Would a Core i7 be decent for a Server Computer?

[Grubite]

Hi everyone! I am The Admin and founder of "The Supreme Master Race of PCs" (http://steamcommunity.com/groups/Thesuprememasterraceofpcs) and me and my Admins have been thinking about hosting a Server for our group in the future. I am on a Budget so a Xeon with 64GB of RAM really isn't within reach. So I was wandering if there is any way I could Host a Server for Under $2000. I Already know you need a Strong CPU, Lots of RAM and Large amounts of Storage. I also plan on hosting games like- TF2, Gmod, Half-Life 2, Valve Games, Etc.

[RichardsD]

Large storage is really only for any type of server that needs to store a lot of info, eg database, email server, file server, etc.  

 

If you'e just hosting games, you don't need a ton of storage.  

 

It's fine... but honestly you should be able to get a equivalent Xeon w/o fancy i7 things for roughly the same price.  

[Guest]

Use something like a hyperthreaded Xeon E3. It is cheaper than an i7 with similar performance.

[bcredeur97]

a 4790K will be plenty for a game server. If u want get a liquid cooler and OC it a bit, just make sure its ridiculously stable.

[1823alex]

Hi everyone! I am The Admin and founder of "The Supreme Master Race of PCs" (http://steamcommunity.com/groups/Thesuprememasterraceofpcs) and me and my Admins have been thinking about hosting a Server for our group in the future. I am on a Budget so a Xeon with 64GB of RAM really isn't within reach. So I was wandering if there is any way I could Host a Server for Under $2000. I Already know you need a Strong CPU, Lots of RAM and Large amounts of Storage. I also plan on hosting games like- TF2, Gmod, Half-Life 2, Valve Games, Etc.

In my opinion buy a used rack server, I got a HP DL360 G5 for 150 with shipping. If you're willing to pay more than 1k you can find some pretty good servers on eBay. Here's a couple I found pretty quick;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lenovo-ThinkServer-TD340-Tower-Server-5U-2Way-Intel-Xeon-E52420V2-220GHz-/351278022831

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-ProLiant-DL360-G7-1U-Server-2xSix-Core-Xeon-2-66GHz-64GB-RAM-4x1TB-SATA-/311240068121?pt=COMP_EN_Servers&hash=item48775a8c19

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-PowerEdge-C1100-CS24-TY-1U-2x-XEON-HEX-CORE-X5650-2-66GHz-4xTRAYS-72GB-DDR3-/261472679308?pt=COMP_EN_Servers&hash=item3ce0fc758c

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-CS24-TY-C1100-1U-Server-2x-Intel-E5530-Quad-Core-2-4GHz-72GB-500GB-SATA-/121537776741?pt=COMP_EN_Servers&hash=item1c4c374c65

EDIT:

I personally prefer these servers more since generally they have redundant power supplies so you don't lose power if one goes out. Also they are usually more reliable since these are servers that major companies employ.

[WinNut]

I'd get a Xeon E3. It's basically an i7 without an iGPU, and if you need a GPU (which you shouldn't since you can RDC into it) you could buy a GT 210 (it's a potato GPU but it's fine for a server).

[1823alex]

I'd get a Xeon E3. It's basically an i7 without an iGPU, and if you need a GPU (which you shouldn't since you can RDC into it) you could buy a GT 210 (it's a potato GPU but it's fine for a server).

Even an old Quadro would probably be fine

[WinNut]

Investing in a GT 210 (which is like $35) is a great value since it's a good GPU for testing so you don't have to test rigs with a 980 or something lol.

[Grubite]

Alright I did a little playing around with PC Part Picker and this is what I ended up with:

 

[PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/dN2pWZ) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/dN2pWZ/by_merchant/)

 

Type|Item|Price

:----|:----|:----

**CPU** | [intel Xeon E3-1230 V2 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80637e31230v2) | $228.99 @ Directron 

**CPU Cooler** | [Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2) | $30.99 @ SuperBiiz 

**Motherboard** | [ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-z77extreme4) | $128.99 @ SuperBiiz 

**Memory** | [Team Dark 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/team-memory-tdd38g1600hc901) | $59.99 @ Newegg 

**Memory** | [Team Dark 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/team-memory-tdd38g1600hc901) | $59.99 @ Newegg 

**Memory** | [Team Dark 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/team-memory-tdd38g1600hc901) | $59.99 @ Newegg 

**Memory** | [Team Dark 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/team-memory-tdd38g1600hc901) | $59.99 @ Newegg 

**Storage** | [seagate  5TB 3.5" 5900RPM Internal Hard Drive](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st5000dm000) | $169.99 @ Amazon 

**Video Card** | [Gigabyte GeForce 210 1GB Video Card](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-video-card-gvn210sl1gi) | $32.99 @ SuperBiiz 

**Case** | [NZXT Source 210 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/nzxt-case-s210001) | $31.99 @ Micro Center 

**Power Supply** | [EVGA SuperNOVA 1000G2 1000W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-120g21000xr) | $162.98 @ OutletPC 

**Optical Drive** | [Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer](http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-optical-drive-drw24f1st) | $17.85 @ OutletPC 

 | | **Total**

 | Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available | $1044.73

 | Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-07 00:54 EST-0500 |

 

I want to say as much as I would like to Buy this list, I am also tempted to Buy a Server from Ebay as I have never played around with Professional Server PCs before but, at the same time I did see a video of a Server PC (Old Dell Server) sounding like 50 Hair Dryers on Full Blast which If all Servers sound like that, I couldn't buy one. Also I'm wandering, What OS should I get? Linux? Windows Sever 2012? Not sure as I am a noob with Servers (and really) have only built two PC's. Thanks everyone for your responses.

