I’m new to TrueNAS and am currently setting up my system. Unfortunately
the RAM on my old desktop has a bit error.
Both system links are from a german page and I would also buy in Germany,
but I guess the component names and specs should be enough
Current NAS
This is my old desktop where I have installed TrueNAS Scale. TrueNas is
installed on the ssd, there is also a 256GB nvme inside, which I wanted
to use for apps.
From my current desktop system I mostly intended to salvage the CPU, Desktop and PSU, IF at
all. But that upgrade is something for the next 3 month, so just to have in mind.
JellyFin: at most 2 streams simultaneous, not 4K, mostly compressed
Immich
paperless
maybe pi-hole and changedetection
possibly VMs (but not heavy usage)
Other planned extensions
I have also the plan in the foreseeable future to add 2 more 4TB drives
and an HBA. Maybe replace the 1050Ti with a A380 or 5060, as the 1050Ti is
not supported out of the box from 25.10. For now I have used the shell
script by zzzhouuu.
My two options
replace RAM in old desktop and wait for the XEON to upgrade to ECC
directly switch to new system with ECC
Where I need help
My initial plan was to use the old desktop, wait until I upgraded my current
desktop and then think about what I want to do next.
I’m unsure what the most sensible way now is, that I’m confronted with
the bit error on the currently used RAM. I could find out which of the
two RAM sticks is the faulty one and remove that one, but as far as I
have read 8GB is not really enough to run TrueNAS Scale.
Should I replace the RAM for now and then think about further steps afterwards,
also keeping in mind that I have the Xeon in my current desktop?
Or directly go for new components? In that case I think I would need some
help finding suitable components. My budget would be roughly 700€, but
that is not a hard limit.
Yes, replacing the faulty RAM gives you a working machine, so this is the most sensible way. What you are going to use that machine in the fure for ist another question for later.
Maybe i have miss-reading what you say, but i feel that you are making a big mistake:
your current setup on the B250 have a CPU ECC capable (i3 6100) but a motherboard that not supports real ECC (only capable to use ECC Stick into no-ECC mode)
the other setup based on H77 also not supports ecc (i think at all)
I have an E3 1230 (Sandy bridge version) and an E3 1245v2 (a little faster of yours, but with an igpu) sittings on secondary pcs… They are cheap and quite fast for most use, but they lack of AVX 2 instruction set, that can be required for some app to work. I would stick on the skylake setup (with a C232-236 motherboard) also because xeon v5 are cheap ATM, but DDR4 ecc udimm are pretty expensive
Maybe I wasn’t clear in what I wrote. Both systems are old systems. The B250 was used by my wife previously and wasn’t in use for a year. The H77 system is currently in use by me, but I might salvage it in the near future for the use as a TrueNAS system. But after your remarks about AVX2 instructions I might drop that thought, even though I’m currently not planning to use any apps that require it. That’s why I have ECC capable CPUs with non-ECC motherboard.
I also just installed TrueNAS for the first time at the weekend and only afterwards registered the RAM bit issue.
I also checked current prices for ECC-RAM and e.g. the C232 and C236 motherboards, which currently clearly exceed my budget (both together 1k+ €). I know that it probably won’t change ever, but right now I don’t have the budget for that.
For now I will settle with non-ECC UDIMM, which is quickly available for me and is roughly 150€. (Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 RAM 2x16GB or Kingston FURY Beast UDIMM 2x8GB Kit, DDR4-3200 for 200€)
In your place having this b250 motherboard that supports ecc sticks i would take anyway the kit linked by @Farout without any doubts (i have bought mine from the same seller, I would have linked them to you too).
Then you will have a working base and less haste to find server grade Hw for a good price.
If you decide to stick on skylake/kabylake you need just to find a good motherboard, they are cheap, CPU costs ~15€ but the i3 can do the job too (without sacrifice ecc supports).
If you want move to newer Hw, taking instead the good parts adviced above, look also on AliExpress because the same CPU suggested can be bought for less than 80€ (there are also less powerfull models for less)
I mostly looked on price comparison sites, which include ebay, but were not so helpful finding boards with ECC support. I will definitely go with the RAM for now and then try to find a board that supports my CPU.
The b250 supports ECC sticks, but as far as I know disables the ECC feature. Will definitely go with the sticks linked by @Farout and then do as you described. Take my time to decide whether I want to keep the CPU or not.
