PART 3 – DIY Unraid NAS: Power Testing & Stability Checking with OCCT

Welcome back to Part 3 of the DIY Unraid NAS series!
In Part 1, we unboxed and assembled the hardware.
In Part 2, we ran a quick Windows 11 installation test (and of course, everything that could go wrong… went Pete Tong).

Now that the system boots and behaves under a “normal” workload, it’s time to get serious. Before committing this Intel NUC–powered machine to Unraid full-time, we need to ensure it’s electrically stable, thermally stable, and capable of running 24/7 without surprises.

This stage is all about power draw, thermals, and stress testing using OCCT — a powerful tool for validating hardware stability.

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Why Power & Stability Testing Is Essential for a NAS

A NAS must be:

• Reliable
• Predictable
• Stable under load
• Able to handle long uptimes
• Capable of sustained read/write operations
• Tolerant of temperature variation

Unlike a desktop, a NAS doesn’t get breaks. It runs constantly, serving files, running Docker containers, hosting VMs, and performing parity checks. Any weakness now — PSU spikes, hot VRMs, faulty RAM — will eventually show up as file corruption or unexpected reboots.

That’s why stress testing at this stage is non-negotiable.

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Using OCCT for a Full-System Torture Test

OCCT is typically used by overclockers, but it’s perfect for checking new NAS hardware.
It includes tests for:

1. CPU Stability

Pushes the CPU to 100% sustained load.
Checks:

• Thermal throttling
• Cooling capacity
• Voltage stability
• Clock behaviour under load

A NAS must not throttle or overheat under parity checks or rebuilds.

2. Memory Integrity Test

RAM is the most overlooked component in DIY NAS builds.
Errors = silent data corruption.

OCCT’s memory test:

• Fills RAM with patterns
• Reads, writes, and verifies
• Detects bit-flip issues
• Ensures stability under pressure

Memory integrity is vital for Unraid, especially with Docker and VMs.

3. Power Supply Stress Test

OCCT is one of the few tools capable of stressing:

• CPU
• GPU (if present)
• Memory
• All power rails

simultaneously.

This simulates worst-case load and reveals:

• Weak PSUs
• Voltage drops
• Instability
• Flaky power bricks
• VRM overheating

Not what you want in a NAS.

4. Thermal Behaviour Monitoring

OCCT provides excellent graphs showing:

• Heat buildup
• Fan curve response
• Temperature equilibrium
• VRM load
• Stability over time

This shows whether the NUC case and cooling can handle long running services.

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Test Results: Can the Intel NUC Handle It?

After running OCCT, the system performed exceptionally well.

CPU

• No throttling
• Temperatures within acceptable limits
• Clock speeds held steady

RAM

• Passed memory integrity tests
• No bit errors
• Stable under extended load

Power Delivery

• No shutdowns or brown-outs
• The power brick handled peaks
• VRMs stayed within thermal limits

Thermals

• Fans behaved predictably
• Temperature plateau was stable
• No unsafe spikes

In other words:
This machine is ready to become an Unraid NAS.

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Why Validate Hardware Before Installing Unraid?

Because fixing hardware problems AFTER configuring:

• Shares
• Parity
• Docker containers
• VMs
• Backups
• User data

…is painful.

Hardware validation now ensures:

• No silent RAM corruption
• No thermal issues
• No unexpected shutdowns
• No nasty surprises during parity builds
• The system is reliable for 24/7 operation

This step protects your data, your time, and your sanity.

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What’s Coming in Part 4

With the hardware:

• Burned in
• Power-tested
• Thermally stable
• Verified by OCCT

We move to the exciting part:
Actually installing Unraid!

In Part 4, we will:

• Prepare the Unraid USB boot device
• Configure BIOS for NAS use
• Boot Unraid for the first time
• Create the array
• Assign drives
• Add parity
• Begin configuring shares and services

We’re finally at the point where the NAS becomes… a NAS!

Stay tuned — the best parts are still ahead.

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