3 ms·

On the surface, this seems like a pretty nice way to build a cheap DIY NAS. Pi5 (4GB RAM).-.$60.00 M.2 HAT+ - $12.00 Power Supply - $13.60 Total

by _mlbt 2y ago

On the surface, this seems like a pretty nice way to build a cheap DIY NAS. Pi5 (4GB RAM).-.$60.00 M.2 HAT+ - $12.00 Power Supply - $13.60 Total $85.60 Even after purchasing a case (if you want one) and the NVMe drive of your choice, that doesn't seem too bad. I do wish there were 2 M.2 slots so that there could be redundancy. Is there anything else I'm missing here?

sokoloff 2y ago
For a NAS use case, I'd be more inclined to use one of the PCIe to 4 SATA adapters and use SATA drives (whether spinning or solid-state). Each drive has lower performance than NVMe, but you get redundancy and still a reasonable speed connection.
- _mlbt 2y ago
  That’s a good idea! How well do they perform as a NAS? My use case would be Time Machine backups over my home WiFi network. Everything I’ve seen is either expensive or has mixed reviews for this use case.
  - sokoloff 2y ago
    Jeff Geerling (who is on HN every so often) is the site I'd go to: https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2024/radxas-sata-hat-makes-compact-pi-5-nas https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2024/radxas-sata-hat-makes... Looks like he got near 100 MB/sec writing (and higher read) on Samba from it (capable of saturating 1 Gbps network) in testing and almost saturating a 2.5Gbps link with another adapter: https://github.com/geerlingguy/raspberry-pi-pcie-devices/issues/615 https://github.com/geerlingguy/raspberry-pi-pcie-devices/iss... (He's got several other blogs and YouTube videos in/around RPi topics.)
    - helf 2y ago
      [dead]
zamadatix 2y ago
For $20 more (after instant coupon) you can get https://www.amazon.com/UXX-Desktop-Computer-Expandable-Frame-Gold/dp/B0C9QMRCGR https://www.amazon.com/UXX-Desktop-Computer-Expandable-Frame... - Somewhat faster multicore performance, identical single core performance - Disk buses run at full speed - Runs any standard x86-64 OS and software instead of Pi/Arm specific ones - Has double the RAM - Comes with a 256 GB m.2 SSD (unfortunately not an option to buy without), can be replaced if you want more. - Comes with the case For slightly more you can get one with 2 drive bays in the factory case instead of having to build some external drive mount solution e.g. https://www.amazon.com/Beelink-4-Cores-N5095-Computer-Ethernet/dp/B0BP668VC5/?th=1 https://www.amazon.com/Beelink-4-Cores-N5095-Computer-Ethern.... If you aren't as worried on the CPU performance there are options in the $80 range that still hold these other advantages. Pi's are fun but they are slightly overhyped in terms of the absolute value for things you can do with a standard PC like build a NAS, host a server, or use as an actual PC. The biggest values are where the 1 GB RAM model can do more than you need and it's a really great value for a non-used device or where the Pi's non high speed interfaces are a benefit like IP KVMs where the GPIO can control the motheboard, the CSI can capture the HDMI output, the USB OTG can act as the USB/CD drive/Keyboard/Mouse, the NIC/Wi-fi make it easy to access, and the size makes it fit inside existing equipment without issue.
- omnimus 2y ago
  Even better is N100 processor instead N5095. Mainly because of TDP that is comming a lot closer to RPi.
  - helf 2y ago
    Exactly. The Pi is useful for some stuff if.you need a lot of GPIO or legacy hat support etc. or just hate x86 for some bizarre reason. Otherwise I can see literally no benefit to a Pi over an N95 or Nx00 box. I using them all over the place and have been rock solid. And you can get them with multiple nvme sockets, sata, etc. The Pi obsession truly boggles my mind. I can see it with the RP2040 etc but a regular Pi? Why?
    - 2y ago

by _mlbt 2y ago

sokoloff 2y ago

For a NAS use case, I'd be more inclined to use one of the PCIe to 4 SATA adapters and use SATA drives (whether spinning or solid-state). Each drive has lower performance than NVMe, but you get redundancy and still a reasonable speed connection.

_mlbt 2y ago
That’s a good idea! How well do they perform as a NAS? My use case would be Time Machine backups over my home WiFi network. Everything I’ve seen is either expensive or has mixed reviews for this use case.
- sokoloff 2y ago
  Jeff Geerling (who is on HN every so often) is the site I'd go to: https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2024/radxas-sata-hat-makes-compact-pi-5-nas https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2024/radxas-sata-hat-makes... Looks like he got near 100 MB/sec writing (and higher read) on Samba from it (capable of saturating 1 Gbps network) in testing and almost saturating a 2.5Gbps link with another adapter: https://github.com/geerlingguy/raspberry-pi-pcie-devices/issues/615 https://github.com/geerlingguy/raspberry-pi-pcie-devices/iss... (He's got several other blogs and YouTube videos in/around RPi topics.)
  - helf 2y ago
    [dead]

zamadatix 2y ago

For $20 more (after instant coupon) you can get https://www.amazon.com/UXX-Desktop-Computer-Expandable-Frame-Gold/dp/B0C9QMRCGR https://www.amazon.com/UXX-Desktop-Computer-Expandable-Frame... - Somewhat faster multicore performance, identical single core performance - Disk buses run at full speed - Runs any standard x86-64 OS and software instead of Pi/Arm specific ones - Has double the RAM - Comes with a 256 GB m.2 SSD (unfortunately not an option to buy without), can be replaced if you want more. - Comes with the case For slightly more you can get one with 2 drive bays in the factory case instead of having to build some external drive mount solution e.g. https://www.amazon.com/Beelink-4-Cores-N5095-Computer-Ethernet/dp/B0BP668VC5/?th=1 https://www.amazon.com/Beelink-4-Cores-N5095-Computer-Ethern.... If you aren't as worried on the CPU performance there are options in the $80 range that still hold these other advantages. Pi's are fun but they are slightly overhyped in terms of the absolute value for things you can do with a standard PC like build a NAS, host a server, or use as an actual PC. The biggest values are where the 1 GB RAM model can do more than you need and it's a really great value for a non-used device or where the Pi's non high speed interfaces are a benefit like IP KVMs where the GPIO can control the motheboard, the CSI can capture the HDMI output, the USB OTG can act as the USB/CD drive/Keyboard/Mouse, the NIC/Wi-fi make it easy to access, and the size makes it fit inside existing equipment without issue.

omnimus 2y ago
Even better is N100 processor instead N5095. Mainly because of TDP that is comming a lot closer to RPi.
- helf 2y ago
  Exactly. The Pi is useful for some stuff if.you need a lot of GPIO or legacy hat support etc. or just hate x86 for some bizarre reason. Otherwise I can see literally no benefit to a Pi over an N95 or Nx00 box. I using them all over the place and have been rock solid. And you can get them with multiple nvme sockets, sata, etc. The Pi obsession truly boggles my mind. I can see it with the RP2040 etc but a regular Pi? Why?
  - 2y ago