Tips for game server

[Pot Dog]

My friends and I want to host a LAN party. We just need to build a server to host the games on. Any tips for choosing parts?

[WoodenMarker]

What games? How many people will be on the server? What's your budget?

[ThatDamnHacker]

If there aren't many people you could just host it yourself on your PC and have people connect. As for building an actual server it depends on your budget like WoodenMarker said

[xAdam]

If youre just having a LAN party i doubt youll want to run a server, they rack up costs very quickly. Just run it off your own PC

[Pot Dog]

What games? How many people will be on the server? What's your budget?

We will probably play TF2 and Gmod mainly. 10-15 people. 300-400$

[WoodenMarker]

Here you go: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/11KcL $270

The server should utilize maybe 1 core. 2.6ghz is more than enough.

I went with 4gigs of CL9 1600 memory because it's not much more expensive. Plus, you could reuse it later on. Usage shouldn't go higher than 1 (maybe 2 gigs.) 

I went with the samsung 840 120gb ssd so that everything would boot quickly. You need a storage drive and besides, you could without a doubt reuse it later. 

the case is not the best but it's small and it will do. The Fractal Design Core 1000 usb 3.0 is not much more expensive and can be reused if you want to take that route. If you do, I would get a b75 motherboard for the usb 3.0 for about $5-10 more.

The psu is overkill but I was thinking it'd be better to get a decent psu for $10 more so that is could be reused or so you could include a bunch of hdd's if you ever want to start a home nas server thing.

 

This should be able to run at least 5 TF 2 servers with 32+ players on each.

[Pot Dog]

Here you go: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/11KcL $270

The server should utilize maybe 1 core. 2.6ghz is more than enough.

I went with 4gigs of CL9 1600 memory because it's not much more expensive. Plus, you could reuse it later on. Usage shouldn't go higher than 1 (maybe 2 gigs.) 

I went with the samsung 840 120gb ssd so that everything would boot quickly. You need a storage drive and besides, you could without a doubt reuse it later. 

the case is not the best but it's small and it will do. The Fractal Design Core 1000 usb 3.0 is not much more expensive and can be reused if you want to take that route. If you do, I would get a b75 motherboard for the usb 3.0 for about $5-10 more.

The psu is overkill but I was thinking it'd be better to get a decent psu for $10 more so that is could be reused or so you could include a bunch of hdd's if you ever want to start a home nas server thing.

 

This should be able to run at least 5 TF 2 servers with 32+ players on each.

This is awesome! I am eternally grateful.

[911^NEmeSis]

If you want though, you could rent a gameserver from a site host. It's really simple and is only a few dollars a month nowdays to do so. You can also switch from game to game fairly easy at a click of a button and you wont have to worry about the server going down or maintaining it.

[WoodenMarker]

This is awesome! I am eternally grateful.

Eternity is quite a long time but you're welcome. :P