New Server Info

TimLatte · June 14, 2020

I currently have just repurposed a load of old PC parts to use as a server, which while it works, is inpractical mostly due to limitations with physical space for storage and RAM (I literally chucked a motherboard with an i7 3770 into a really old case that is battered and missing a sidepanel and then found an old PSU that I worry could blow up at any point to power it). I'd like a new system, partly to fix these issues, partly as I hope to eventually work with servers in some way when I finish school so the experience would be a boost, and also because everyone has a toy, and I want this to be mine to just mess around with. Anyway, I am looking to buy a system that uses proper server hardware, but while being obsessed about this sort of stuff, i'm still very much new to the game and don't really know what I am looking for, all I know is that I want to get as much of the system second hand to save money. The server won't need much juice, currently it just hosts a private vanilla minecraft server that averages about 4-6 players, a plex server, some bots for discord, and a website (although likely to do more in the future).

I would like some advice on what sort of server to get, and what hardware it needs, so any help is greatly appreciated

Thanks!

Windows7ge · June 14, 2020

What's your budget? eBay has great deals on retired server hardware. You can build something good for what is considered cheap.

TimLatte · June 14, 2020

4 minutes ago, Windows7ge said:

What's your budget? eBay has great deals on retired server hardware. You can build something good for what is considered cheap.

I'm not really sure what a good price would be. I'd say excluding drives £150? I don't think thats too unreasonable if it will all be second hand

Windows7ge · June 14, 2020

Just now, TimLatte said:

I'm not really sure what a good price would be. I'd say excluding drives £150? I don't think thats too unreasonable if it will all be second hand

So almost $200. A little tight for what I had in mind. People really like the old LGA1366 equipment, X5650's and all but IMO for something you plan to run 24/7 I wouldn't recommend it even though the upfront cost is really cheap your electric bill would rack up.

IMO, I'd aim for single socket LGA2011 and a E5-2670v1. the CPU can be picked up pretty cheaply. Most of the used market consist of dual socket server configurations but those would run just as well with only 1 CPU populated.

If you decided you wanted a higher clock speed you could look into the E5-2690v1.

There are cheaper markets available like LGA1150 but LGA2011 is a pretty good sweetspot right now for price/cores & ram.