1250$ SQL server ideas

[Drake Jest]

Hello was given a task to build an sql server, and was given a budget of  $1000 - $1250 to fully built the best to fit within that budget.

 

 

I already identified some specifics that i want:

CPU: Im not sure what to go with, should i go with server specific CPU or get a powerful desktop CPU, at my pricepoint a server cpu might be to expensive. maybe a intel i7 13700k or a ryzen 9 7950x (a bit pricy though)

RAM: 32GB or 64GB ECC (If CPU supports) DDR4 ram, i dont know if quad or dual channel is better here will have to be taken into consideration overall budget,

Storage : 2x 256GB mirrored for OS and 2x 1TB samsung pro mirrored for the database (db file is around 5gb, with backups taking around 1-2gb)

MOBO: This will depend on the CPU but generally i would want 2.5GB or 10GB networking built in if possible. Also should i do the raid with the mobo, i rarely see a raid controller nowadays.

Powersupply: Typically you want a redundant powersupply but im having trouble looking for one, i might get a 80+ gold/platinum powersupply for that extra effeciency since the system will be on 24/7

 

Any thoughts? i think im overbudget and have to reduce on some places

[jaslion]

What does it even do?

 

Like what data is it? Just some text or what?

 

Because sql can run on a literal potato so depending on how intensive this task is this might be a massive waste.

 

Also local db hosting is kinda a thing from the past it's all hosted externally for safety.

[venomtail]

23 minutes ago, jaslion said:

What does it even do?

 

Like what data is it? Just some text or what?

 

Because sql can run on a literal potato so depending on how intensive this task is this might be a massive waste.

 

Also local db hosting is kinda a thing from the past it's all hosted externally for safety.

If it's all in house then I can't see a reason to worry about safety.

[brob]

23 minutes ago, Drake Jest said:

Any thoughts? i think im overbudget and have to reduce on some places

 

Without knowing the load requirements and db context it's not possible to really judge what is needed.

 

Frankly, a 5GB database is small and the specs seem way over what might be needed. But since no context is provided it's not possible to know.

 

[Drake Jest]

20 minutes ago, jaslion said:

What does it even do?

 

Like what data is it? Just some text or what?

 

Because sql can run on a literal potato so depending on how intensive this task is this might be a massive waste.

 

Also local db hosting is kinda a thing from the past it's all hosted externally for safety.

mostly text, images. around 100 clients. Im not privy to what is really happening in software , the task that was given to me was to build a PC for a sql server, was given 1250$ budget that i must use as much of it to make it as reliable as possible. I understand that it might be a total waste, but i wont argue with my boss with that , i mean it cant really hurt to be overkill they have the cash to burn anyway

[Drake Jest]

2 minutes ago, venomtail said:

If it's all in house then I can't see a reason to worry about safety.

yes all in house, but i still want redundancy with the drives, as that would save some future inconveniences 

 

2 minutes ago, brob said:

 

Without knowing the load requirements and db context it's not possible to really judge what is needed.

 

Frankly, a 5GB database is small and the specs seem way over what might be needed. But since no context is provided it's not possible to know.

 

the minimum specs they gave me is a literal potato pc, a pentium CPU for example.. but i was given a budget that i must fully use, so yes it would be waaay overkill, couldnt hurt to be overkill in this case

[GOTSpectrum]

Do you have a rack at work? If so your probably best buying a used server 

[jaslion]

11 minutes ago, Drake Jest said:

yes all in house, but i still want redundancy with the drives, as that would save some future inconveniences 

 

the minimum specs they gave me is a literal potato pc, a pentium CPU for example.. but i was given a budget that i must fully use, so yes it would be waaay overkill, couldnt hurt to be overkill in this case

I mean make sure to include a full cloud backup plan because. RAID IS NOT A BACKUP AT ALL EVER!!!!!!!!!!

 

All raid is good for is uptime redundancy. Nothing more. It's there to allow you to speedily try to correct a failure.

