Question NAS for home media streaming and photo storage

[kisserik93]

Hello everyone!

I’m looking for a device to handle the following tasks:

• Downloading movies and TV series via a torrent client
• Running a Plex server, Jellyfin, or Emby server
• Storing my photos (although I also back them up elsewhere)
• Possibly running Home Assistant as well

What should I buy? A NAS? Or maybe a mini PC?

I’d appreciate recommendations. It’s important that the device is quiet.

 

[bill001g]

There really isn't any difference. A NAS is just a small pc you in effect paid someone else to put together and configure.

With a PC you have to load all the software and configure it. This option will always be the most flexible and meet the exact needs you have. It all depends on how much "work" you want to do yourself and how much you want to pay someone else to do.

The problem with a so called "NAS" is there is quite a bit of difference. The only feature they really have in common all will provide the ability to access storage via the network. Other feature you are going to have to research. With the large list you have I suspect there is no NAS that will have those exact features.

 

[cruisetung]

It really depends on a lot of things. How much you would like to spend, how much storage do you need? What's your form factor requirement/preference? Do you need HDD that can store a lot of media on the cheap or you prefer smaller but more expensive nvme drives ?

Do you need a lot other Apps that comes with brand name NAS vendors or just a few apps you mentioned above?

Reference

Question - Mini PC as a Mediacenter/NAS?

Hi people, I am looking for a cheap way to get some NAS/Mediacenter solution for my place. I have several parts from other PCs left and my goal is to put together a PC that will run Open Media Vault and Kodi or Plex Media Server What i already have: - DDR4 Desktop RAM (2666 Mhz) - an I5...

forums.tomshardware.com

With a desktop mini pc, you can use it as a NAS, a desktop pc and a media center.

 

[USAFRet]

Hello everyone!

I’m looking for a device to handle the following tasks:

• Downloading movies and TV series via a torrent client
• Running a Plex server, Jellyfin, or Emby server
• Storing my photos (although I also back them up elsewhere)
• Possibly running Home Assistant as well

What should I buy? A NAS? Or maybe a mini PC?

I’d appreciate recommendations. It’s important that the device is quiet.

How many people will be accessing this?