Have a Super Micro 3U Chassis w/ Motherboard, reuse or replace?

[ItsAMeMario]

Hi Everyone,

I am looking for some advice before I upgrade my existing NAS, to get a few opinions on how others would proceed.

I currently have a supermicro 3U 16 Bay chassis, supporting E-ATX and ATX mobos, with a supermicro motherboard (X9DRD-7LN4F).  It is quite old, but I have specced it out with a full dual power supply for resiliency, low-ish (for a server, but still relatively loud) volume fans, etc.  It has dual E5-2620 V2 (CPU Mark 6250 x2 = 12500), with no QuickSync.  It has all 16 bays used (a couple SSDs for OS/VMs), though about 10 smaller disks that could be amalgamated with buying ~3 new large disks .  I have added an Nvidia GPU to do transcoding in plex.

I currently have it running Windows Server 2019, with StableBit DrivePool and snapraid to allow me to use different size disks.  I use it as a home lab, primarily running plex, but running a few various VMs for different functions that are not very intensive.

I have had it for a few years, and I have looked into what my options are, as it is very power hungry (using maybe 20% of the power of my entire home), noisy (not a huge deal, as I have it in a basement), and large.  Additionally I want to add HomeAssistant to this setup, but I am unable to pass through dongles for Zigbee, matter and Z-wave as required due to hyper-v restrictions.

Summary:
Current Specs:

• SuperMicro Chassis/Motherboard
  
• 64GB Ram
  
• Dual E5-2620 V2 (CPU Mark 6250 x2 = 12500)
  
• Windows Server 2019 with VMs for various functions
  
• SnapRAID and DrivePool to manage data
  

My current issues with this setup:

• Power Hungry (and loud)
  
• Unable to pass through dongles for z-wave etc. to allow home assistant use (will otherwise likely buy a mini-pc/rpi)
  
• Annoying to use containers within a Host > VM > Container setup, as opposed to directly on the host.  Not the end of the world, but adds a bit of complexity.
  

My future plans:

• Implement Home Assistant
  
• Likely move to UnRaid (I already own a perpetual license)
  
• Utilize a bunch more containers for various aspects, some of which are being done inside VMs now, some would be net new
  
• Replace hardware (Motherboard/CPU) with something more modern
  
• No need for GPU, as quicksync would cover transcoding
  

I am in no huge rush to replace this, I can run as is for a few years if needed before needing a major upgrade (at longest Jan 2029 when Server 2019 goes EoL), but I likely will need to procure something in the interim for Home Assistant (HA Green/Raspberry Pi), which then may be wasted when I upgrade this.

My Questions:

1. Based on my above specs, do people here think the value is in buying net new everything (besides disks, but I guess even the small disks could be replaced), or utilize the existing chassis, and fit a new (probably non-server grade) motherboard inside it?
   
2. Will I get value in upgrading to one of the recommended mobo/cpu combos with higher specs, mostly from an energy saving perspective?  This server costs me ~20USD/month in electricity to run, but I am not aware of how much is Disks and PSUs (which likely would remain) vs the other.
   

Thanks for the support!!

[ed]

1. Reuse the Supermicro Chassis and Motherboard?
Pros:

Cost-effective: Reusing the chassis and possibly the dual power supply could save you a lot of money, especially if the chassis is in good condition and can still support modern components.

Storage Bays: You have 16 bays, which is great for future-proofing if you want a lot of storage.

Reliability: Supermicro chassis are known for being robust and reliable, which is important for a NAS setup.

Cons:

Compatibility: Finding a modern motherboard that fits into a 3U chassis and supports the newer CPU sockets could be tricky. However, there are options, especially in the server motherboard space.

Power Efficiency: The E5-2620 V2 CPUs are quite old and power-hungry, especially compared to modern processors. Even with a dual power supply setup, newer processors will likely offer much better energy efficiency.

2. Upgrade to a Newer Setup (Mobo/CPU/Everything)?
Pros:

Energy Efficiency: Modern processors (e.g., AMD Ryzen or Intel Xeon E series) offer significant improvements in power efficiency. An upgrade could lower your electricity costs considerably, especially with tasks like transcoding, where QuickSync (available on Intel CPUs) can handle the load much more efficiently than your current GPU setup.

Performance: Moving to something like a Ryzen 5/7 or Intel Core i5/i7 will give you a big performance boost, especially with modern cores optimized for tasks like containerization, virtualization, and Home Assistant.

Better Support for Containers/VMs: You mentioned difficulties with containers in VMs. With a modern setup, you could run Docker and containers natively, eliminating the VM overhead and simplifying management.

Home Assistant Integration: The ability to pass through USB devices for Zigbee, Z-Wave, etc., will be easier with a modern system, avoiding the need for a separate mini-PC or Raspberry Pi.

Cons:

Cost: You’ll be looking at the cost of a new motherboard, CPU, RAM, and potentially a more efficient PSU. While not super expensive, it's definitely a significant investment compared to reusing your current setup.

Time and Effort: You'll need to rebuild your system from scratch, install new software, and migrate your data. It might also take some time to optimize the system for your needs.

3. Specific Advice for Your Situation:
Energy Consumption: A modern Ryzen or Intel system will likely use far less power. Even with a high-end CPU, the power draw could be reduced by 30-50% compared to your current setup, especially with more efficient RAM, lower power CPUs, and improved PSU designs. With your current system using $20/month in electricity, you could see significant savings over time.

Transcoding Needs: With modern CPUs and QuickSync support, your transcoding workload could be handled much more efficiently, which could allow you to downsize or remove the GPU altogether.

Chassis Reuse: You could potentially reuse the Supermicro chassis with a modern motherboard, but ensure it fits the new components. If you go this route, I recommend checking motherboard size compatibility and available cooling options. For example, a motherboard that supports ECC RAM (important for stability) or a low-power, multi-core CPU would be ideal.

4. Cost Comparison (Approximate):
New Hardware (Mobo + CPU + RAM):

A good modern motherboard with a Ryzen 5 or Intel Core i5: $200–$300

32GB DDR4 RAM (ECC if needed): $100–$150

Low-power PSU (if needed): $50–$100

Overall: ~$350–$550 for a new, efficient setup.

Reusing Current Chassis:

You could re-use your existing PSU and chassis, but you might need to buy a new motherboard, CPU, and RAM, especially if you're looking for modern features like PCIe 4.0, more efficient cores, or QuickSync.

Conclusion:
If you want to reduce noise and power consumption significantly while keeping flexibility for future expansion, I would recommend upgrading to a newer motherboard and CPU, possibly reusing the Supermicro chassis if it fits modern components. If you're primarily concerned about cost and don't mind some additional complexity in managing the system, you can try to reuse the chassis and update the motherboard and CPU for better power efficiency and performance.

Given your long-term plans for Home Assistant and containers, moving to a modern setup would likely save you time, energy, and complexity in the future.

[ItsAMeMario]

Thank you very much for your prompt reply! Lots of great information. I think I am going to make the jump and purchase some new hardware... now I just need to figure out what hardware to purchase!! Lots of good options!