 

If I were you I'd legit just run the whole thing in a vm and backup that vm daily with a version history of a week, then have a hourly incremental backup of the database itself + keep a copy at the end of every week for a couple months. You can basically do this to a hdd that is a couple tb big and have a cloud backup of said drive that goes constantly.

 

Either way vm this shit then whatever is running in it can be transferred easy as pie if the hardware ever goes.

 

As for hardware skip ecc just go am5 ddr5 as it already has ecc features built in and the ecc am4 supports is not true ecc.

 

Since their requirement is literal potato just get a ryzen 7800 or so and send it. Spend the rest on backup strats.

 

Desktop doesn't have reduntant psu that is enterprise level gear. you do want a ups here for sure.

[brob]

28 minutes ago, Drake Jest said:

the minimum specs they gave me is a literal potato pc, a pentium CPU for example.. but i was given a budget that i must fully use, so yes it would be waaay overkill, couldnt hurt to be overkill in this case

 

Is this a school assignment?

[Drake Jest]

2 minutes ago, jaslion said:

I mean make sure to include a full cloud backup plan because. RAID IS NOT A BACKUP AT ALL EVER!!!!!!!!!!

 

All raid is good for is uptime redundancy. Nothing more. It's there to allow you to speedily try to correct a failure.

 

If I were you I'd legit just run the whole thing in a vm and backup that vm daily with a version history of a week, then have a hourly incremental backup of the database itself + keep a copy at the end of every week for a couple months. You can basically do this to a hdd that is a couple tb big and have a cloud backup of said drive that goes constantly.

 

Either way vm this shit then whatever is running in it can be transferred easy as pie if the hardware ever goes.

 

As for hardware skip ecc just go am5 ddr5 as it already has ecc features built in and the ecc am4 supports is not true ecc.

 

Since their requirement is literal potato just get a ryzen 7800 or so and send it. Spend the rest on backup strats.

 

Desktop doesn't have reduntant psu that is enterprise level gear. you do want a ups here for sure.

Yes there are already proper backup solutions, its done in software so it wont be included in this part. My job here is to build pure hardware, that allows the software guys to be as flexible as they possibly can and not be limited by the hardware. Yes there is already an existing UPS system, this build will just be added to that. The backup power is beefy and can handle an additional system no problem. Only AMD AM5 DDR5 has built in ECC? nothing so far on intel side?

 

I see so i guess ill just skip the idea of redundant PSU, and just go for a really good one seasonic SSR-650PX 80+ platinum perhaps?

[brob]

4 hours ago, Drake Jest said:

Yes there are already proper backup solutions, its done in software so it wont be included in this part. My job here is to build pure hardware, that allows the software guys to be as flexible as they possibly can and not be limited by the hardware. Yes there is already an existing UPS system, this build will just be added to that. The backup power is beefy and can handle an additional system no problem. Only AMD AM5 DDR5 has built in ECC? nothing so far on intel side?

 

I see so i guess ill just skip the idea of redundant PSU, and just go for a really good one seasonic SSR-650PX 80+ platinum perhaps?

 

Both current gen desktop AMD and Intel (i5-13500 and above) CPU support ECC. The main problem is finding motherboards that support ECC.

[Blue4130]

On 10/13/2023 at 12:54 AM, Drake Jest said:

Yes there are already proper backup solutions, its done in software so it wont be included in this part.

This doesn't make sense. Where do these "software backups" live? Back-ups need a hardware component also. Backing up to the same machine is not a backup.

[Drake Jest]

On 10/17/2023 at 10:09 AM, Blue4130 said:

This doesn't make sense. Where do these "software backups" live? Back-ups need a hardware component also. Backing up to the same machine is not a backup.

you misunderstood it sir, what i ment by that is that there is a software program doing the backups.

Oh and also I ended up choosing tower servers they fit within the budget and offers the latest gen of xeon chips (albeit its the lower end ones), I am in talks with someone that might get me a brand new lenovo thinksystem ST50, RAM and Storage will be bought separately (probably second hand on the ECC RAM). Im pretty much buying this for the motherboard and CPU :<