Home Server Build

[Mecklund]

I would like some advice on putting together a parts list for a home server. This is my first adventure into servers, however this is a project aimed at learning how to set up and administer the server. In the near future besides a basic file server I want to create a virtual server and a domain server all on the same machine. My budget is between $1500 and $2000. I plan to dedicate cores to each server from the processor therefore suspecting I need at least a quad core. Also I know I want to do hardware raid 5 and need a card for this. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

[megadarkwood]

You would need a good motherboard with a lot of sata ports if you want to do software raid. and since it is a server you might want to get a intel nic

[megadarkwood]

oh and, make sure that you have a good CPU cooler

[João Severino]

For the RAID card check LSI a see what suits your needs and budget the best

You should also think of getting a good Network Card

[CoolBeans]

Do you have the hard drives?

[Mecklund]

For the RAID card check LSI a see what suits your needs and budget the best

You should also think of getting a good Network Card

[Mecklund]

I was looking at the LSI 9240-81. It's around $260.

[Mecklund]

I have not picked out any drives yet, I was thinking an SSD for the boot drive and four, 3 TB drives for storage. Suggestions?

[Mecklund]

Also not sure which motherboard/CPU combo to go with. I'm interested in the I5 4670. Using a Xeon processor seems to push me out of my budget range.

[João Severino]

This Xeon it's not that expensive

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80637e31220v2

The need for a Xeon is only justified if you see yourself using it's full potential

 

But I would advise you to get the one that gives the best performance and less power consumption

[Mecklund]

What motherboard would you recommend with that Xeon processor?

[Mecklund]

Do you have the hard drives?

Not yet, I would like an SSD for the boot drive and 4, 3 TB drives for storage.

[João Severino]

What motherboard would you recommend with that Xeon processor?

There are other Xeon's you can check http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/cpu/#s=26&sort=a6

For more information on Xeon's check http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processor-comparison/compare-intel-processors.html?select=server

 

 

What form factor where you thinking?Atx? m-Atx?

[CoolBeans]

Not yet, I would like an SSD for the boot drive and 4, 3 TB drives for storage.

Are the Hard drives in the 2000$ budget?

[Mecklund]

Are the Hard drives in the 2000$ budget?

Yes they are.

[Mecklund]

There are other Xeon's you can check http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/cpu/#s=26&sort=a6

For more information on Xeon's check http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processor-comparison/compare-intel-processors.html?select=server

What form factor where you thinking?Atx? m-Atx?

I think I would like the mini atx.

[João Severino]

For m-Atx you can get

• http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz77md3hmvp
• http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-p8z77m
• http://www.asus.com/Commercial_Servers_Workstations/P8BM/
• http://b2b.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3820

 

For Atx you can get

• https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P8Z77_WS/

 

Personally I think ASUS WS (WorkStation) motherboards are the way to go