Hardware choice

[TheMIneGeek]

Hello everbody,

 

I would like to have your opinion about the servers I want to build. Both of them are home server. One the first one, I'm planning to run only FreeNAS with Plex Server and OwnCloud, nothing else.

The second one will be for games' servers, vms, applications and will run under Windows Server.

 

SERVER 1 (FREENAS) :

• CPU : i3 4130
• Motherboard : ASUS P9D-M
• RAM : 2 * 8Gb DDR3-1600 Registered ECC
• PSU : Corsair VS450
• Case : XCase EasyStore 15
• OS Drive : 8Gb USB stick
• Drives : 5 * 2Tb WD Green

 

SERVER 2 (WINDOWS SERVER) :

• CPU : 2 * X5570
• Motherboard : SuperMicro X8DTL-IF
• RAM : 4 * 8Gb DDR3-1333 Registered ECC
• PSU : Corsair VS450
• Case :
• OS Drive : Samsung 950 Evo 250Gb

 

Let me know what you think about these. Do you think i need a redundant psu on the freenas server ? Or an UPS for both servers ?

 

Sorry for my bad english,

TheMineGeek

[jkalousek]

With Server 1 I would not go with WD Green, they are not intended to be used as 24/7 drives and vibrations killing them (i lost all of them in my server within 2 years). Go for WD Red or other NAS rated discs.

Additionally, you want to have 5 HDD, P9D-M has only 4x SATA3 ports, rest (2) are SATA2. I know that spinning HDD would not fully saturate connections, but... well it's up to you  

 

Second server seems fine (I din't check compatibility)

 

I would buy UPS and good PSU (some 80 Plus Gold Seasonic or Corsair - I have good experiences with them). Generally for home server you don't need 100% uptime so redundant PSU is little bit overkill in my opinion.

[TheMIneGeek]

Sadly, the WD Green are the only components I've already bought. I read something here about how to use more safely WD Green drives for a 24/7 server.

For the sata port I've seen it but I tought i could buy a raid card and set it in IT mode. Is it right ? If I plug disks on SATA2, what will be the difference ? Only performance, right ?

Do you think I should put more money on PSU to have 80+ Gold ?

[jkalousek]

Sure SATA2/3 is all (mainly) about the speed, there will be no difference with spinning HDD between SATA3 and SATA2 just remember in case you will upgrade some disc to SSD to put them in SATA3 port. There are some HBA/Raid card that are widely used in FreeNAS comunity, mainly IBM M1015 (witch can be obtained cheaply on Ebay) flashed to (as you said) IT mode. There are guides hot do do it, but for start with 5 drives I think that ports on MB would be sufficient.

 

Personally I try to get 80+ Gold PSU on everything that runs 24/7. It depends on cost of electricity in your area. Gold rated PSU can save you some money in long term. If you balance your machine to draw around 50% from your PSU than you should get best power efficiency (around 90%). But generally just don't buy cheap PSU, from "no name" brands and you should be OK

[Dark]

The P9D-M only supports UDIMM ECC RAM (non-registered, unbuffered).

[TheMIneGeek]

Thank you, 3 * 4Gb PC3-10600E DDR3-1333 Unbuffered DIMM ECC is okay ?

[jkalousek]

14 minutes ago, TheMIneGeek said:

Thank you, 3 * 4Gb PC3-10600E DDR3-1333 Unbuffered DIMM ECC is okay ?

I would go for even number of RAM (2,4). It's best to have same RAM per channel, so if you want room for expansion buy 2 stick and than another 2 (they should be same per channel) or just buy 4 straight away.

[Dark]

If all you're looking to run on the Freenas box is freenas then I would get an avoton c2550 board/combo.  Less power and better components.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157419&cm_re=avoton-_-13-157-419-_-Product

[TheMIneGeek]

It looks great but is is a lot more expensive. Have you got any cheaper solution ?

 

EDIT : Just realize, it is MB + processor right ? Is the C2550 enough for Plex + OwnCloud ?

[Electronics Wizardy]

5 hours ago, TheMIneGeek said:

It looks great but is is a lot more expensive. Have you got any cheaper solution ?

 

EDIT : Just realize, it is MB + processor right ? Is the C2550 enough for Plex + OwnButt ?

Yep, its more than fast enough.