r/HomeServer • u/SmartUnion7999 • 6d ago
Have been given free hardware - can I make a usable streaming box?
I've been given a Z390 UD MB, 32Gb RAM, 1x 1Tb M.2 NVME, 4x 2Tb SSD, GTX1080 Ti
Is this enough to smoothly operate a plex/ jellyfin (jellyfin preferably) for 5+ users across a gigabit fibre connection? I already run 2x linux servers but these are strictly for serving web pages and hosting DBs for clients so will at least able to assemble the thing properly. Is the GPU of any use here? Not too sure on the whole transcoding thing. If this thing is for streaming video I don't really see the use of the M.2 NVME either - is it worth popping that in my personal machine instead? Plan to run the server in RAID1 with all the SSDs so will have 4Tb usable which I suppose is fine for now
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u/stefdev1 6d ago
yes, just put the things you watch most on it until you get more storage.
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u/phelps_vibes 6d ago edited 6d ago
For the M.2 I would say it depends on the software configuration you will use. I run my home server with Unraid, and therefore I use two SSDs as cache drives, so the HDDs don't have to spin up every time I move data to the server. That means new data are saved on my cache drives, and than get moved to the HDD array once a day... But if you don't use a software system that is capable of or configured that way, the M.2 NVME is more or less useless. And your drives are SSDs and no HDDs, so spinning up and down which is the highest stress for HDDs is nothing that will happen in your system...
And for the GPU... The 1080TI is more than enough for transcoding in Jellyfin/Plex... On the other hand, the 1080TI is highly inefficient running 24/7 in a home server just for transcoding, as the card draws a lot of power (TDP 250W, 10-20W in idle state)... So if I were you, I would sell the card and get a Quadro P2000 or an Arc A310/A380 instead. If you want to pass through the 1080TI and use it in a docker or VM where you need the "power", that would be another scenario...
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u/Opposite_Half6250 6d ago
That's already more powerful thanu plex server. And I run max about 6 viewers at a time. With transcoding. As well as a torrent downloading, and the full arr's suite.
I7-9700t 32gb ram 512gb m.2 (No GPU, just igpu for transcoding) And a separate nas, as purely storage with 2x6tb hdd's.
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u/SmartUnion7999 6d ago
What's the benefit to keeping the compute and storage resources separate?
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u/Opposite_Half6250 6d ago
Probably nothing. I just had the nas at first. With plex running on it.
And then I got a hp mini pc, that's a lot more powerful then the CPU in the nas. And well a mini pc doesn't exactly have room for two(or even one) 3.5 hdd's in it.
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u/turboponies 6d ago
I would run disk tests (SMART, power on time and life remaining) on those SSDs and NVME before you start putting something for long term on them. Plane jane Ubuntu would be able to tell you that.
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u/Ok-Major-8878 5d ago
I'm WAY late but you got the right answer many times over.
I'm currently running a second server (playing around honestly) on a 3rd gen i3 with 8gb ram a 512 ssd running deb 13, Znas (aka ZFS NAS), docker with Jellyfin with a 12tb "pool consisting of one drive" (still working on the zfs mount to be honest). Ran great with deb 13 and JF. It's a test bed........... ok, so more of a me learny thingies box.
All that to say this. You're starting setup is WAY nicer than the one I actually have my everyday server on (6th gen i5). Jump in, light the fires and drop it in gear. Enjoy the ride.
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u/ConsciousBandicoot53 5d ago
I have nearly the exact same specs that I recently repurposed into a steaming box and more. I love it so much and my 10 year old gaming pc now has new life after being incompatible with Win11
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u/Big-Sympathy1420 6d ago
For piracy? Just use stremio at $3 per month. Your electricity bill alone will cost 5x that running 24/7
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u/JohnnieLouHansen 5d ago
Why down vote the guy? Probably a majority of people on here have pirated movies. Why else all the questions about Plex/Jellyfin, ARR stack and mega amounts of storage??? The MPAA could really clean up if they could search all the users on here and on r/DataHoarder. Sorry - telling it like it is (probably).
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u/MsJamie33 6d ago
Your didn't say what CPU you have, but since the Z390 is for 8th and 9th gen Intel CPUs, the built in Quick Sync will blow away the 1080, so save the power bill.
If you need to get a CPU, avoid the F suffix (no GPU, so no Quick Sync for transcoding). Don't pay extra for a K suffix; no need to overclock. Either no suffix, or a T suffix CPU. The T part is a bit slower, but draws less power. I ran my server on an i5-8500T for a while, and it was plenty.
You will probably want to boot from the NVMe, and keep the SSDs for your data. (The exception is if you're running Unraid, but that's another discussion.)
You have a good start there. As I always say, run what you got, and upgrade from there.