Duration: 16:08

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I give you the perfect blend of two cheap systems to net a low power draw home server.

I'll call it a "FMS" / "Frankenstein Mini Server".

What's the end-goal here?

An ultralow power-drawing home server that has:

1) Multiple OSes on board for a quick virtual testing ground (Proxmox, TrueNAS, Linux, Windows etc.).
2) M.2 NVMe SSD Boot Drive
3) Fast RAID 5 / RAIDZ storage pool (SSD Pool - aiming for RAIDZ-2).
4) A large capacity scratch disk (HDD - sometimes you just need a network location to place data)
5) Fast Ethernet connection (10GbE - failing that - 2.5GbE backup plan).
6) Uses less than 30W on idle (so it can run 24/7 and not break the bank).

Phase 1: Planning https://youtu.be/l75b_Di35RU
Phase 2: Unboxing https://youtu.be/KxFdTtMdw-g
Phase 3: Fitment and Pricing https://youtu.be/mEyYf0BImkQ
Phase 4: Power Draw - You are HERE.
Phase 5: NAS Teardown - TBA
Phase 6: FMS Unveiling - TBA

The base system started life as a HP EliteDesk 800 G3 Mini but it will perform fusion with a SmartStor NS4300N NAS to create a FMS!

By combining an old redundant NAS we gain storage space for HDDs or SSDs.
There is a mystery item that I will only reveal once the build is done (I can't reveal all the tricks before it is done!).

I wanted newer hardware for this project – like the HP ProDesk 800 G6 or Lenovo M920Q Tiny, but they still cost a fair amount.

The question is, how much power does each hardware upgrade consume and how far can this little Mini PC be pushed? Can this system really net less than 30W idle power draw with all these features?

Possible? You’ll have to wait and see (no…, well maybe!).

🛠 Amazon / Ebay / AliExpress Affiliate Links - want to build your own FMS? - here is my blueprint:

(Please note- links will direct you to Amazon.com or Ebay.com or AliExpress.com. I will receive a commission if a purchase is made through these links. Thank you.)

HP EliteDesk 800 G3 Mini : https://amzn.to/4aWWaAx https://ebay.us/WydD0i

16GB DDR4 2400MHZ Unbuffered SODIMM RAM: https://amzn.to/4aZvor3 https://ebay.us/zuNQh4 https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBWs0Ev https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DnoBhw9

Seagate EXOS x18 16TB HDD (Note - SAS connector): https://amzn.to/3HxjYNP https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBGkNJP

SATA to USB Adapters: https://amzn.to/47TDlvc https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dlvtzut

M.2 M Key to GPU X16 Riser (Take Care - "M.2 NGFF" adapters do not support M.2 NVMe drives - they only support M.2 SATA NVMe SSDs): https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DexYUNP

M.2 M Key to Internal USB 3.1 20 Pin Slot: https://amzn.to/3tYOVrc https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DDEXP57

M.2 M Key to 2x Sata Data Headers: https://amzn.to/4bdT5fB https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DDp1Okz

M.2 A and E Key to 2.5GbE: https://amzn.to/47TDvCO https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DDQ15c1

M.2 A and E Key to M.2 NVMe: https://amzn.to/4bbm0AL https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DDOo3Vb

M.2 A and E Key to PCIe X4 Slot (note - X1 lane connectivity limited on A and E Slot): https://amzn.to/4b7ONX0 https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DkRU81B

X540-T2 10GbE NIC: https://amzn.to/3vYrcaU https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DCs0lff

Mini SFF 8087 SAS to 4x SATA splitter cable: https://amzn.to/3vMZQEX https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DCO5c21

INSPUR 9211-8i6Gbps HBA LSI IT Mode: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DdtyKP7

U.2 to PCIe Adapter (Single Slot): https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DnkwPJX

U.2 to PCIe Adapter (Double Slot): https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Ddu5xup

HDDs that I have used:

Seagate EXOS x18 16TB HDD (Note - SAS connector): https://amzn.to/3HxjYNP https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBGkNJP

Price Hikes Biting - but you need storage?

Silicon Power SSDs:
https://amzn.to/3vR7spQ

KingSpec M.2 NVMe (I had success with 256GB - larger capacities may not work correctly!):

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DCVc3xJ
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DdIO5c1
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBU42ud

GoldenFir SSDs (I had success, but best to AVOID! They work well between 0GB - 240GB, then slow to 30MB/s from 241GB - 720GB and then speed up again until full. I bought 1TB SSDs, at a guess, two NAND Flash chips are TLC, the other 2 are slow QLC):

https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DdCQ7EH
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFoVO2h
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DDrBtsh

💥Share your EliteDesk / ProDesk setups in the comments - let's make this a resource for others for future upgrades.

Upcoming videos:

HP EliteDesk 800 G3 Mini Overview
HP EliteDesk 800 G3 Mini FMS - End Result

💻 HSPEC DataBase (for parts, upgrades, video summaries and more):
https://www.reddit.com/r/HSpecWorkstations/

🎯 Support: https://buymeacoffee.com/RACERRRZ

#Elitedesk, #HP, #NAS, #HPWorkstation, #Computereducation, #Computer, #Gaming, #Gamingcomputer, #Homeserver, #Z440, #zworkstation, #RACERRRZ, #CPU, #NUC, #RAM, #GPU