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Physical Hardware

Basic Components

Compute
Processor Intel Core i7-8700k
  • 64-bit
  • 6-cores / 12-threads
  • 3.6GHz base, 4.7GHz boost
  • 12MB L3 Cache
GPU Intel UHD Graphics 630
  • Intel Quick Sync Video
  • 350MHz base, 1.2GHz Max Dynamic

This is the processor I had been using in this PC prior to converting it into a "home server" and there is nothing particularly special about it other than it was very fast when I bought it. It is a great consumer CPU even to this day but it is starting to feel more limiting as a server CPU due to its lack of ECC support, lower cores/thread count, and limited PCI lanes that it provides.

Motherboard
Manufacturer Gigabyte
Model Z370 AORUS Gaming 7 (rev 1.0)
CPU Support for 8th Generation Intel Core i7 / i5 / i3 processors in the LGA1151 package
Chipset Intel Z370
Memory
  • 4x DDR4 DIMM supporting up to 64GB
  • Dual channel memory architecture
Display
  • 1x HDMI 1.4
  • 1x DisplayPort 1.2
Networking
  • 1x Intel 1GbE
  • 1x Rivet Networks Killer E2500
Expansion
  • 2x PCIe 3.0 x16 (running x16/x0 or x8/x8)
  • 1x PCIe 3.0 x16 (running at x4)
  • 3x PCIe 3.0 x1
Storage
  • 3x M.2 PCIe x4/x2
  • 6x SATA3
USB
  • 2x USB 3.1 Gen2 (Type-C)
  • 1x USB 3.1 Gen2 (Type-A)
  • 7x USB 3.1 Gen1 (Type-A)

Similarly this motherboard was bought with the intent of building a powerful PC instead of a more server oriented box. It reflects a lot of the same constraints as the processor.

Memory
Manufacturer CORSAIR
Model Vengeance
Type DD4R4
Capacity 4x 16GB
Speed 2666MHz
Specifications
  • timing 16-18-18-35
  • CAS Latency 16
  • voltage 1.2V
  • Non ECC Unbuffered

Case

Fractal Design - Define R6 USB C (Blackout) - A fantastic case with an attractive minimalistic design that holds a lot of hard drives and excellent sound dampening.

  • Features
    • 10x HDD, 2x SSD
    • Sound dampening panels
    • Excellent build quality

Storage

# Capacity Interface Type Manufacturer & Model Speed
6x 10TB SATA HDD Western Digital WD1000WMAZ SATA3 6.0Gb/s
4x 4TB SATA HDD Seagate ST4000DM004 SATA3 6.0Gb/s
1x 512GB SATA SDD Samsun EVO SATA3 6.0Gb/s
2x 1TB NVMe SDD Inland Professional PCIe 3.0 x2
2x 256GB NVMe SDD Inland Professional PCIe 3.0 x2
2x 512GB NVMe SDD Samsung SM981/PM981 PCIe 3.0 x2

Cooling

Power Supply

EVGA SuperNOVA 850 G+ 850W

  • Features
    • Fully modular

UPS

APC Back UPS PRO BN-M2 1500VA

  • Features
    • 900Watts / 1.5kVA
    • 6x Battery backed outlets
    • 4x Surge outlets

Add-On Cards

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