Upgrade your Home Server with Ryzen 5900X: Powerful Performance and Flexibility

Find AI Tools

No difficulty

No complicated process

Find ai tools

Home Hardware Upgrade your Home Server with Ryzen 5900X: Powerful Performance and Flexibility

Upgrade your Home Server with Ryzen 5900X: Powerful Performance and Flexibility

Introduction
Choosing the CPU: Ryzen 5900X
The motherboard: Asus Prime X570 Pro
Adding Expansion Cards
- 4.1 The HBA Card (LSI 9207-8)
- 4.2 The 10 Gigabit Card (Chelsio CC2 N320E)
Memory: OLOy DDR4 3200 MHz
Power Supply: EVGA 850GA
The Case: Corsair
Graphics Cards
Storage Options
- 9.1 SSD vs. NVMe
- 9.2 Four Terabyte Drives
- 9.3 Eight Terabyte Drives
Assembling the Build
Conclusion

💡 Highlights

Opted for the AMD Ryzen 5900X for the build
Chose the refurbished Asus Prime X570 Pro motherboard for its features and price
Implemented expansion cards for increased capabilities, including an HBA card and a 10 Gigabit card
Used OLOy DDR4 3200 MHz memory for the build
Power supply upgrade with the EVGA 850GA
Utilized an older Corsair case for its spaciousness and ease of building
Explored various graphics card options, including the MSI 690 Twin Frozer and EVGA 780 Classified
Considered storage options, including SSDs and terabyte drives
Assembled the build successfully and contemplated its purpose as a Proxmox server or a TrueNAS server

😀 Introduction

I recently stumbled upon a great deal on the Ryzen 5900X CPU and decided to embark on a new computer build. With the flexibility of the AM4 platform, I knew I could easily swap out my current CPU and upgrade to the latest and greatest. My plan for this build was to create a powerful and versatile machine that could be used for various purposes. In this article, I will guide you through the components I chose, the reasons behind my decisions, and the process of assembling the build.

💻 Choosing the CPU: Ryzen 5900X

The centerpiece of this build is the Ryzen 5900X CPU. With 12 cores and 24 Threads, it offers exceptional performance for both gaming and multitasking. When I found it at a price of around $330, I couldn't resist the opportunity to upgrade from my previous 3900X. While the 3900X is still a formidable processor, I wanted to experience the latest technology and unleash the full potential of my build. The Ryzen 5900X will serve as the foundation for the rest of the components and provide the processing power I desire.

⚙️ The motherboard: Asus Prime X570 Pro

To complement the Ryzen 5900X, I needed a reliable and feature-rich motherboard. After some research, I came across the refurbished Asus Prime X570 Pro on Amazon. Normally priced at $250, I was able to snag it for $199. The Prime X570 Pro offers excellent connectivity options with its PCI Express slots and extensive port selection. I considered other options such as the B450 and B550 motherboards, but they lacked the necessary number of PCI Express slots for my intended expansion cards. The Asus Prime X570 Pro stood out as the best choice for my build.

📚 Adding Expansion Cards

To enhance the capabilities of my build, I decided to incorporate two expansion cards: an HBA card and a 10 Gigabit card. These additions would allow me to connect additional drives and achieve faster network speeds, respectively.

4.1 The HBA Card (LSI 9207-8)

For the HBA card, I opted for the LSI 9207-8. This card, which stands for Host Bus Adapter, is capable of supporting up to eight drives. By flashing it in IT mode, I can utilize it as a software RAID controller rather than a hardware RAID controller. This flexibility is ideal for my needs, as I plan to use it for a Just a Bunch Of Drives (JBOD) configuration. To connect the drives to the HBA card, I purchased mini SAS to SATA breakout cables at an affordable price of $15.

4.2 The 10 Gigabit Card (Chelsio CC2 N320E)

To achieve faster network speeds, I acquired the Chelsio CC2 N320E 10 Gigabit card. This dual-port card supports various operating systems, making it suitable for my future plans for the build. Whether it becomes a TrueNAS server or a Windows Server, the 10 Gigabit card will ensure high-speed data transfer. I found the card for around $39, making it a cost-effective addition to the build.

💾 Memory: OLOy DDR4 3200 MHz

For memory, I chose the OLOy DDR4 3200 MHz kit. With two sticks of 16 GB, I have a total of 32 GB, which I doubled with two kits. This gives me a significant 64 GB of memory for my build. While the speed of the RAM is not crucial for my purposes, the price was too good to pass up. I managed to find each kit on sale for $80, making it an affordable and sufficient choice for my home server needs.

