server First Time Making Server (Need Input)

[Mariojacob7red]

Hi everyone. So, I'm new to making a server, and I need some input from all of y'all.

 

Here's what I plan on doing with it:

 

• I plan on running it as an Emby server (instead of using something like Plex) to host all of my family's home videos I've recorded on there.
• I also want to run a Minecraft Forge Server with mods on it too.

 

So with those 2 things in mind, I'm hoping I can keep the price relatively cheap. (At least $1,000 USD or less, if possible.) I was thinking about looking for some NAS type hard drives since SSDs are a little bit out of my price range as of now, but I am open to ideas on how any of y'all think I should do this instead to get the best performance possible out of it. (My original idea was to buy a Dell Optiplex from Ebay and upgrade any parts as needed per one of my friend's ideas.)

 

Thank you all in advance!

[Domrockt]

Get an 10th gen Intel with igpu and an 8 Core will do fine.

get an Board with modest pcie Lanes an slots.

 

i Recomend a case that can Host like 6 x 3.5 HDDs and has at best 2x 5.2 bays 

in this bays you can Add later about 8x 2.5 sata ssds.

 

i use an Coolermaster HAF XB evo Lanbox

you can make it dead silent. 

 

thats a very Good base to Start any Adventure in Home Hosting and more.

 

 

Go for Unraid, why 10th gen you ask? 
you can use the Igpu in more than one application/docker/vm at the Same time.

 

the igpu is not the most  powerfull but will do inhouse emulation/transcoding just fine. 
 

later on you can add whatever you want.

 

 

emby is fine do you have a subscribtion? If not Jellyfin is fine to.

 

 

for HDDs you can easy go used, i recommend seagate and aim for atleast 10tb drives. 
they go for about 120€ used where i live.

 

 

dont buy any cheap Servers of eBay your electricity Bill will thank you. Been there not worth it. For Home usage less powerdraw the better.

i would buy the CPU used, the RAM used, the HDDs used, atleast one 1tb m2 nvme Drive used, heck even the case used.

 

buy the mainboard new, the powersupply new.

 

you are Good to Go put whatever is over in HDDs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mariojacob7red]

Thanks for the reply, Domrockt! I'll consider what you said and give it a try!

[Quantum Noisemaker]

I think Domrockt nailed it, but to add a few details for consideration:

• Minecraft servers are heavily single-thread bound, since everything on the server runs of the tick. It will use a few more cores for lighting and other things, but it will mainly peg a single core. This makes 10th gen a great selection for this, though no 10th gen CPUs support ECC memory, which may be desired from a NAS perspective.
• Alternative to Unraid is the newly released Truenas Scale, which is free and runs off Debian Linux, so it should have no issue handling a few docker containers. It's newer software, so you may run into some bugs and missing features, however.

[Mariojacob7red]

Ok. Thanks! I'll make sure to keep that in mind too.

[m9x3mos]

4 hours ago, Mariojacob7red said:

Ok. Thanks! I'll make sure to keep that in mind too.

Another case to look into is the define r5. Is capable of holding 8 3.5 drives and has and spot for a side fan which is great for keeping hba cards cool. Can also fit 2 fans right in front of your drives to help keep them cool under load.