Home Project · Media Server · Buy Timing
Prices checked Sep 29, 2026

When to Buy
Media Server

Buy the cheap parts now. Hold the MSI PSU and the 1 TB AX2 for Prime Big Deal Days, Oct 6–7, 2026. Only those two have real sale history; everything else is at or below its normal price, or has no history to wait on. Start with the chassis: it is needed first, and the cooler and GPU clearances can only be measured once it is here.

Buy now · 13$674.65
Hold for sale · 2$219.98
Parts to buy$894.63
SaleOct 6–7

Hold for Oct 6–7 2 items · $219.98

Both are needed regardless. Buy the A750GL at $80 or less and the AX2 1 TB at anything noticeably under $129.99. If neither drops, buy them at list once the sale ends — at target the pair comes to about $210 or less.

PartPricePrice historyVerdictNote
MSI MAG A750GL PSU$89.99Now $94.99, avg $96.65. Low $70 (Aug 2024). $79.99 on Prime Day 2025 and Nov 2023Wait for saleTarget ≤ $80 on Oct 6–7
TEAMGROUP AX2 1 TB$129.99Low $36 (Jun 2023), before NAND prices reversed. No Prime patternWait for saleAnything noticeably under $129.99 is fair now

Buy now 13 items · $674.65

At or below their usual price, or with no sale history to wait on. Nothing here is worth holding for the sale.

PartPricePrice historyVerdictNote
BrosTrend 5 Gb NIC (P2)$39.99$39.99 direct, $49.99 Newegg. Under $35 in Feb 2026. No Amazon history foundBuy nowNothing to wait on; confirm the Amazon price at checkout
GPERHUAN 4U chassis$89.99No history foundBuy nowNeeded first — measure cooler and GPU clearance
HGST Ultrastar HC530 14 TB (Renewed)$389.99$119.99 on this listing in Apr 2023; $158.99 by Jul 2025. Today: Newegg refurbished $379.99, ServerPartDeals recertified $429 and out of stockBuy nowUp about 2.5× since mid-2025, and recertified stock is thinning — waiting is more likely to cost than save. Newegg’s is $10 less with a 5-year warranty
Cable Matters Molex to SATA, 3-pack$7.99No history found; out of stock at Cable Matters directBuy nowFor the HC530’s power-disable pin
Thermalright PA120 Mini$33.90No history; the full-size PA120 SE runs $28–34Buy now
ARCTIC P12 Pro$6.39Below every price found (~$8.50 typical)Buy now
ARCTIC P8 Max ×2$17.98$8.99 each = launch MSRP, no sales on recordBuy now
ARCTIC PST cable$7.99ARCTIC list $7.99; Newegg $8.59. No sale history foundBuy nowAt list price; nothing to wait on
Thermalright M.2 heatsink$5.79At the category floorBuy now
ELECNEXUS 4-port SATA$21.99No history foundBuy now
SinLoon x1 riser ×2$29.98No history foundBuy nowTest both cards before closing the lid
SATA III cables, 6-pack$12.68No history foundBuy now
ORICO 2.5″ to 3.5″ adapter$9.99No history foundBuy nowFor the AX2 1 TB trickplay SSD

Upgrades not in any total

Not part of the build. The 5700X is 49% above its low right now, so it is the clearest wait on the sheet if it is bought at all.

PartPrice nowPrice historyVerdictNote
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X$199.99Avg $183.57. Low $130 (Black Friday 2024). ~$140 on Prime Day 2025Wait for saleTarget ≤ $160. Update the B450 BIOS before swapping
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D——SkipThe extra cache does nothing for ffmpeg or segment scans

Only if needed not in any total

Bought only if a measurement on build day says so.

PartPricePrice historyVerdictNote
SinLoon 8-pin PCIe right-angle adapter—Not checkedOnly if neededOnly if the chassis lid presses on the GPU’s power plug. Comes in left and right versions

Sources