Getting started with NAS (DIY of OOB) for multimedia

[Enquiries]

Hey there!

First off, I have absolutely cherished watching your content as I dive into the (very deep) black hole that is NAS. Your unbiased and forthright approach is greatly appreciated! However I have hit a bit of a dead end.

I am in my 20s and wanting to 'future proof' myself with a NAS for my media usage, ripping blu-rays and dvds to then store long term and stream in my own home via Plex (or equivalent) as well as share with friends and family now and into the future.

I am looking for something that can store uncompressed 4k blu rays for in home use as well as a plethora of 1080p and 720p streams of older movies / tv shows so I am thinking I will need at least 5-6bays and up to 60+ TB of usable storage with redundancy. I am looking to DIY as it seems you can get a lot more bang for back particularly taking into account transcode power for multiple streams. Do you have a recommended spec for a Jonsbo N3 for this use? Thanks!

[ed]

Thank you for your kind words and for reaching out! Your plan to build a DIY NAS with a focus on uncompressed 4K streaming and large-scale storage is spot-on for your use case. Here's my recommendation based on your budget, use case, and the Jonsbo N3 chassis:

DIY NAS Build for Jonsbo N3
The Jonsbo N3 is a great choice for a sleek, compact, and functional NAS build. Here’s a recommended spec:

Processor (CPU)

Intel Core i5-12600K or Intel Core i7-12700
Why? Integrated Intel Quick Sync Video for efficient 4K hardware transcoding in Plex.
Supports multiple streams without bottlenecking.
Motherboard

ASUS Prime B660M-A D4 (Micro-ATX, 4 SATA ports, 1 M.2 slot for NVMe cache).
Compact and feature-rich, perfect for the Jonsbo N3.
Ensure compatibility with your CPU.
RAM

16GB DDR4 (e.g., Corsair Vengeance LPX 3200MHz).
Upgradeable to 32GB if needed for heavy multitasking or virtualization.
Storage

Drives for Storage:
Start with 4 x 18TB Seagate IronWolf Pro or WD Red Pro in RAID5/6 (54TB or 36TB usable with one or two drive redundancy).
NVMe Cache:
1TB WD SN700 for faster metadata retrieval and caching with Plex.
Power Supply (PSU)

Seasonic Focus GX-550 (80 Plus Gold, 550W).
Efficient and quiet, with sufficient power for this build.
Cooling

Replace stock fans with Noctua NF-A12x25 for silent operation.
Networking

Include a 10GbE NIC (optional for future-proofing) or use onboard 2.5GbE to reduce initial costs.
Software
OS

TrueNAS Scale: Excellent for DIY NAS builds, with robust RAID options and a growing app ecosystem.
Alternatively, Unraid for flexibility in drive management and ease of use.
Media Server

Plex: Best for streaming uncompressed 4K with Quick Sync support.
Emby or Jellyfin as free alternatives.
Estimated Cost Breakdown
Component Estimated Cost (USD)
CPU (i5-12600K) ~$250
Motherboard ~$150
RAM (16GB DDR4) ~$70
Storage Drives (4x18TB) ~$1,200
NVMe Cache (1TB) ~$120
PSU ~$100
Fans (Noctua x2) ~$60
Total ~$1,650
Alternative Prebuilt NAS Option
If DIY feels daunting, consider the QNAP TS-873A (~$1,200 barebones):

8-bay capacity, AMD Ryzen V1500B CPU, and PCIe expandability.
Add 6 x 16TB drives for ~64TB usable storage in RAID6 (within your budget).
Final Thoughts
A DIY NAS with the Jonsbo N3 will offer excellent performance and expandability for your Plex-focused multimedia setup. Starting with 4 x 18TB drives in RAID5/6 provides scalability to 60TB+ while keeping costs within your budget.