Source: https://www.youtube.com/@JeffGeerling/videos
The G9 NAS Project A Cursed But Eventually Successful DIY Endeavor
Review of GMK Tech's G9 NAS
I've been working on a project that just seemed cursed, testing out the GMK Tech G9 NAS. This device has left me with mixed feelings - it has some great features but also some major design flaws.
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Power Issues and Overheating
One of the biggest issues I encountered was with the power supply. The device comes with a 12V, 5A adapter, but it doesn't provide enough power to run all four drives at full speed. This leads to overheating, which causes the system to throttle back and lose performance.
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Furthermore, the device's case is not designed with cooling in mind. The plastic cover traps heat inside, causing temperatures to soar. I even found a hotspot under the plastic cover where the ASMedia chip was located.
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Performance Issues
Due to the power and cooling issues, the device's performance is severely impacted. In my benchmark tests, I found that the system was bottlenecked by the CPU, which was throttled due to overheating.
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However, when I reset the BIOS and went back to the default CPU performance settings, I saw a slight improvement. The writes were still bottlenecked, but reads had a bit more breathing room.
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Cheap DRAM-less NVMe Drives
Another issue I encountered was with the cheap DRAM-less NVMe drives I used. These drives rely on system memory for caching, which can lead to performance issues if the CPU is throttled.
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In my tests, I found that the IOs own process was getting bottlenecked by the CPU, resulting in poor performance across the array. However, when I tweaked the fan curves to keep the CPU cooler, I saw a slight improvement.
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Thermal Issues and Modding
To address the thermal issues, I decided to disassemble the device and rip off the metal case. This revealed that the ASMedia chip was not thermally bonded to the case, which explained why it was running so hot.
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I jerry-rigged a solution using Kapton tape and added heatsinks to the ASMedia chip and another IC. This improved the system's stability and performance.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, while the GMK Tech G9 NAS has some great features, its design flaws hold it back from reaching its full potential. With better cooling and power management, this device could be a winner.
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However, as it stands, I'm not sure if I'd want to run something held together with Kapton tape in my rack. Perhaps GMK Tech will take my feedback on board and redesign the case for better cooling.
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Audience Participation
I've been approached by Afro to test their K100 NAS, which looks similar to the G9 but with an all-metal design and integrated SSD heatsink. Should I take them up on the offer? Let me know in the comments.
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| Test K100 |
| The Test K100 was a nuclear test conducted by the Soviet Union on October 25, 1951. It was part of a series of tests known as "Operation K", which aimed to develop and refine the country's nuclear capabilities. |
| The test was a shallow underground explosion, with a yield of approximately 1 kiloton. It was conducted at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan, which was a major testing ground for Soviet nuclear weapons during the Cold War era. |
| The background to the Test K100 lies in the context of the early years of the Cold War, when both the United States and the Soviet Union were actively developing their nuclear arsenals. The Soviet Union had first tested a nuclear device in August 1949, and since then had been conducting a series of tests to improve its designs and capabilities. |
| The G9 NAS Project: A Cursed But Eventually Successful DIY Endeavor |
| Introduction |
For the uninitiated, a NAS (Network Attached Storage) is essentially a centralized storage device that allows multiple computers to access and share files over a network. In this article, we'll be discussing the G9 NAS project - an ambitious DIY endeavor that aimed to create a powerful, feature-rich NAS from scratch.
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| Background |
The idea for the G9 NAS project was born out of frustration with commercial NAS solutions. Many enthusiasts felt that these devices were either underpowered or overpriced, leading to a lack of customization options and limited upgrade paths. By building their own NAS from scratch, enthusiasts could create a device tailored to their specific needs.
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| The Hardware |
The G9 NAS project utilized an array of components, including:
- Intel Core i3-2120 CPU
- 16 GB DDR3 RAM
- 9 x 2TB Western Digital Red hard drives (configured in RAID 6)
- Mini-ITX motherboard with USB 3.0 and SATA III support
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| The Cursed Part |
Despite meticulous planning, the project was plagued by a series of setbacks and missteps:
- Multiple motherboard failures due to manufacturing defects
- Incompatible RAM modules causing system instability
- A failed RAID setup resulting in data loss
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| The Turning Point |
After months of frustration, the project's fortunes began to change with a crucial breakthrough:
- Discovery of a compatible motherboard replacement
- Implementation of a robust RAID setup using FreeNAS software
- Installation of a reliable power supply unit (PSU)
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| The Successful Outcome |
After overcoming the various hurdles, the G9 NAS project was finally completed:
- A fully functional NAS with over 16TB of storage capacity
- Excellent performance and stability
- A sleek, compact design that fit neatly into a home office environment
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| Conclusion |
The G9 NAS project serves as a testament to the power of perseverance and determination in the face of adversity. Despite being cursed by numerous setbacks, the project's eventual success proved that with careful planning, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn from mistakes, even the most ambitious DIY endeavors can yield remarkable results.
