AR900i VS BD790i - Performance and Power Usage

Step-by-Step Tutorial: Comparing AR900i and BD790i Motherboards for NAS Configuration

Introduction:

• In this tutorial, we will compare the performance and power usage of the AR900i and BD790i motherboards for a NAS configuration based on the insights from the YouTube video titled "AR900i VS BD790i - Performance and Power Usage" by LetsRTFM.

Materials Needed:

1. AR900i motherboard
2. BD790i motherboard
3. Synology NIC with NVMe slots
4. Power supply
5. NAS case
6. HDMI to USB capture card
7. RAM kits
8. Storage drives
9. PCI express card (if needed)
10. Computer/laptop for setup and testing

Steps:

1. Selecting Hardware:

   • Choose between the AR900i and BD790i motherboards for your NAS configuration based on your requirements and preferences.
   • Consider factors like processor type, additional NVMe slots, and power efficiency.

2. Setting Up Hardware:

   • Install the selected motherboard, Synology NIC with NVMe slots, power supply, and other components in the NAS case.
   • Ensure all components are securely connected and powered.

3. Testing Power Consumption:

   • Use a power usage monitoring device to measure the power consumption of each motherboard during different tasks.
   • Note the power consumption at idle and under load for both the AR900i and BD790i motherboards.

4. Performance Testing:

   • Set the performance governor to max performance for both systems before running tests.
   • Conduct performance tests such as AV1 encode test and Geekbench to compare the processing power and efficiency of both motherboards.

5. RAM Configuration:

   • Test the compatibility and performance of different RAM kits on both motherboards.
   • Adjust RAM speed settings if available on the Intel motherboard according to the RAM kit used.

6. Storage Configuration:

   • Evaluate the storage options on both motherboards, including NVMe slots and SATA drive compatibility.
   • Consider workarounds like using a PCI express card if there are limitations with the NVMe slots for SATA drive connections.

7. Finalizing NAS Configuration:

   • Configure the NAS setup based on the performance and power efficiency results of the testing.
   • Consider creative configurations like placing the boot partition on the ZFS pool for optimized performance.

8. Follow-up and Further Exploration:

   • Plan for a follow-up video or exploration to delve deeper into specific aspects of the AR900i and BD790i motherboards.
   • Experiment with different configurations and components to optimize the NAS setup based on your requirements.

9. Conclusion:

   • Based on the tests and evaluations, decide on the motherboard that best suits your needs in terms of performance, power efficiency, and compatibility with other components.
   • Implement the chosen configuration for your NAS setup and monitor its performance over time.

10. Additional Tips:

• Keep track of any updates or new findings related to the AR900i and BD790i motherboards for future reference.
• Share your experiences and insights with the community to help others make informed decisions for their NAS configurations.

By following these steps and considering the insights from the LetsRTFM video, you can effectively compare and choose between the AR900i and BD790i motherboards for your NAS setup based on performance and power usage requirements.