Reddit mentions of Supermicro Mini-ITX SoC Xeon D-1521 4-Core, FCBGA 1667 Motherboard - X10SDV-4C-TLN2F-O

Get a Xeon D (and run ESXi). I have the 6 core, but the 4 core might be all you need.

https://www.amazon.com/Supermicro-Mini-ITX-D-1521-Motherboard-X10SDV-4C-TLN2F/dp/B015FWP4B2/

> can encode / ingest large video files while also running a couple of home network services over a 10 Gb network

Your build lacks one important part in it. A video card. If your workload is going to be similar to LTT then as he noted it himself - that super expensive CPU he used was a waste:

https://youtu.be/9mlloZT5ZyY?t=214

So if you are using an encoder that can use GPU acceleration then this is going to be a huge deal breaker, a GTX 1070/1080 inside would yield you up to 3x improvement over a 36c Xeon, let alone i7-8700k.

To be fair I get a feeling that in your search of a "pseudoNAS" you have gone too much into desktop world. Overclocked i7-8700k with Z370 and no ECC is not something I would want in a server that is to stay on 24/7. Personally I would rather get the following:

• Supermicro LGA1151 board: https://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/Xeon/C236_C232/X11SSL.cfm
  Supports ECC, offers IPMI KVM (so you can easily manage your server remotely without having a screen attached) and is actual server class board
  
• 16GB ECC RAM
  
• Xeon E3-1230v5/v6.
  
  Or if you can find those at decent pricetags - just move to LGA2011/2011-3/2066. Again, Supermicro as a base board bundled with something around Xeon E5-2620/1650 tier.
  
  It might be personal bias but I really dislike using consumer hardware inside a server. You are way more likely to run into compatibility/stability issues, especially if you are also debating overclocking. I would even consider going with a micro platform like Xeon D1521/1528/1540 (on that note - Supermicro boards on that platform come with 2x10Gb Intel SFP+/RJ45 depending on a version among other things and that's a major step up over cheapo 10Gb RJ45) bundled with a GTX 1070 before going with a typical consumer platform.

Hey I just recently replaced my 5th gen i5 NUC with a box I built for Plex and ESXi. I found my i5 NUC could do 3 streams at once. But I'm not sure if all of those were 1080p transcodes or not. That was also with no other intensive processes running.

Here's what I built:

• M350 Mini-ITX Enclosure
  
• PicoPSU 160W
  
• Supermicro X10SDV-4C-TLN2F-O
  
  Then you can go with any DDR4 ECC RDIMMs, I chose this.
  
  This would be a pretty beefy box but I think it's worth the money. You may want to go the avoton route as /u/cidvis suggests if you're looking for something cheaper.

Id get the normal non L version of that cpu, they use the same power idle, and you can limit max clocks in the os or bios if you want to save power. The L version just limits the max clock and costs more(and may be binner a bit higher, but were thinking maybe 5 watts of savings at the same clock). Also why get a xeon if you not getting ecc, might as well get a i5 and a desktop board, there the same chip, just different features enabled. Also you don't have a gpu in that system.

Id also look at xeon d systems, they cost a bit more, but are better for servers with more boards with impi, registered dimm support, more io. Look at something like this. https://www.amazon.com/Supermicro-Mini-ITX-D-1521-4-Core-Motherboard/dp/B015FWP4B2/ref=pd_sbs_147_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=HT6KZHQEYT29N5YPMVBX This board also comes with a gpu which your system doesn't have.


CPU comes with a stock cooler, use that instead.


Id get a normal atx psu like the seasonic 80+ gold 360watt one. You have enough power, but the atx ones are normally better made with better regulation and ripple and more efficent.

Only the Xeon D match that criteria, but like you said they're expensive, for instance.

I can't find the silverstone case you mention in particular (edit: I did just find that case on amazon, listed as CS01B-HS. Looks like it would work well if you need the hot-swappableness!), but if you can forgo the "external" bit for hard drives, the fractal design cases are absolutely amazing when it comes to size/functionality. Node 804, for example, can do 12 drives (10x3.5, 2x2.5).

As far as ram needs, cpu and low power, you may want to take a look at the Xeon D motherboards. This one may actually get you all you need. It's quad core, but from the reviews I've seen, it is no slouch.

I'm not particularly fresh on building this system, but hopefully this gives you a few ideas at least!