I also saw the board in you signature, but couldn’t find that one used, only new in a shop for 324€. Which would be also in my budget with the sticks above.
I have to admit, i have had a lot of luck to find those motherboard.
The Fujitsu costs me 45€ shipped, was literally new. The Asus just 10€, because was part of a little stock and i could resell what i didnt need, so i cush mostly the initial expense.
Recently i have also make a good deal on a motherboard (another Fujitsu) + 1225v5 + cooler + proprietary PSU for just 25€, It was sell as broken but was just a BIOS issue (resolved with a reflash of the chip), but actually Is sittings unused because i literally have too many PCS ahahah
Just for Say… If you don’t have rush you can wait for a good deal
That’s really a good price. Guess I have to watch on ebay for a good board with a decent price.
Do you know of any boards that I should avoid or that are especially good for my case? Your Fujitsu does look good to me and maybe the Supermicro X11SAE. The latter I just found on ebay, not sure if that is a good board and price, especially as the i/o-shield is missing.
‘AE’ tells you it is a workstation board. The two white PCI slots litterally scream that it is designed to be installed in a factory floor next to an expensive machine tool from the 1990’s, for which it is the control station.
If you can fit a full ATX board, it is suitable, and will take your i3-6100 alongside ECC RAM—but the ‘-F’ variant would do better as a headless server. The price seems at a weird point between “we want get rid of this oldie” and “we know you badly need these PCI slots”… (Anyway, the real pricing issue is about ECC UDIMM, when you can find some.)
“Recommended boards” have always been a matter of opportunity, either for a board you hadn’t ever heard of until a retailed dupmed a lot, to grab while supply lasts (MC12-LE0, MJ11-EC1, E3C246D4U2-2T…), or just for being the quickest to jump on a second-hand X10SDV or A2SDi on this side of the Atlantic pond.
All depending on your precise needs and use case, of course.
Well it fits and thank you for the explanations and recommendations. I bought the ECC RAM mentioned above and should receive it tomorrow. The board is something I will put onto my watchlist on ebay and see if something useful and inexpensive pops up.
I’m not familiar with replacing io-shields, but getting the right one is probably not that easy. A quick search for that board only got me one ebay entry from the US for 29.99$. Maybe not always a problem, but it is something that would make this board more expensive
do you have a 3D printer, a friend with one, or at least someone in your town that can print something? If yes, you can’t miss that. I have realized 6 io-shields following this guide, 5 of 6 were perfect on first attempt (and I’m not ashamed to say it but i’m really bad on those things, so if i could achieve that everyone can )
Quite print and go, this model (they can also be bought, but printing is way cheaper)
I just thought about that and wasn’t sure if it is not too thin to work. Thank you for that link, will bookmark it. And yes I have a printer at home. Small one, but should be enough to print a shield.
Which one?
Anyway if it’s 2666 MHz (or higher), you’re one step closer to consider an AsRock Rack E3C246D4U2-2T (eBay, New-Old-Stock from China). More expensive, but it comes with 10GBase-T if that’s useful to you… and the I/O shield. Matching Core i3-9100 are very cheap, and Xeon E-2100/2200 have come down in price.
With C200 boards, always go for a C2x6 over a C2x2: More SATA ports, and the ability to use an iGPU.
This board seems nice, but you dont really need the 2x PCI slots, except, if you have some ancient, irreplaceable Cards that must use it.
Also, it has 2x PCIe 16x Gen3 slots and only one NVMe M.2 socket and 8x sATA ports.
With the current, GTX1050, you will be limited for later expansion.
DO you plan to use 10G or faster network?
DO you plan to use more than 8 HDDs?
DO you plan to use more NVMes?
Because, with this board, you must pick one of the 3 above, the other 2 functions are however not impossible, but will be limited to PCIe Gen3 1x speed.
So, I recommend to be patient and wait for a better/more suitable offer to appear.
I got this one: 2x 16GB 32GB DDR4 ECC UDIMM RAM 2400 MHz PC4-2400T-E
It is enough for the CPU I already have and I thought about getting an ASRock C236M WS.
Thanks, I figured that out as well. And as I’m today getting two more drives that is definitely required and better than having a HBA for just one extra drive
but i’m really bad on those things, so if i could achieve that everyone can