The Perfect Home Server 2025 – 56TB, ECC, IPMI, Quiet & (kind of) Compact

Summary

This video guides viewers through building an energy-efficient home server with a focus on performance and low power consumption. The system features a Ryzen 4650G processor, offering superior performance over older setups. It covers hardware setup, including storage, networking, and fan configurations, as well as power-saving settings for a more sustainable build. The server performs well for tasks such as media playback, game servers, and virtual machines. Additionally, the creator promises a future software-focused video to complement the hardware build, encouraging engagement and offering practical insights for home server enthusiasts.

Takeaways

• 😀 At idle, the system consumes just 12-15W, with 3.3W used by the BMC even when the machine is powered off but still plugged in.
• 😀 With all storage and networking devices connected, the system draws 30W at idle, and 37W when all hard drives are running.
• 😀 Operating the system 24/7 costs around 6-9 euros per month, assuming an electricity rate of 30 cents per kWh.
• 😀 The entire build costs just under 500€, which is half the price of a Synology 6-bay NAS with significantly more performance and upgrade options.
• 😀 The build offers four times the CPU performance, four times the RAM, and more PCIe slots compared to a similar NAS setup.
• 😀 The system can support up to 8 3.5” hard drive slots and 2 2.5” slots with a simple upgrade costing less than 50€.
• 😀 A more affordable alternative involves using a recycled ATX case and 3D printing adapters, although the chosen case strikes a good balance of space and cooling.
• 😀 The fan curve was customized via remote management to ensure quieter operation by adjusting the CPU and chassis fan settings.
• 😀 The system uses a BMC for remote management, which allows access to fan profiles and other settings even from a powered-off state.
• 😀 The Ryzen 4650G CPU is powerful enough to handle a wide range of tasks, including media playback, Docker containers, game servers, and virtual machines.
• 😀 A follow-up software video is planned to provide a guide for setting up the system, as it's a more complex process than the hardware build.

Q & A

What is the idle power consumption of the server build, and what components contribute to this consumption?

The server consumes 12-15W at idle. Of this, 3.3W is used by the BMC (Baseboard Management Controller), even when the system is powered off but connected to the wall. The rest of the consumption is from running services, Docker containers, and a boot drive.

How much power does the server draw when all storage devices are connected, including hard drives and networking cards?

When all storage devices are connected, including 3 hard drives in spin-down mode, 4 cache SSDs, a boot drive, a 10Gb networking card, and an external SATA controller, the system consumes 30W at idle.

What is the power consumption when all hard drives are running, and how does this affect the monthly operating cost?

When all hard drives are running, the total power consumption increases to 37W. With a power rate of 30 cents per kWh, the system would cost between 6 to 9 euros per month to operate 24/7.

What optimizations were made to reduce power consumption in the server build?

The power consumption was reduced by enabling C-States in the BIOS, running `powertop --autotune` from the operating system, and explicitly enabling ASPM (Active State Power Management) on devices that support it.

How does the cost of this server build compare to commercial NAS solutions?

The total cost of the server build is under 500€ after tax, which is about half the price of Synology’s latest 6-bay NAS offering. The custom build offers four times the CPU performance, four times the RAM, and additional PCIe slots, making it a more powerful and cost-effective option.

What is the potential storage expansion of the custom server build?

Although the system comes with 6 hard drive slots, it can be upgraded to support 8 3.5” hard drives and 2 2.5” drives for less than 50€, without requiring any expansion modules.

What is the advantage of the case used for this server build?

The case provides ample space for storage while maintaining a relatively small footprint. It also offers excellent ventilation, which is often lacking in typical office PC cases, making it ideal for a storage-focused server.

How can the build be made even cheaper if form factor is not a concern?

If form factor is not a priority, the build can be made cheaper by using an old ATX case from a local electronics recycler and 3D printing adapters to fit 3.5” hard drives into 5.25” bays.

How is the server's fan configuration managed remotely?

The server’s fan settings are managed through the remote BMC (Baseboard Management Controller) interface. After connecting the motherboard’s management port to a network, you can access the IP address from the router's WebUI or use ARP to find it. The fan settings can then be configured for both CPU and chassis fans.

What limitations are there regarding fan control in this server build?

The KVM fan controller is not supported by lm-sensors, meaning fan speed cannot be controlled directly from the operating system. However, external scripts may be developed in the future to control fan speeds based on HDD temperature.

What is the overall performance of the Ryzen 4650G in this server build?

The Ryzen 4650G is a highly capable processor that can handle a wide range of home server tasks such as media playback, Docker containers, game servers, and virtual machines. It significantly outperforms the previous server build based on an Intel N5105 CPU.

Is there a follow-up video planned to cover the software side of building a home server?

Yes, the creator plans to release a video on how to build a home server from a software perspective. Although the video has faced delays due to challenges with script creation, the creator encourages viewers to stay updated for its release.