11-01-2024, 04:38 PM
Thanks for your kind words about the videos! Let’s dive into your questions regarding the QNAP TS-464 and your planned setup for your media collection.
Question 1: RAID Configuration
RAID 1 vs. RAID 5:
RAID 1 (two 18TB HDDs): This configuration mirrors your data across both drives. If one drive fails, you’ll still have a complete copy on the other. However, you’ll effectively have only 18TB of usable space.
RAID 5 (three 18TB HDDs): This offers better storage efficiency, giving you 36TB of usable space (after accounting for the parity drive). It also provides redundancy, as you can lose one drive without losing data.
Recommendation: If you can afford to start with three drives, going for RAID 5 would be a better long-term solution considering your anticipated growth. Buying all three drives at once can help you avoid potential issues with price changes or availability later.
Question 2: M.2 NVMe Drives
Using NVMe drives for the system volume can improve performance, especially for tasks that require fast read/write speeds, like handling snapshots. While not strictly necessary for a home media server, it can help with general system responsiveness, particularly if you plan to run multiple applications or services on your NAS.
Recommendation: If your budget allows, including a pair of M.2 NVMe drives in RAID 1 is a good idea, especially for future-proofing your setup.
Question 3: Noise Reduction
The noise level of your NAS will indeed largely come from the HDDs. Here are some ways to reduce it:
Adding Padding: Using tape or cardboard to pad the drives can reduce vibrations and rattling noise.
Using Screws vs. Clips: Screwing the drives down can create a more secure fit than clips, which can help reduce vibration noise.
M.2 NVMe Drives: While adding NVMe drives might not significantly reduce noise, using them for the system volume means the main HDDs won’t be as heavily utilized for OS tasks, potentially leading to quieter operation overall.
Recommendation: Implementing some of these noise reduction techniques can help make the NAS quieter in your bedroom.
Question 4: RAM
The 8GB of RAM should be sufficient for your usage, especially if you’re primarily using the NAS as a file server for media. However, if you plan to run multiple applications or services simultaneously, you might benefit from upgrading.
RAM Upgrade Options: You can add one additional stick of the same size, type, and speed as the installed RAM to achieve dual-channel memory. However, using RAM from the same manufacturer is generally a good practice to ensure compatibility, though it’s not strictly necessary if the specs match.
Recommendation: If you find yourself needing more performance in the future, adding an additional stick of RAM is a simple way to boost your system's capability.
Question 1: RAID Configuration
RAID 1 vs. RAID 5:
RAID 1 (two 18TB HDDs): This configuration mirrors your data across both drives. If one drive fails, you’ll still have a complete copy on the other. However, you’ll effectively have only 18TB of usable space.
RAID 5 (three 18TB HDDs): This offers better storage efficiency, giving you 36TB of usable space (after accounting for the parity drive). It also provides redundancy, as you can lose one drive without losing data.
Recommendation: If you can afford to start with three drives, going for RAID 5 would be a better long-term solution considering your anticipated growth. Buying all three drives at once can help you avoid potential issues with price changes or availability later.
Question 2: M.2 NVMe Drives
Using NVMe drives for the system volume can improve performance, especially for tasks that require fast read/write speeds, like handling snapshots. While not strictly necessary for a home media server, it can help with general system responsiveness, particularly if you plan to run multiple applications or services on your NAS.
Recommendation: If your budget allows, including a pair of M.2 NVMe drives in RAID 1 is a good idea, especially for future-proofing your setup.
Question 3: Noise Reduction
The noise level of your NAS will indeed largely come from the HDDs. Here are some ways to reduce it:
Adding Padding: Using tape or cardboard to pad the drives can reduce vibrations and rattling noise.
Using Screws vs. Clips: Screwing the drives down can create a more secure fit than clips, which can help reduce vibration noise.
M.2 NVMe Drives: While adding NVMe drives might not significantly reduce noise, using them for the system volume means the main HDDs won’t be as heavily utilized for OS tasks, potentially leading to quieter operation overall.
Recommendation: Implementing some of these noise reduction techniques can help make the NAS quieter in your bedroom.
Question 4: RAM
The 8GB of RAM should be sufficient for your usage, especially if you’re primarily using the NAS as a file server for media. However, if you plan to run multiple applications or services simultaneously, you might benefit from upgrading.
RAM Upgrade Options: You can add one additional stick of the same size, type, and speed as the installed RAM to achieve dual-channel memory. However, using RAM from the same manufacturer is generally a good practice to ensure compatibility, though it’s not strictly necessary if the specs match.
Recommendation: If you find yourself needing more performance in the future, adding an additional stick of RAM is a simple way to boost your system's capability.