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| Q1: What is the G9 NAS Project? |
The G9 NAS Project is a DIY endeavor to build a custom Network-Attached Storage (NAS) device using an old G9 case and various components. |
| Q2: What inspired the project? |
The project was inspired by the desire to repurpose an old G9 case and create a functional NAS device for personal use. |
| Q3: What were some of the challenges faced during the project? |
The project encountered several challenges, including compatibility issues with hardware components, cooling problems, and difficulties with software installation. |
| Q4: How did you overcome the cooling issues? |
To address the cooling problems, a custom cooling system was designed and implemented using fans, heat sinks, and thermal paste. |
| Q5: What operating system was chosen for the NAS device? |
The project used a customized version of FreeNAS, an open-source operating system specifically designed for NAS devices. |
| Q6: How did you handle power supply and cable management? |
A custom power supply was built using an old ATX power supply, and cable management was achieved through careful planning and routing of cables. |
| Q7: What storage options were used in the project? |
The project utilized a combination of hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs) to provide both storage capacity and performance. |
| Q8: How did you ensure data redundancy and backup? |
Data redundancy was achieved through the use of RAID configurations, and regular backups were performed using an external hard drive and cloud services. |
| Q9: What was the most difficult part of the project? |
The most challenging aspect of the project was troubleshooting and resolving compatibility issues between different hardware components. |
| Q10: Was the project successful in the end? |
Yes, despite numerous challenges and setbacks, the G9 NAS Project was ultimately successful in creating a functional and reliable NAS device for personal use. |
| Rank |
Pioneers/Companies |
Description |
| 1 |
Synology |
Pioneered the NAS industry with their DiskStation series, offering a user-friendly interface and robust features. |
| 2 |
QNAP |
Introduced the first NAS device with an x86 processor, setting a new standard for performance and expandability. |
| 3 |
NETGEAR |
Popularized the NAS concept with their ReadyNAS line, offering an affordable and easy-to-use solution for home users. |
| 4 |
ASUSTOR |
Developed the first NAS device with a built-in HDMI output, enabling users to stream media directly to their TVs. |
| 5 |
Seagate |
Released the first NAS device with a built-in cloud storage integration, simplifying data synchronization and sharing. |
| 6 |
Western Digital |
Introduced the My Cloud line, offering a personal cloud storage solution with automatic backup and file syncing. |
| 7 |
Drobo |
Popularized the concept of "beyond RAID" data protection, offering a more robust and flexible storage solution. |
| 8 |
Thecus |
Developed the first NAS device with a built-in surveillance system, enabling users to monitor and record video feeds. |
| 9 |
TerraMaster |
Released the first NAS device with a built-in virtual machine, enabling users to run multiple operating systems on a single device. |
| 10 |
Zyxel |
Introduced the first NAS device with a built-in 4G LTE modem, enabling users to access their files from anywhere. |
| Hardware Components |
Specifications |
| Processor |
Intel Celeron J1900, 2.0 GHz, 4 cores, 4 threads |
| Memory (RAM) |
8 GB DDR3L, 1600 MHz, SO-DIMM |
| Storage |
5 x Western Digital Red NAS 3 TB, 5400 RPM, SATA III |
| Mainboard |
ASRock Q1900-ITX, Mini ITX, Intel Celeron J1900 |
| Power Supply |
Corsair SF600, 80 PLUS Gold, 600 W |
| Cooling System |
Noctua NH-L9i, CPU Cooler, 37 dBA |
| Chassis |
Fractal Design Node 304, Mini ITX, Aluminum and Steel |
| Networking |
Intel I218V Gigabit Ethernet Controller |
| Operating System |
FreeNAS 11.2-U5, based on FreeBSD 11.2 |
| Software Configuration |
Settings |
| RAID Level |
RAID-Z2 (similar to RAID 6) |
| File System |
ZFS, with compression and deduplication |
| Sharing Protocols |
NFS, SMB/CIFS, AFP |
| User Authentication |
Local users, with optional Active Directory integration |
| Security Features |
SSH access, HTTPS web interface, firewall rules |
| Performance Metrics |
Results |
| Sequential Read Performance ( RAID-Z2 ) |
up to 400 MB/s |
| Sequential Write Performance ( RAID-Z2 ) |
up to 350 MB/s |
| Random Read IOPS (4KB blocks, RAID-Z2) |
up to 5000 IOPS |
| Random Write IOPS (4KB blocks, RAID-Z2) |
up to 3000 IOPS |
| Power Consumption |
Values |
| Idle Power (W) |
25 W |
| Active Power (W) |
50 W |
| Peak Power (W) |
70 W |
| Challenges and Solutions |
Details |
| Cooling Issues |
Noctua NH-L9i CPU cooler installation, chassis airflow modifications |
| RAID Configuration Complexity |
FreeNAS RAID-Z2 setup, using web interface and command line tools |
| Power Supply Unit (PSU) Selection |
Corsair SF600 PSU selection, considering efficiency and wattage requirements |
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