NAS & VM-Server Hardware design

[Enquiries]

I'm preparing to build a NAS/VM-server with future capability to expand or change components. I like it quiet and not too power hungry, while making use of sufficient CPU and expandable memory. In later stage I'll invest in additional Nvme's for caching read and write.

I'm thinking of these components:
Case Fractal Design Define R6 Black
Motherboard ASUS PRIME X670-P-CSM
CPU amd-ryzen-7-9700x-boxed
DDR5-ECC Memory 2x Kingston KSM48E40BD8KI-32HA
PSU Cooler Master MWE Gold 750 - V2 ATX 3.0
CPU-Cooler Noctua NH-D12L chromax.black
HDD's MDD - HGST DC HC510 10TB 7200RPM 256MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5in Enterprise Hard Drive - HUH721010ALE604 (Renewed)

Thanks for your advice

Frans

[ed]

Thank you for sharing the details of your planned NAS/VM-server build. Your choices reflect a well-thought-out balance between performance, future scalability, and power efficiency. Below are my thoughts and recommendations for your setup:

Case: Fractal Design Define R6
A solid choice. The Define R6 is well-known for its quiet operation and excellent thermal management. Its modular design will make component upgrades and storage expansions straightforward.

Motherboard: ASUS PRIME X670-P-CSM
This motherboard provides good support for your needs, with its modern chipset, ECC memory compatibility, and PCIe 5.0. It's a robust foundation for a build that will handle both NAS functions and VMs efficiently.

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
The Ryzen 7 9700X is powerful enough for VM workloads and NAS tasks. While it lacks native ECC support (like most Ryzen processors), ECC often works on the memory controller level and should still function with your chosen RAM. If ECC is a critical requirement, you might consider a motherboard/CPU combination from AMD's EPYC or Intel Xeon line.

Memory: Kingston DDR5-ECC 2x32GB
This is an excellent choice for virtualization. With 64GB, you’ll have plenty of headroom for running multiple VMs and caching. DDR5 ECC ensures data integrity, which is a key feature for any NAS.

PSU: Cooler Master MWE Gold 750W
The 750W rating is more than sufficient for your build, leaving room for future expansion (e.g., adding NVMe drives or more HDDs). The Gold efficiency rating aligns well with your desire for a power-efficient setup.

CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D12L chromax.black
Noctua coolers are exceptional for quiet operation and efficient cooling. This model will keep your CPU cool even under heavy VM workloads.

HDDs: HGST DC HC510 (10TB, Renewed)
HGST drives are highly reliable, even in a renewed state, and their 7200 RPM speed with a 256MB cache makes them suitable for NAS applications. You’ll want to monitor their health regularly since renewed drives may have varying life expectancy.

Considerations for Future Upgrades
NVMe Caching:
Adding NVMe drives for read and write caching will significantly boost performance, especially for VM workloads or frequently accessed NAS data. Make sure your motherboard supports enough M.2 slots or consider PCIe adapters.

Network Upgrade:
If you plan to use this as a home lab, upgrading to 10GbE networking will improve data transfer speeds, especially when streaming or transferring large files.

Noise Management:
Consider using HDD dampening kits or additional case fans from Noctua for even quieter operation.