the WD Red SN700 or Samsung 970 Pro).
4. RAID Controller & PCIe Expansion
For handling high data transfer rates across so many drives, a hardware RAID controller with robust caching support will help keep everything stable and fast.

RAID Card: HighPoint SSD7202 or Broadcom’s MegaRAID series. These are designed for extensive arrays and support NVMe caching for HDDs, ensuring fast response times.
Expansion Cards: Consider adding a 10GbE or 25GbE network card, especially if you want to future-proof for high-speed data access across your network.
5. Chassis
To house all those drives and keep the system cool, you’ll want a high-capacity NAS or server chassis with excellent airflow and modular bays.

Recommendation: Supermicro CSE-946ED-R2KJBOD (45-bay 4U) or a SilverStone RM43-320-RS 4U Rackmount. These offer ample drive bays and strong cooling, plus the form factor is flexible for rack or desktop mounting.
6. Power Supply
A high-wattage PSU with redundancy features will protect your data in case of power issues.

PSU: 1200W–1600W Platinum-rated PSU, like those from Corsair or EVGA. Redundant PSUs from Supermicro are also worth considering for a true enterprise setup.
7. Software
For managing your data, virtualization, and remote access:

OS: TrueNAS Scale (for advanced ZFS support), Unraid (for flexible storage pools and easy drive additions), or Proxmox VE if you’re running multiple VMs and containers.
Virtualization & Containers: If you plan to run applications or services directly on the server, using Docker or VMs through Proxmox can make the most of the hardware.
Estimated Cost
Motherboard & CPU: ~$4,000–$5,000
Memory: ~$1,000–$2,000
Storage (HDDs & SSDs): ~$3,000–$4,000
RAID Controller & Network Cards: ~$1,000
Chassis & PSU: ~$1,500
With this build, you’ll have a top-tier NAS/server capable of handling massive amounts of data reliably for years. Let me know if you have any questions or want more specific part suggestions. Enjoy building your ultimate NAS!