I just upgraded to a new PC, and now I'm thinking about turning my old one into a NAS (Network Attached Storage). Here are the specs for the old machine:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6Ghz
- Motherboard: Gigabyte B450 AORUS Pro
- RAM: 16GB G.Skill Ripjaws V (2x8GB)
- Power Supply: PowerSpec 650 Watt 80 Plus Bronze ATX
- Video Card: MSI GeForce RTX 2080
- SSD: 1TB WD Blue SN550
- HDD: 2TB Seagate HD
I'm considering upgrading the storage, likely adding a second 2TB HDD or maybe another SSD, but I'm leaning toward HDDs due to pricing. Is this setup good enough for a NAS? What else should I consider, and is it worth pursuing?
3 Answers
Consider upgrading your power supply for better efficiency, especially if electricity costs are high in your area. You might also think about removing the video card since you likely won’t need it for a NAS.
You technically don’t need much else! A NAS is simply a PC with ample storage and a decent network connection. Once you’ve got a NAS OS installed, you can actually ditch the GPU if you want to save space. Just ensure your case has enough drive bays and proper cooling for the storage you plan to add. I’d suggest going for at least three drives so you can set up RAID 5 or RAIDZ1 for redundancy.
You might want a new power supply too. The 650W PowerSpec units get pretty poor ratings, so replacing it would be a wise move to protect your drives from any potential failures.
Got any recommendations for a reliable power supply?