05-31-2024, 12:38 PM
Your plan to build a low-power homelab with the specified hardware and software setup sounds feasible and well thought out. Here are a few considerations and suggestions to ensure everything works smoothly and efficiently:
Hardware
Motherboard (ASRock B760M-ITX) and CPU (i5-13600):
The ASRock B760M-ITX is a solid choice for a compact build, and the i5-13600 should provide ample processing power for your intended workloads, including virtualization and running multiple services.
RAM (32GB single stick):
For TrueNAS and virtualization, consider adding a second stick of 32GB RAM in the future to benefit from dual-channel memory, which can improve performance. However, starting with a single 32GB stick is fine for now.
Storage (1TB Samsung 990 and 5x20TB Seagate Exos X20):
The Samsung 990 SSD is an excellent choice for fast storage, ideal for the operating system and VMs/containers.
RAID 5 with 5x20TB drives will provide a good balance between redundancy and usable storage (approximately 80TB usable space).
PCI Card for Extra SATA Ports:
Ensure the PCI card is compatible with your motherboard and has enough ports to support all your drives.
Case (Jonsbo N2):
The Jonsbo N2 is compact and should accommodate your hardware, but make sure there is adequate cooling and airflow, especially with multiple drives and a relatively powerful CPU.
Software
TrueNAS SCALE:
TrueNAS SCALE is a robust choice for managing storage and running applications in containers/VMs. It's well-suited for your needs, including data storage, media server (Jellyfin), home automation (Home Assistant), and other services.
Virtualization and Containers:
Your planned services (Home Assistant, Jellyfin, Sonarr, Adguard, Nextcloud, Vaultwarden) should run smoothly on TrueNAS SCALE. Just ensure you allocate enough resources (CPU, RAM) to each VM/container based on its requirements.
Network
Deco X60 Routers:
While Deco X60 routers are good, they lack 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports, which might limit your network speed, especially if you plan to stream high-definition content or transfer large files frequently. However, for most home use cases, Gigabit Ethernet should suffice.
Power Consumption
Power Consumption Estimate:
Your estimated power consumption of 90kWh per month sounds reasonable for the hardware listed. This translates to an average of about 125W continuous power draw (90kWh/720 hours).
Budget Consideration
With a budget of $1000, here are some cost considerations:
CPU: Intel i5-13600 (around $250)
Motherboard: ASRock B760M-ITX (around $150)
RAM: 32GB single stick (around $100)
SSD: 1TB Samsung 990 (around $100)
HDDs: 5x20TB Seagate Exos X20 (approximately $300-400 each, totaling around $1500-$2000)
PCI Card: Extra SATA ports card (around $50)
Case: Jonsbo N2 (around $100)
The total for the hard drives alone exceeds your budget, so you might need to adjust your budget or purchase drives incrementally.
Hardware
Motherboard (ASRock B760M-ITX) and CPU (i5-13600):
The ASRock B760M-ITX is a solid choice for a compact build, and the i5-13600 should provide ample processing power for your intended workloads, including virtualization and running multiple services.
RAM (32GB single stick):
For TrueNAS and virtualization, consider adding a second stick of 32GB RAM in the future to benefit from dual-channel memory, which can improve performance. However, starting with a single 32GB stick is fine for now.
Storage (1TB Samsung 990 and 5x20TB Seagate Exos X20):
The Samsung 990 SSD is an excellent choice for fast storage, ideal for the operating system and VMs/containers.
RAID 5 with 5x20TB drives will provide a good balance between redundancy and usable storage (approximately 80TB usable space).
PCI Card for Extra SATA Ports:
Ensure the PCI card is compatible with your motherboard and has enough ports to support all your drives.
Case (Jonsbo N2):
The Jonsbo N2 is compact and should accommodate your hardware, but make sure there is adequate cooling and airflow, especially with multiple drives and a relatively powerful CPU.
Software
TrueNAS SCALE:
TrueNAS SCALE is a robust choice for managing storage and running applications in containers/VMs. It's well-suited for your needs, including data storage, media server (Jellyfin), home automation (Home Assistant), and other services.
Virtualization and Containers:
Your planned services (Home Assistant, Jellyfin, Sonarr, Adguard, Nextcloud, Vaultwarden) should run smoothly on TrueNAS SCALE. Just ensure you allocate enough resources (CPU, RAM) to each VM/container based on its requirements.
Network
Deco X60 Routers:
While Deco X60 routers are good, they lack 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports, which might limit your network speed, especially if you plan to stream high-definition content or transfer large files frequently. However, for most home use cases, Gigabit Ethernet should suffice.
Power Consumption
Power Consumption Estimate:
Your estimated power consumption of 90kWh per month sounds reasonable for the hardware listed. This translates to an average of about 125W continuous power draw (90kWh/720 hours).
Budget Consideration
With a budget of $1000, here are some cost considerations:
CPU: Intel i5-13600 (around $250)
Motherboard: ASRock B760M-ITX (around $150)
RAM: 32GB single stick (around $100)
SSD: 1TB Samsung 990 (around $100)
HDDs: 5x20TB Seagate Exos X20 (approximately $300-400 each, totaling around $1500-$2000)
PCI Card: Extra SATA ports card (around $50)
Case: Jonsbo N2 (around $100)
The total for the hard drives alone exceeds your budget, so you might need to adjust your budget or purchase drives incrementally.