That’s why you use the HP 290 in combination with one of our NAS guides. It’s a standalone Plex application server, not a storage server.
PSU power rating (wattage) is for peak output, not what it uses at all times from the wall. It will only consume what power is needed.
When you say use in combination, are you suggesting I keep the HP 290 in the OEM case and then connect it to a storage server? Or is the MB in the HP 290 actually a standard mini ITX and I can just mount it in a case with more storage space?
Also, regarding PSU efficiency: don’t they run at peak efficiency at somewhere around 40% of max load? If so, wouldn’t I the most efficient option for a stoarge server be a low wattage PSU? I just don’t know of a low-wattage PSU that has enough connectors for 10 HDDs (and I don’t want to use flaky cable-splitter adapters).
Thanks for all your help, this place is a life-saver!
Leave the HP 290 in the original OEM case, it is very quiet and low power as is, no reason to change it. Follow the guide for a couple additional parts as desired (RAM, NVME, etc.). Install the OS and Plex and configure as per the guide. Connect it to a separate storage server/NAS that hosts your media files over your network. Check out the other guides for how to build a storage server. There are plenty of options.
Got it, ok, but one question: how would you suggest I connect the storage server to the HP 209?
If I fully build out a NK 4.0, then why wouldn’t I just have Plex running from that?
If I build a NAS/DAS. is there a compact case that would let me mount my trayless HDD rack adapters into the 5.25" bays? I’d rather not get a case with tons of room for a motherboard that I won’t be using.
You seem to be missing the entire point of using the HP 290 is predominately for it’s Intel QuickSync features and power efficiency (call it performance per watt). It can be a very performant machine as long as it has a single purpose such as Plex Media Server.
From what I understand you can get similar performance out of a NAS build after you’ve purchased an expensive GPU (such as P2000 currently $427 on Amazon) and after you’ve managed to tweak and set it all up to get that kind of performance out of it. This is meant to circumvent that cost by buying a unit that has been known to cost far less and delivers as good or better performance.
Got it, ok!
I’m trying to understand how to proceed though. I’d like to run Unraid on the HP 209 with a Plex docker. I want to connect these drives to the HP 209 using my existing hot swappable trays – how would I do that?
A SAS adapter card in the HP connected to a bare chassis with only a SAS card, a PSU, and these trays?
I would not say “compact case” for something that would fit 3 x 5.25 adapters. You would be looking for a case with 9 x 5.25 bays, something rather uncommon in new cases these days. I actually have a DAS made from a DVD-burner case which has 3 similar 5-in-3 adapters, but that is just for drives. You still need something with a motherboard/cpu/ram/etc., and a sas card to run the OS.
Don’t hem yourself in to requiring using hot swap bays. I have Unraid running in a large case that has room for 8-12 drives depending on configuration, but is not hot swappable.
If a case has 9 x 5.25 slots plus motherboard it is going to be a HUGE case. Look at some of the Rosewill case builds and install your hotswap bays if you go this route.
You responded while I was typing - there are a few people that have installed unraid on the 290 and connected to a DAS, look at the mini-DAS thread. I personally would not want to run Unraid + Plex in a docker on that 2-core celeron, but there are probably a few around here that have done so.
As Jhunter said above the main idea of Plex on the 290 is for intel quicksync as a single purpose box. Hell I am guilty of wanting to do everything with a rack of 290s myself, but the main point is cheap easy access to intel quicksync, anything beyond that would perhaps be better suited by another guide.
Quick warning: Kingston A2000 nvme ssd gave me huge problems with random kernel panics due to the disk being unmounted by Ubuntu Server at random times. Tried 18, 19 and 20.04. Bios and FW is updated and the disk is working as expected in Windows 10. There are known problems with certain nvme disks due to power saving features in Ubuntu not playing along with certain Samsung and obviously Kingston nvme m2’s. Switched over to an old 2.5 inch sata SSD I had laying around and my system has been been rock solid ever since.
Odd, people aren’t having issues with the Sabrent Rocket SSDs…
Indeed odd. There are lot of reports regarding different nvme problems with the linux kernel. Guess the Sabrent Rocket SSDs goes clear of this problem then. Kingston A2000 was not a good match at the time being. Will have it around and do more testing if I get my hands on another 290 to play with.
Can confirm Sabrent Rocket nvme works great - yesterday installed a 512gb to replace the Toshiba hdd as a main drive for my Plex server.
Awesome thread! I’m looking for recommendations for a Plex server. I have 4 tvs, and I don’t see all of them streaming at the same time, but it could be a possibility. I’m just tired of having to load all my shows on a thumbdrive and plugging and unplugging it from the tv.
Start looking for an HP290 and follow the thread 
Just making sure before I purchase, will this fit?
No, you need a NVMe drive like this:
Thanks, good thing I confirmed but for I purchased.
These are apparently the case, power supply, mainboard, and cdrom…does not include HDD, Ram, and cpu so…probably all that good of a deal unless you already have some parts that could be installed into this.
Im new to this and happened to stumble upon this thread when looking for a plex server solution. I currently do not have an existing server or NAS. I currently run Plex on my win10 PC and was looking for a better solution. Can I run this setup as another computer on my network but dedicated only for plex running ubuntu and essentially get the same results or at least better results than my current setup? I eventually plan to setup NAS once funds allow but currently only have external HDs.
Thanks!
What are you planning to use it for?
I already managed to grab one. Am using it for a plex server/NAS.