07-18-2025, 04:18 PM
Thanks for your message and for explaining what you’re looking to achieve — this is a really common scenario and you’re already thinking along the right lines. Downsizing from a big 2U Dell to something quieter, more power efficient, and still capable of ZFS is absolutely doable without compromising your use case.
You’ve already identified two key requirements: ZFS support and at least 6x 3.5” drive bays. Since you’re already on TrueNAS and ZFS, you can either continue to use TrueNAS on a custom build or consider an appliance that supports ZFS out of the box. For your mix of Plex (with hardware transcoding ideally using QuickSync) and qbittorrent, a self-built system makes the most sense.
The Jonsbo N4 is a good case to start with, as it comfortably fits 6+ drives and has decent airflow in a much smaller footprint than your rackmount. Pairing it with a Topton ITX board is an option, but you need to pick the right CPU. Ideally you’d want a 12th, 13th, or 14th gen Intel chip with QuickSync enabled, something like an i3-13100 or i5-12500/13500. Even an i3 is plenty for Plex with several 4K streams if QuickSync is being used. Those CPUs also have very low idle power, which suits your goal of efficiency.
For the rest of the build:
• 32GB ECC (if possible) or non-ECC RAM
• HBA or onboard SATA for at least 6 ports (some boards will need an HBA card to support 6+ drives)
• A small SSD for the OS (TrueNAS prefers its own boot device, not a partition of the storage pool)
• Optional NVMe for L2ARC or metadata if desired
If you really want an “appliance” feel, you could look at something like an iXsystems Mini R (which runs TrueNAS), but it will cost more than your stated budget and has limited customization. A DIY N4 build will give you the same functionality at a much lower price.
So in summary: keep the N4 idea, just be mindful of the board and CPU. Go with a recent Intel CPU with QuickSync, TrueNAS Scale installed on a separate SSD, and reuse your 6x18TB in a new pool. That will get you the quiet, compact, power-efficient Plex/ZFS NAS you’re looking for.
You’ve already identified two key requirements: ZFS support and at least 6x 3.5” drive bays. Since you’re already on TrueNAS and ZFS, you can either continue to use TrueNAS on a custom build or consider an appliance that supports ZFS out of the box. For your mix of Plex (with hardware transcoding ideally using QuickSync) and qbittorrent, a self-built system makes the most sense.
The Jonsbo N4 is a good case to start with, as it comfortably fits 6+ drives and has decent airflow in a much smaller footprint than your rackmount. Pairing it with a Topton ITX board is an option, but you need to pick the right CPU. Ideally you’d want a 12th, 13th, or 14th gen Intel chip with QuickSync enabled, something like an i3-13100 or i5-12500/13500. Even an i3 is plenty for Plex with several 4K streams if QuickSync is being used. Those CPUs also have very low idle power, which suits your goal of efficiency.
For the rest of the build:
• 32GB ECC (if possible) or non-ECC RAM
• HBA or onboard SATA for at least 6 ports (some boards will need an HBA card to support 6+ drives)
• A small SSD for the OS (TrueNAS prefers its own boot device, not a partition of the storage pool)
• Optional NVMe for L2ARC or metadata if desired
If you really want an “appliance” feel, you could look at something like an iXsystems Mini R (which runs TrueNAS), but it will cost more than your stated budget and has limited customization. A DIY N4 build will give you the same functionality at a much lower price.
So in summary: keep the N4 idea, just be mindful of the board and CPU. Go with a recent Intel CPU with QuickSync, TrueNAS Scale installed on a separate SSD, and reuse your 6x18TB in a new pool. That will get you the quiet, compact, power-efficient Plex/ZFS NAS you’re looking for.