[Clyne]

I'd get a Xeon E3. It's basically an i7 without an iGPU, and if you need a GPU (which you shouldn't since you can RDC into it) you could buy a GT 210 (it's a potato GPU but it's fine for a server).

E3 what?

There are Xeon E3s with a iGPU........

[ErickS89]

If you're just hosting a personal website and your own storage than yes an i7 is perfectly acceptable, however...

If you plan on hosting mutliple game servers and websites, then I'd get a Xeon. 

 

I'd still use the x79 or x99 platforms though for servers, and actually x79 is getting cheap so grab an Asus ws-e board and a 3820 and you're golden!

I have the 3820 and can get 4.9GHZ with 1.4v so it's a pretty good overclocker to, when fully watercooled I did get 5GHZ. 

[runit3]

 

Alright I did a little playing around with PC Part Picker and this is what I ended up with:

 

-snip-

 

I want to say as much as I would like to Buy this list, I am also tempted to Buy a Server from Ebay as I have never played around with Professional Server PCs before but, at the same time I did see a video of a Server PC (Old Dell Server) sounding like 50 Hair Dryers on Full Blast which If all Servers sound like that, I couldn't buy one. Also I'm wandering, What OS should I get? Linux? Windows Sever 2012? Not sure as I am a noob with Servers (and really) have only built two PC's. Thanks everyone for your responses.

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1246 V3 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($277.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Motherboard: Asus H97M-E Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($88.99 @ Amazon)

Memory: Team Dark 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($59.99 @ Newegg)

Memory: Team Dark 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($59.99 @ Newegg)

Memory: Team Dark 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($59.99 @ Newegg)

Memory: Team Dark 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($59.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Seagate  5TB 3.5" 5900RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($169.99 @ Amazon)

Case: NZXT Source 220 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($47.99 @ Directron)

Power Supply: Fractal Design Tesla R2 500W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply  ($55.98 @ Directron)

Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer  ($17.85 @ OutletPC)

Total: $898.75

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-07 02:45 EST-0500

 

There's no reason to buy a Z77 board (or any Z board) with a Xeon, you're not going to overclock, and subsequently don't need any cooling other than the stock fan supplied. There's also no need for a 1000w PSU on a rig that will only draw maybe 180w. Swapping the CPU to one with integrated graphics lets you forgo the unnecessary trash GPU. Swapped the cases so you could have USB 3.0 front panel support. As for the OS it's really up to you and whatever your needs are.

[Grubite]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1246 V3 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($277.99 @ SuperBiiz)

Motherboard: Asus H97M-E Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($88.99 @ Amazon)

Memory: Team Dark 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($59.99 @ Newegg)

Memory: Team Dark 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($59.99 @ Newegg)

Memory: Team Dark 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($59.99 @ Newegg)

Memory: Team Dark 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($59.99 @ Newegg)

Storage: Seagate  5TB 3.5" 5900RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($169.99 @ Amazon)

Case: NZXT Source 220 ATX Mid Tower Case  ($47.99 @ Directron)

Power Supply: Fractal Design Tesla R2 500W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply  ($55.98 @ Directron)

Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24F1ST DVD/CD Writer  ($17.85 @ OutletPC)

Total: $898.75

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-07 02:45 EST-0500

 

There's no reason to buy a Z77 board (or any Z board) with a Xeon, you're not going to overclock, and subsequently don't need any cooling other than the stock fan supplied. There's also no need for a 1000w PSU on a rig that will only draw maybe 180w. Swapping the CPU to one with integrated graphics lets you forgo the unnecessary trash GPU. Swapped the cases so you could have USB 3.0 front panel support. As for the OS it's really up to you and whatever your needs are.

I thought it would draw about 600-700 Watts Also I do plan on Overclocking since this Xeon is only a Quad-Core @ 3.5 So Something like 4-4.5 Would be  a nice boost (If I can achieve that.)

[runit3]

I thought it would draw about 600-700 Watts Also I do plan on Overclocking since this Xeon is only a Quad-Core @ 3.5 So Something like 4-4.5 Would be  a nice boost (If I can achieve that.)

The Xeon CPU multiplier is locked, you can only OC by using the baseclock. If you plan on using this as a server that is the last thing you want to do as it will also alter your RAM's operating speed, and you will most certainly not be able to achieve anything higher than a few hundred MHz's....it's complicated and you get very little real world performance increase.

[Grubite]

The Xeon CPU multiplier is locked, you can only OC by using the baseclock. If you plan on using this as a server that is the last thing you want to do as it will also alter your RAM's operating speed, and you will most certainly not be able to achieve anything higher than a few hundred MHz's....it's complicated and you get very little real world performance increase.

 Damn! I guess I'll just go with that List you suggested. Thanks.

[runit3]

 Damn! I guess I'll just go with that List you suggested. Thanks.

Well if all you want is a basic server, as others have suggested, a used rack is probably going to be the most cost effective route. They're purpose built for what you want, some may even have ECC RAM or built in RAID cards, which may come in handy down the road.