Eco Power Build - Building a Powerful, Energy Saving 4 Bay Unraid Server

Join me as I set up great Unraid server that's not only compact and powerful but also energy-efficient. In this video, I'm building a small 4-bay server using a sleek case and an Intel i5-13400 processor, tailored to meet modern efficiency standards without sacrificing performance. This new setup is designed to replace my 12-year-old Gen8 Microserver, previously serving as a backup server.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To buy the case in this video or other great server cases goto

UK -
UK -

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Need to buy something from amazon? Then please use my link to help the channel :)

Mini SAS 26-Pin SFF-8088 Male to Mini SAS 26-Pin SFF-8088

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Need a VPN?

Torguard is also an excellent VPN again with both openvpn and wireguard protocls supported.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Need a cheap windows 10 licence for around $10

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[DrunkenSquirrel]

Congrats on the sponsor dude, energy efficiency is definitely a huge factor now, energy prices are mad.

[HGulp]

I just built my first UNRAID server, fitted into the bottom section of a Phanteks Enthoo Pro 2 case, same Gigabyte H610I DDR4 Motherboard with 32GB RAM, Same cooler too, but with an i3 13100. I also used the M.2 slot for a 6x SATA expansion card, so a total of 10 SATA Ports. I'm loving it so far, and this channel has been my go to resource for all things UNRAID. Excellent stuff, keep up the good work!

[scruffy]

Finally a face to that voice. Thanks for all the great tutorials over the years!

[JorgeBoado]

I just built my first UnRaid server on the Microserver G8. Modifying the power supply and the base of the case for holding a N5105 nas motherboard. I'm quite happy with the case it can hold 4 drives in the bays, one 3.5" on the side and 2 SSD on the top + the nvme on the MOBO.
It's been a good budget building for the first one. Now I'm thinking about the next one 😅

[jimmyscott]

I believe the back switch is a chassis intrusion switch. It's not common on most pcs but more common on servers and enterprise devices

[chuckthetekkie]

That rear switch may have been for chassis intrusion detection.

Also my mom worked for a company as a bookkeeper in the 1980's and somehow managed to fry one of the computers she was using via static discharge. It was replaced and later on the same thing happened. The solution was to give her a huge plastic rolling chair mat as it was the carpet that was charging her up.

[CampRusso]

Great video. Making me want to build another rig. 😁

"Party foul" on the CPU install. You're supposed to leave the black plastic cover on. Then make it pop off when you latch it. 😉🤣

[marsb]

I can only assume the 26w is without the drives, as those should be around 5w each. Just for reference, a 14700 runs about 22w with the nvme, with a few containers running (home assistant vm, Plex lxc, portainer (with a few docker thing running there as well). I found it better suited me to have an extremely fast machine for all the services (with no need for ECC ram since this machine is backed up on a NAS anyway), and a separate NAS for storage only. The NAS does the file sharing and that’s it.

Make sure you turn off audio, enable all c states and aspm options. With that cpu you should be in the 20w range. A 14100 cpu was running 18w, the 14500 was 20w, all before I switched to the 14700 at 22w. I kept the performance governor as well…

[JadeMonkee]

I, too, have a Gen 8 Microserver with a Xeon (though it's the E3-1265L V2), but I've managed to cram 4x 3.5" HDD, 3x 2.5" HDD, and 4x 2.5" SSD. Absolutely loaded. Maybe one day I'll upgrade. Was particularly interesting seeing the Passmark score for a modern i5 vs my old Xeon...

[brubakerjm]

Awesome video. I have purchased disks for a new backup server for my primary Unraid, but haven't started on other components yet. Do you have a video (or a simple description) of how you accomplish the backup between the two servers? Thanks!

[thesecondrategamer]

Great thinking, funny enought its almost the same setup as myself now i picked up the 13500 erlier this year as the local power prices where i am have gone mad.

[hagner]

Whenever possible, do more videos like this. It's really nice. Even though you look at bit uncomfortable in the beginning.
Good job nonetheless! :D

Also, this build would be epic for my cache server with my 10 Gbit networking I'm upgrading to.
Thanks!

[rallygallery]

Great video as ever Ed. Great build. Keep ‘em coming bud!

[wagnonforcolorado]

I purchased a CPU cooler from Amazon Warehouse, as well...and the thermal past tube was pretty much empty. Amazon needs to check consumables when they put an item in their warehouse section. At 12 cents per Kwh, it works out to just over a dollar a year. So, by saving 20 watts average power draw over the course of a year, thats ~$21. However, in Europe, typical energy costs are higher, so adjust the math to fit your actual power rates. A handy value to know, when you are concerned about trimming your electricity bill.

[peterr.]

Do you see some instability with the i5-13500? It seems there are alot of news around on Unraid being unstable with the Efficiency Cores.

[apockets]

I've been looking to do something like this for like 2 years. My dual x5680 2U SuperMicro build running unRAID is way to loud, hot, and expensive to keep running 24/7.

[jeffseward]

You sir, are a legend. Thanks for everything you do

[Nelix]

Hi I’m new into all of this home server setup. I am after a plex media server with storage.
Originally I was looking at a mini PC + NAS. But I’d assume this setup is more than powerfull for up to 4, 4K transcode and better long term?

[ShadowManceri]

There is VAT outside of UK. In many places it is MORE than in UK. So it's not ever "cheaper". You just have to pay it later.

[FrankZlöbl]

I'm really looking forward to see your energy efficient build - can't wait ;-)