Inquiry about which hardware to get for a NAS build.

[Enquiries]

Hi guys, I'm looking to build a NAS server for home use. I plan to run TrueNAS. I already purchased 6 harddisks for a raidz2 pool. Use cases for the system will be storage of my linux iso collection, and docker host for a bunch of apps like home assistant, adguard or pi-hole, plex or JF, the *arr apps, immich, maybe some game servers, password vault, and a few others. I'm looking to get pointers as to which hardware - case included - would be suited for this. A requirement is at least 2.5GBASE-T support as I will be upgrading my home network (currently 1Gbit). Any guidance you can provide would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance for your time!
Greets, Matt

[ed]

Thanks for reaching out! It’s exciting that you’re building your own NAS for home use, and running TrueNAS is a solid choice for flexibility, especially for a homelab setup like yours.

Here are some pointers to guide you in your hardware selection:

1. Motherboard and CPU
Since you plan to run several apps and possibly Docker containers (including Home Assistant, Plex, and others), you’ll want a decent CPU that can handle multi-threaded workloads. Here are a few options:

Intel: A low-power i3 or i5 (with at least 4 cores) will work well for Docker and VM hosting. Look for a motherboard with at least 2.5GbE or 10GbE support for future-proofing.
AMD: If you’re looking for a more cost-effective solution, the AMD Ryzen 3 or Ryzen 5 series should suffice, and some motherboards offer better storage options and expanded NVMe slots.
2. Storage and Expansion
For your RAIDZ2 pool, you’ve already purchased the 6 x 20TB spinning disks, which are great for bulk storage.
For faster storage, you’ll want an SSD or NVMe for the OS, Docker containers, and caching. A 2TB SATA SSD would be a good balance between price and performance. If you want even faster performance, you can look into NVMe drives.
Consider getting a motherboard with M.2 slots if you want to use NVMe for both OS and caching.
3. Networking
Since you’re upgrading to 2.5GbE or higher, look for motherboards with built-in 2.5G support. You can also add a 2.5GbE PCIe card if your motherboard doesn’t have one.
If you’re considering 10GbE down the line for faster transfers (especially for large media libraries like Plex), you may want to invest in a 10GbE card now or later.
4. Case and Cooling
You’ll need a case with at least 6-8 bays for your spinning disks and possibly some SSDs. Make sure the case is compatible with larger storage drives and offers good airflow.
Fractal Design Define R5/R6: A solid option with plenty of space for drives and great airflow.
Silverstone CS380: A great NAS case with 8 bays, which could give you future expansion if you plan on adding more drives.
Supermicro CSE-825: If you want a more professional, rack-mounted case with hot-swappable drive bays.
5. Power Supply
Since you’ll be using several hard drives, make sure to get a quality power supply that can handle the load. A 550W to 750W PSU should be sufficient depending on your total hardware.
6. Other Considerations
Make sure your motherboard has plenty of SATA ports for your 6 drives.
If you plan on running VMs, ensure the CPU supports virtualization (Intel VT-x or AMD-V).
You can always add additional PCIe cards later for things like 10GbE networking or additional NVMe slots for more storage.
Recommended Build:
Motherboard: ASUS TUF B550M-PLUS (Wi-Fi) or ASRock X570M
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600G (or Intel i5-12400)
Memory: 16GB DDR4 (expandable if you want more RAM for VMs)
Storage:
6 x 20TB HDDs in RAIDZ2 (already purchased)
2TB SATA SSD or NVMe for OS and cache
Network: Built-in 2.5GbE (or PCIe card for 2.5GbE)
Case: Fractal Design Define R6 (for storage and airflow)
Power Supply: Corsair RM750x 750W