[BUILD] Gaming stream server

[Kakou]

Hi everybody,

 

I have an idea growing for a month now and I would like your advices/opinions on what I am going to do.

I have received the NVidia Shield TV a month ago, and wow I just enjoy it so much, especially streaming my game from my computer. Remind me the console gamer I was as a child.

I have a server running Ubuntu which store my music, tvshows, movies, link to KODI on the Shield using SMB share. Here are the specs:

 

- Intel Pentium G3450 3.4 GHz, Socket 1150, Haswell - Stock cooler

- Lian Li PC-Q28B Mini Tower Case, Black

- Corsair RM Series RM450, 450W ATX PSU, Active PFC, Black

- Kingston HyperX 2x4GB, DDR3-1600, PC3-12800, CL9, DIMM

- Western Digital Red Hard Disk Drive, 4000GB, 7200rpm, 64MB Cache, SATA 6 Gb/s * 4

- Asus H97I-Plus Motherboard, Socket 1150, Intel H97, 2xDDR3, 1xPCIe-16, VGA, DVI, HDMI, RAID, Mini-ITX, DisplayPort, M.2 Socket

- Highpoint Rocket 640, PCIe-4, Adapter Card, 4x SATA 6 Gb/s internal

- 128 Samsung SSD

 

I also have a gaming computer:

1 x ASUS Maximus VII Gene Intel Z97 mATX LGA1150 Motherboard
1 x Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0 GHz, Socket 1150, Devil's Canyon
2 x Crucial M550 256GB 2.5" SATA3 6GB/s SSD (CT256M550SSD1) - Raid 0
1 x EVGA GeForce GTX780Ti Superclocked ACX 3GB GDDR5 PCI-E3.0 (03G-P4-2884-KR)
1 x Corsair AX Series AX860i Digital 860W Modular Power Supply 80Plus Platinum
1 x Corsair CMD16GX3M2A1866C9 Dominator Platinum 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3-1866 CL9
1 x Corsair Hydro Series H100i Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler
1 x Corsair AF120 120mm Quiet Edition - Twin Pack
1 x Corsair Obsidian Series 350D Mini Tower Case w/ Window

 

My idea is to "merge" those two computer in one, running windows media server (for the gaming side of it of course). I intend to buy an Intel RAID card to get rid of the software RAID and more HDD. Having a game stream server running 24/24 along with a media server. I still want to be able to play on that computer, every game are not suitable for the living room.

 

My question is, should I use the component from my gaming pc and just take the HDD from the server. Or should I try to sell parts and build something more made for the goal I aim ?

Thank you so much for taking the time to read through this.

Cheers,

Marc

 

[SnafuPossum]

the 4790k should be stout enough to do double duty, I would get a bigger case with more airflow/volume and move all the drives to the gaming rig in its new case. use the samsung drive for os and programs and the crucials for the more accessed games in your library. After that you can sell the rest of the server build which should fund the new case and maybe even have yourself on your way to a raid card. Buit if funds permit I would keep the server box around as a hardware redundancy in data that isnt on 24/7 and buy a new case and drives for the gaming rig.

[Kakou]

Awesome, I will do something like that!

 

I am currently looking for a 8x port RAID card, I have the choice between :

 

- INTEL RS2BL080 512MB EMBEDDED MEMORY 8XSAS/SATA RAID CONTROLLER

- INTEL RS2WC080 6G PCIE8X 8XSAS/SATA RAID CONTROLLER

 

Is there any important difference between the two ? There is a huge price difference so I am wondering.

 

Thank you ! 

[scottyseng]

Awesome, I will do something like that!

 

I am currently looking for a 8x port RAID card, I have the choice between :

 

- INTEL RS2BL080 512MB EMBEDDED MEMORY 8XSAS/SATA RAID CONTROLLER

- INTEL RS2WC080 6G PCIE8X 8XSAS/SATA RAID CONTROLLER

 

Is there any important difference between the two ? There is a huge price difference so I am wondering.

 

Thank you ! 

 

Yes, the first one has a dedicated RAM cache. You should go for the first one as it's a real independent RAID card and the cache results in boosted speed. The second card is a low end RAID card that should be avoided. I would look into the newer SAS 12Gb cards if you're looking to buy new.

 

If you are looking at other options, consider the LSI 9360-8i. Intel RAID cards are usually rebranded LSI cards anyway.

 

Whichever RAID card you get, make sure you get the battery back up unit for it (Prevents data in RAM cache from being lost in event of data failure).

 

As for your plans, I would get a larger case and just carry over all of the drives from the server. Your gaming setup is pretty solid.

