Home server build help

[mattias1172]

FOr the past 3-4 hours ive been googling, ebaying, craiglisting, etc to find the best deals and ideas for a good budget server/storage computer. I found some good ideas and some not so great deals, and well I just need more direct input/ideas.

To start, the main purpose of this build is storage. It needs to be versatile enough to use/do anything from virtual machines, streaming, home "cloud" storage, and possibly gaming server usage. I know this varies a lot, but basically to shrink it down, it needs to be a "jack of all trades" as i dont have just one main purpose for it and will have many applications for the build.

Current ideas:

This being a server style build, it doesnt need anything beefy. But, i don't want anything too dated as i want it to last for a while and be "upgradable" in a sense where as money is set aside to the build, i can swap out single parts rather than scraping the whole thing. What i do know, is i want a solid PSU such as seasonic that i will not need to upgrade at all. Ive looked at their semi modular 450w 80+ gold unit and it seems reasonable enough. I also need a case to store a decent amount of hdd in. I've looked at the nzxt source 210 elite white and it looks perfect for my needs. As for ram, to save money, i will be re-using a stick of kingston hyperx 1x8gb 1866 until i need more down the line. For a cpu cooler i think its obvious, cant go wrong with the cooler master hyper 212 evo. Lastly, for storage, im looking towards WD green/red series for the cheap price with lots of storage. Don't need it to be SSD fast. If there are other cheaper better options for HDD, let me know.

What i can't decide on:

Most of the 3-4 hours has been spent looking at multiple CPUs and MOBOs trying to figure out what works best for price vs performance. I've looked at fm2/fm3/core 2 quad/i3/i5/xeon/etc. As mentioned, i don't want anything too dated, so more modern socket types of 1150 would be awesome as well as at least 4 cores clocked near 3.0ghz. Really im open to any ideas here. CPU needs to be matched with a MOBO as well. I would prefer if the mobo had 1 pciex16 slot (i do have an r9 280x laying around not used yet), 4 ram slots (future upgrades), 6-8 sata ports, and an hdmi output option. Color doesn't matter nor really does brand.

Other notes:

I plan on using freeware to run this computer. Most likely linux based such has ubuntu since its very good and FREE.

A small sub 100gb SSD for OS would be great too.

Any help is very much appreciated.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($31.99 @ Newegg)

Memory: Kingston Fury Black Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (Purchased For $0.00)

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X Video Card (Purchased For $0.00)

Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: SeaSonic 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.98 @ Newegg)

Total: $161.96

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-20 08:23 EDT-0400

[TheKDub]

Pentium g3258 would be a good idea, it performs pretty well for the price, and isn't horribly expensive either.

As for the mobo, perhaps the msi z97 pc-mate? not sure if it has the amount of sata ports you want tho, and don't have time to google it right now.

[CommandMan7]

Why does a server build have a 280X in it?

[Sir Asvald]

FOr the past 3-4 hours ive been googling, ebaying, craiglisting, etc to find the best deals and ideas for a good budget server/storage computer. I found some good ideas and some not so great deals, and well I just need more direct input/ideas.

To start, the main purpose of this build is storage. It needs to be versatile enough to use/do anything from virtual machines, streaming, home "cloud" storage, and possibly gaming server usage. I know this varies a lot, but basically to shrink it down, it needs to be a "jack of all trades" as i dont have just one main purpose for it and will have many applications for the build.

Current ideas:

This being a server style build, it doesnt need anything beefy. But, i don't want anything too dated as i want it to last for a while and be "upgradable" in a sense where as money is set aside to the build, i can swap out single parts rather than scraping the whole thing. What i do know, is i want a solid PSU such as seasonic that i will not need to upgrade at all. Ive looked at their semi modular 450w 80+ gold unit and it seems reasonable enough. I also need a case to store a decent amount of hdd in. I've looked at the nzxt source 210 elite white and it looks perfect for my needs. As for ram, to save money, i will be re-using a stick of kingston hyperx 1x8gb 1866 until i need more down the line. For a cpu cooler i think its obvious, cant go wrong with the cooler master hyper 212 evo. Lastly, for storage, im looking towards WD green/red series for the cheap price with lots of storage. Don't need it to be SSD fast. If there are other cheaper better options for HDD, let me know.

What i can't decide on:

Most of the 3-4 hours has been spent looking at multiple CPUs and MOBOs trying to figure out what works best for price vs performance. I've looked at fm2/fm3/core 2 quad/i3/i5/xeon/etc. As mentioned, i don't want anything too dated, so more modern socket types of 1150 would be awesome as well as at least 4 cores clocked near 3.0ghz. Really im open to any ideas here. CPU needs to be matched with a MOBO as well. I would prefer if the mobo had 1 pciex16 slot (i do have an r9 280x laying around not used yet), 4 ram slots (future upgrades), 6-8 sata ports, and an hdmi output option. Color doesn't matter nor really does brand.

Other notes:

I plan on using freeware to run this computer. Most likely linux based such has ubuntu since its very good and FREE.

A small sub 100gb SSD for OS would be great too.

Any help is very much appreciated.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($31.99 @ Newegg)

Memory: Kingston Fury Black Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory (Purchased For $0.00)

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Dual-X Video Card (Purchased For $0.00)

Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (White) ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)

Power Supply: SeaSonic 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.98 @ Newegg)

Total: $161.96

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-20 08:23 EDT-0400

Thb, 60GB SSD will fine, I don't think you need a GPU if you're going build a server (although you have it) 

[minibois]

Why does a server build have a 280X in it?

(i do have an r9 280x laying around not used yet)

[Sir Asvald]

Why does a server build have a 280X in it?

I was thinking the same thing. But he already has it. 

[dragoon20005]

the Pentium is not good CPU for virtualization

 

you need to look at the i3 which has 4 treads

 

if you just want a PC to run 24/7

 

go for the H87 or H97 board with the i3

[mattias1172]

Why does a server build have a 280X in it?

I already own the 280x. Having the pcie slot available if I ever need/want to put the gpu in would be ideal if say I want multiple monitors for something or just need a dedicated gpu instead of the build in graphics. Also makes finding a cpu with half decent built in graphics less important (if at all even really) and prioritize cores/clock rate/etc.

[mattias1172]

Thb, 60GB SSD will fine, I don't think you need a GPU if you're going build a server (although you have it)

60gb ssd would be more than enough. If I can find one pretty cheap, even a ~30gb ssd would do. And I agree about the gpu, but I have the card already and don't need it in my gaming rig as I have a more powerful nvidia card in there now.

[mattias1172]

Pentium g3258 would be a good idea, it performs pretty well for the price, and isn't horribly expensive either.

As for the mobo, perhaps the msi z97 pc-mate? not sure if it has the amount of sata ports you want tho, and don't have time to google it right now.

Motherboard is a solid option. ) 6 sata ports is on the low end of what I'm looking for but it would work. Lga1150 cpu socket is perfect. I might look towards a more powerful CPU though, but thanks for the suggestion. It gives a good starting point.

[Sir Asvald]

60gb ssd would be more than enough. If I can find one pretty cheap, even a ~30gb ssd would do. And I agree about the gpu, but I have the card already and don't need it in my gaming rig as I have a more powerful nvidia card in there now.

What is you budget?

[mattias1172]

What is you budget?

Would like to keep Mobo/CPU around $250. Slightly flexible as I would just postpone buying some HDD and get a few less.

[Sir Asvald]

Would like to keep Mobo/CPU around $250. Slightly flexible as I would just postpone buying some HDD and get a few less.

So your budget is fixed? 

 

Well you could get a Xeon (doesn't have iGPU) with an MSI H81 Motherboard for $270. That is if more people will use the server. 

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230 V3 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($230.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($37.99 @ Newegg) 

Total: $268.98

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-20 08:50 EDT-0400

[mattias1172]

 

So your budget is fixed? 

 

Well you could get a Xeon (doesn't have iGPU) with an MSI H81 Motherboard for $270. That is if more people will use the server. 

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230 V3 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($230.99 @ SuperBiiz) 

Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($37.99 @ Newegg) 

Total: $268.98

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-05-20 08:50 EDT-0400

 

Xeon a good idea.  I'll look more into those.  Motherboard is alright, only has 2 DIMM slots though.  Was looking more towards 4 for future additions. Also has only 2 sata ports.  I need at least 4,  but more like 6-8.    

[mattias1172]

the Pentium is not good CPU for virtualization

 

you need to look at the i3 which has 4 treads

 

if you just want a PC to run 24/7

 

go for the H87 or H97 board with the i3

Any specific suggestions? 

[Sir Asvald]

Xeon a good idea. I'll look more into those. Motherboard is alright, only has 2 DIMM slots though. Was looking more towards 4 for future additions. Also has only 2 sata ports. I need at least 4, but more like 6-8.

You could get a raid card. If that is what you want. If not, just get an i3 with a better motherboard.

[CommandMan7]

I already own the 280x. Having the pcie slot available if I ever need/want to put the gpu in would be ideal if say I want multiple monitors for something or just need a dedicated gpu instead of the build in graphics. Also makes finding a cpu with half decent built in graphics less important (if at all even really) and prioritize cores/clock rate/etc.

You could sell it for ~$140 and get a GTX 730 or R9 240 instead, then use the extra money for raid cards or whatever.

[TheKDub]

Motherboard is a solid option. ) 6 sata ports is on the low end of what I'm looking for but it would work. Lga1150 cpu socket is perfect. I might look towards a more powerful CPU though, but thanks for the suggestion. It gives a good starting point.

 

Maybe an i3 or an i5 would be good then.

or maybe a xeon if you could fit it in your budget. (if you have a budget that is )