Build or Buy NAS?

[xboxps2gba]

I'm looking to either buy a nas or build one. I currently just have an external hdd connected to my netgear r7000. I was looking at the QNAP TS-251 but I want to get the best bang for my buck. My needs for this are:
- $250 budget (Not including HDD's)
- Low Power Consumption (Will be on 24/7)
- Ability to transcode 1080p video on 2x devices at once
- Storage for all my pics/videos/music
- Torrenting
- Save video from security system.

I've built many computers before but never a NAS. I'm not sure if building one is the way to go or if the TS-251 or something comparable can handle my needs.

Thanks for all of your help.

 

[laviniuc]

if you have an older pc lying around not used and are willing to throw the power requirement out for a while you can easily install a freenas on it, see how that goes.

 

[blackbeard34]

Fine tune pc parts picker - I found I for say $1800 - I could get 30tbs nas with more features than anything you were to buy. Then you always have the option to put software raid, hardware raid and whatever os you want. The 'buy' option for nas drives - really really sucks. They are way over priced and usually dont have alot flexibility. They save time in setup of course; assuming you have good support bought with the setup. But 450 for good base nas with no drive - vs some of those bare nas systems 1000 bucks - and thats before you got any drives at all in it. I said forget it. build your own; get the flexibility to grow it as you see fit.

 

[xboxps2gba]

if you have an older pc lying around not used and are willing to throw the power requirement out for a while you can easily install a freenas on it, see how that goes.

I do but my electric bill is already high and that has a 450w psu on it so it's not very power efficient.

 

[jsmithepa]

I say pre-built batter than self-build, UNLESS you have some special needs not met by pre-built. I don't need the headache for one.

 

[laviniuc]

if you have an older pc lying around not used and are willing to throw the power requirement out for a while you can easily install a freenas on it, see how that goes.

I do but my electric bill is already high and that has a 450w psu on it so it's not very power efficient.

you should use that as a test for freenas 1-2 months of an extra 200w (even with the 450w psu it wont draw 450w, but somewhere around half usually, especially since the gpu will be idle 99%) to the power bill is not so much i thought. if it's all you hoped for you can then get a small minipc built or bought and install that.