[Kakou]

Thank you very much for your advice. I went with the LSI MegaRAID SAS 9361-8i.

 

I am currently looking for a case that could contains up to 8 3.5" HHD slot, good air flow. Do something have some recommendation ?

[scottyseng]

-snip-

 

That depends heavily on your preference...Do you like hotswap bays? Rackmount Chassis? Or just a normal desktop case? Budget?

 

Also, you did buy the Cachevault module for the 9361-8i right? If not, make sure to get it. Running a RAID card without the battery protection module is a bad idea. For your card it would be LSICVM02.

[Kakou]

Yep I got the Cachevault module as you advised!

 

I actually don't really know for the case, I need to increase my storage capacity soi I could buy 4 new HDD with more capacity (6T), sold the ones I have (or use them as backup) and stick with a 4 drives RAID OR add 4 more drive (exactly the ones I have) and go for a more performant raid as I would have 8 drives.

 

This will drive the choice of my case.

[scottyseng]

Yep I got the Cachevault module as you advised!

 

I actually don't really know for the case, I need to increase my storage capacity soi I could buy 4 new HDD with more capacity (6T), sold the ones I have (or use them as backup) and stick with a 4 drives RAID OR add 4 more drive (exactly the ones I have) and go for a more performant raid as I would have 8 drives.

 

This will drive the choice of my case.

 

Ah, well, just keep in mind that rackmount costs more. If you're looking new, you can check out the 20 bay Norco 4U chassis, though it's $300ish.

 

If you want to try used, maybe try to look for local used server chassis on ebay. I lucked out and a company near my house refurbs them. I managed to get a SuperMicro 24 bay chassis for $200.

 

Or get a really large tower (I think Rosewill makes cheap but super large towers) and have hard drives live inside of that.

 

Keep in mind that you need somewhere to temp store the data in the array before you build a new array with the existing drives (You can only expand RAID 0, 1, 5, and 6 on the LSI RAID card). If you're using a RAID 10, 50 or 60 array like I am, you pretty much have to build a new array (I had to buy two 4TB drives to hold my data temporarily as I built the new six 4TB drive in my NAS).

 

At the moment, 4TB drives seem to be the best bank for the buck. 6TB still carries a premium, although I do expect it to shrink with time.

[Kakou]

Ah, well, just keep in mind that rackmount costs more. If you're looking new, you can check out the 20 bay Norco 4U chassis, though it's $300ish.

 

If you want to try used, maybe try to look for local used server chassis on ebay. I lucked out and a company near my house refurbs them. I managed to get a SuperMicro 24 bay chassis for $200.

 

Or get a really large tower (I think Rosewill makes cheap but super large towers) and have hard drives live inside of that.

 

Keep in mind that you need somewhere to temp store the data in the array before you build a new array with the existing drives (You can only expand RAID 0, 1, 5, and 6 on the LSI RAID card). If you're using a RAID 10, 50 or 60 array like I am, you pretty much have to build a new array (I had to buy two 4TB drives to hold my data temporarily as I built the new six 4TB drive in my NAS).

 

At the moment, 4TB drives seem to be the best bank for the buck. 6TB still carries a premium, although I do expect it to shrink with time.

 

I am currently running a raid10 and I think I will stick with that, really happy even though it's expensive storage.

 

Why not going for a Corsair 750D or something like that, with a 6 drives raid for now. This will increase my storage by 4TB and I still have the option to add more drive later on as I reckon this type of case can go up to 9 drives by adding a bay module. 

[scottyseng]

-snip-

 

Yeah, I run RAID10 myself. I like it quite a lot.

 

Hmm, that sounds like a solid plan. Try to get a 3 5.25" bay to four hard drive module with a fan though. I wish you luck.

[Captain_WD]

~snip~

 

Hey there Kakou,

 

@scottyseng gave you some really good advice which I'd listen. The array that you currently run can't really be expanded without reformatting the drives in it so you'd need to find a place where you can store your data while you get the other drives, configure your new drive pool and then transfer back the data. 

 

A few small notes from me: 

- Since you are planning to use the computer both for your main/gaming system and as a streaming server, I would strongly suggest that you have backups of your important data on a separate system/drives since the system will be under constant load and the risks of damage would increase (theoretically). You want your valuable data safe.

- Make sure that you have enough juice in your system when you are gaming your most demanding games and streaming heavier files at the same time (both in terms of performance and power).

- Cooling would be an important thing so make sure you do a stress test and monitor your temps before you start using the build.

 

Captain_WD.