🔌 Power Supply: EVGA 850GA

To power this build, I decided to use the EVGA 850GA power supply. With a rating of 850 Watts and 80 Plus Gold certification, this fully modular power supply provides efficient and reliable power delivery. I was already using this power supply in my main desktop, which was previously equipped with the Ryzen 3900X. Upgrading the CPU seemed like a good opportunity to also upgrade the power supply and ensure sufficient power for the new components.

🖥️ The Case: Corsair

The case I chose for this build is an old Corsair model that I have owned for several years. Although I can't recall the exact model number, I remember it as being roomy and easy to build in. This case has witnessed the evolution of my previous builds, such as the Intel X58 and Intel i7 2600K rigs. Its durability and spaciousness make it an ideal choice for accommodating the components of this new build.

🎮 Graphics Cards

In terms of graphics cards, I have a few options to choose from. As a gripe with the Ryzen 3900X, it lacks an integrated GPU, which requires me to rely on discrete graphics cards. I have an MSI 690 Twin Frozer, an EVGA 780 Classified, a Quadro P400, an EVGA 3070 XC Ultra (replaced by a 3080 TI Founders Edition), and an EVGA 2070 Super. While I haven't decided which one to use yet, I may initially opt for the MSI 690, given its compatibility and available spare parts.

💽 Storage Options

When it comes to storage, I have a few possibilities to consider. I am torn between using an SSD or NVMe as the primary storage. Additionally, I have two four terabyte drives and two eight terabyte drives that I can incorporate into the build. These drives are from an old NAS that I previously built and are still in excellent condition. Although these may not be spare parts in the strictest sense, they Present an opportunity to repurpose quality drives. With various storage options at my disposal, I have the flexibility to build a storage-centric server or opt for a more balanced configuration.

🛠️ Assembling the Build

With all the components ready, it was time to put the build together. I meticulously followed the instructions, ensuring a seamless and successful assembly process. The old Corsair case made it easy to access and install the components, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that everything fit perfectly. After connecting the cables, I powered on the system, eagerly waiting for signs of life. To my delight, everything started up smoothly, and the RGB lighting on the RAM illuminated the build. This initial success fueled my excitement for the possibilities this new build would offer.

🎉 Conclusion

In this article, I detailed the components and choices behind my recent computer build. From the Ryzen 5900X CPU to the Asus Prime X570 Pro motherboard, each component was carefully selected to provide performance and flexibility. The addition of expansion cards, memory, power supply, and graphics cards further enhanced the build's capabilities. With various storage options and a spacious Corsair case, this build presented me with endless possibilities for its use as a Proxmox server or a TrueNAS server. Whatever path I choose, I can rely on the components' quality and performance to meet my needs and ensure an optimal computing experience.

FAQs

Q: What is the advantage of the Ryzen 5900X over previous CPUs?

A: The Ryzen 5900X offers improved performance with its 12 cores and 24 threads, making it ideal for multitasking and demanding applications.

Q: Why did you choose the Asus Prime X570 Pro as the motherboard?

A: The Asus Prime X570 Pro provides excellent features and connectivity options, including enough PCI Express slots for expansion cards.

Q: Can you explain the purpose of the HBA card?

A: The HBA card, such as the LSI 9207-8, allows for additional drive connections and can be used for a Just a Bunch Of Drives (JBOD) configuration.

Q: What are the advantages of using a 10 Gigabit card?

A: A 10 Gigabit card, like the Chelsio CC2 N320E, enables faster network speeds, which is beneficial for data-intensive tasks or high-speed file transfers.

Q: Why did you choose OLOy DDR4 3200 MHz memory?

A: OLOy DDR4 3200 MHz memory offers a good price-to-performance ratio and provides ample memory capacity for a home server.

Q: How does the EVGA 850GA power supply contribute to the build?

A: The EVGA 850GA power supply ensures efficient and reliable power delivery, supporting the demands of the components in the build.

Q: Why did you opt for an old Corsair case?

A: The old Corsair case was chosen for its spaciousness and ease of building, providing ample room for the components and future upgrades.

Q: Which graphics card options are available for this build?

A: Several graphics card options, including the MSI 690 Twin Frozer, EVGA 780 Classified, Quadro P400, EVGA 3070 XC Ultra, and EVGA 2070 Super, can be used in this build.

Q: What are the storage options for this build?

A: The build offers flexibility in using either an SSD or NVMe as the primary storage, along with the possibility of incorporating four terabyte and eight terabyte drives.

Q: Can you share your experience of assembling the build?

A: The assembly process was smooth and successful, thanks to the spaciousness and accessibility of the Corsair case, and all components fit perfectly.

Q: What is the purpose of this build?

A: The purpose of this build is yet to be determined, but it can serve as a powerful Proxmox server or a storage-centric TrueNAS server, among other possibilities.

Resources: