Media server build for plex.

[ChaosJ]

Heylo once again LTTians.

 

So I've wanted to setup a private media server/htpc with Plex and use it to double up as a game server occasionally, mostly for minecraft and some other games. But primarily this would be a Plex media server.

 

I would be streaming to other devices including my phone and hence would need to transcode sometime and therefore I need to make sure I've got enough processing power for 3-4 devices simultaneously. For this purpose, I'm looking at picking up a second hand machine, maybe an office pc with an i7 (the GPU can wait, I'm in no hurry for the gaming server). Or second hand computers with xeon processors. I just need some tips and advice as I have never worked with xeon processors before and not sure what to expect. 

 

This is one of the machines I found: 

1.Dell Precision T3500 Xeon Hex 2.66GHz / 80GB SSD / 16GB / Radeon HD6850
Intel Xeon Hex Core (twelve threads w/hyperthreading) X5650 processor
16GB 10600E RAM (DDR3) -

CAD $350

 

and this is the second option:

HP Z600 Dual HEX Xeon 2.80Ghz / 48GB RAM / 160GB SSD / Quadro
Two Intel Xeon HEX core Processor 2.80GHz X5660 (12 cores with hyperthreading - 24 logical processors)
Nvidia Quadro 600 (or Quadro 2000) / + $50 for a Quadro 4000
48GB RAM 8500R ECC DDR3

CAD $600

 

and lastly this is the third:

HP Z620 fully refurbished workstations available in stock. 

Processor: 2 x E5-2609 Xeon Processors (4 Cores x 2 = 8 Cores = 16 Threads).
Memory: 24Gb RAM.
Hard Drive: 1 x 128Gb SSD Solid State Hard Drive + 1 x 1000Gb 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive.
RAID: Yes.
Graphics Card: 2Gb nVidia Quadro 4000 Graphics Card.
Network: 1 x Gigabit Ethernet Card.

CAD $900

 

eitherway, I need a cpu with a cpu mark of over atleast 8000. But the killer for me is that I have no idea how these processors and ram perform and what the differences are from regular consumer grade processors and what I need to watch out for. Eitherway, what do you guys recommend? 

 

p.s. ther server won't be running 24/7 it's just for when I need it. 

 

Please help

[Lurick]

I would personally go with Option 2. The added cores and RAM will benefit not only additional Plex users but also hosting multiple game servers as well.

[Razor Blade]

Don't think too far into Xeon. It will do what a consumer grade processor would do. There are differences but likely none that the average person would be able to pick out. 

 

If only between the 3 choices I would opt for option 1 or 3. I say this because option 1 is significantly cheaper than option 2 and would easily run Plex streams. Option 3 would be a better option than option 2 because it is a much newer platform.

 

The only thing with option 1 is maybe upgrading the RAM...which DDR3 isn't too expensive. 4GB sticks can be had about $8 USD on eBay.

[AbsoluteFool]

15 hours ago, ChaosJ said:

Heylo once again LTTians.

 

So I've wanted to setup a private media server/htpc with Plex and use it to double up as a game server occasionally, mostly for minecraft and some other games. But primarily this would be a Plex media server.

 

I would be streaming to other devices including my phone and hence would need to transcode sometime and therefore I need to make sure I've got enough processing power for 3-4 devices simultaneously. For this purpose, I'm looking at picking up a second hand machine, maybe an office pc with an i7 (the GPU can wait, I'm in no hurry for the gaming server). Or second hand computers with xeon processors. I just need some tips and advice as I have never worked with xeon processors before and not sure what to expect. 

 

This is one of the machines I found: 

1.Dell Precision T3500 Xeon Hex 2.66GHz / 80GB SSD / 16GB / Radeon HD6850
Intel Xeon Hex Core (twelve threads w/hyperthreading) X5650 processor
16GB 10600E RAM (DDR3) -

CAD $350

 

and this is the second option:

HP Z600 Dual HEX Xeon 2.80Ghz / 48GB RAM / 160GB SSD / Quadro
Two Intel Xeon HEX core Processor 2.80GHz X5660 (12 cores with hyperthreading - 24 logical processors)
Nvidia Quadro 600 (or Quadro 2000) / + $50 for a Quadro 4000
48GB RAM 8500R ECC DDR3

CAD $600

 

and lastly this is the third:

HP Z620 fully refurbished workstations available in stock. 

Processor: 2 x E5-2609 Xeon Processors (4 Cores x 2 = 8 Cores = 16 Threads).
Memory: 24Gb RAM.
Hard Drive: 1 x 128Gb SSD Solid State Hard Drive + 1 x 1000Gb 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive.
RAID: Yes.
Graphics Card: 2Gb nVidia Quadro 4000 Graphics Card.
Network: 1 x Gigabit Ethernet Card.

CAD $900

 

eitherway, I need a cpu with a cpu mark of over atleast 8000. But the killer for me is that I have no idea how these processors and ram perform and what the differences are from regular consumer grade processors and what I need to watch out for. Eitherway, what do you guys recommend? 

 

p.s. ther server won't be running 24/7 it's just for when I need it. 

 

Please help

The first thing media servers seem to suffer from is drive speeds. If you want to transcode videos for streaming and run a game server in one machine you will get into problems. I would strongly suggest using a hypervisor here. So that you can stop the game server(s) from pulling too much of the CPU power, or plex pulling all the drive preformance.

 

Either way it's gotta suffer from one or the other most likely, unless you are just one person using the media server.

 

As for options i wouldnt go with any of them really. Not because something is wrong with them. But you will not need a GPU, one plex doesen't support GPU transcoding. and the game servers will not need them at all.

 

Your best bet is go with high CPU Speed alot of RAM and good high speed drives, considering you want to run it all on one system.

[leadeater]

18 hours ago, Razor Blade said:

Don't think too far into Xeon. It will do what a consumer grade processor would do. There are differences but likely none that the average person would be able to pick out. 

 

If only between the 3 choices I would opt for option 1 or 3. I say this because option 1 is significantly cheaper than option 2 and would easily run Plex streams. Option 3 would be a better option than option 2 because it is a much newer platform.

 

The only thing with option 1 is maybe upgrading the RAM...which DDR3 isn't too expensive. 4GB sticks can be had about $8 USD on eBay.

I would say option 3 is the best, then if needed it's fairly easy to just upgrade the CPUs, decent cheap options on ebay if that becomes a requirement. As much as I like LGA1366 and how cheap those systems are they are REALLY old now, run hot and drink power.

 

Edit:

Not that option 3 is actually that good, I'd find a better deal on same generation.

[Technomancer__]

21 hours ago, ChaosJ said:

 (the GPU can wait, I'm in no hurry for the gaming server).

 

you do not need a gpu to host a gaming server. the server wont be rendering anything

[ChaosJ]

Thanks you guys. This helps alot.  

 

9 hours ago, AbsoluteFool said:

The first thing media servers seem to suffer from is drive speeds. If you want to transcode videos for streaming and run a game server in one machine you will get into problems. I would strongly suggest using a hypervisor here. So that you can stop the game server(s) from pulling too much of the CPU power, or plex pulling all the drive preformance.

 

Either way it's gotta suffer from one or the other most likely, unless you are just one person using the media server.

 

As for options i wouldnt go with any of them really. Not because something is wrong with them. But you will not need a GPU, one plex doesen't support GPU transcoding. and the game servers will not need them at all.

 

Your best bet is go with high CPU Speed alot of RAM and good high speed drives, considering you want to run it all on one system.

I won't be watching and playing at the same time. So it should be fine. Also, these are just some second hand configs that come with the system, I didn't want a GPU anyways, but I was unaware that you didn't need a GPU in the game server itself. That's news to me but thank you

[Razor Blade]

As for a GPU in the server, I would suggest it if you're going to run a newer GUI or are going to pass it through in a VM. Most workstations will have an available PCIe X16 slot you can just pop in a GPU of some kind. The only thing you need to make sure you have available is if the GPU needs external power source that the workstation PSU has that available.

 

 

5 hours ago, leadeater said:

I would say option 3 is the best, then if needed it's fairly easy to just upgrade the CPUs, decent cheap options on ebay if that becomes a requirement. As much as I like LGA1366 and how cheap those systems are they are REALLY old now, run hot and drink power.

 

Edit:

Not that option 3 is actually that good, I'd find a better deal on same generation.

Agreed... But LGA771 is the completely obsolete platform IMO.  LGA1366 is really the best bang for the buck right now IMO. A Dell R710 is about 1/3 the price of an R720 this moment in time. Right now I'm running a 710 with 3.5" drives, 24GB RAM, and 2X L5640 six core CPUs. Everything idles around 120-130 watts. I spent about twice the amount on hard drives as I did to build it. From any sources I've been able to find, a similarly equipped R720 using 6 drives (it holds up to 8) would save about 20 watts but be around $1,000 (before buying hard drives). Though it would be more capable, with my workload I would just rather spend more on good hard drives lol

 

 

[leadeater]

28 minutes ago, Razor Blade said:

Agreed... But LGA771 is the completely obsolete platform IMO.  LGA1366 is really the best bang for the buck right now IMO. A Dell R710 is about 1/3 the price of an R720 this moment in time. Right now I'm running a 710 with 3.5" drives, 24GB RAM, and 2X L5640 six core CPUs. Everything idles around 120-130 watts. I spent about twice the amount on hard drives as I did to build it. From any sources I've been able to find, a similarly equipped R720 using 6 drives (it holds up to 8) would save about 20 watts but be around $1,000 (before buying hard drives). Though it would be more capable, with my workload I would just rather spend more on good hard drives lol

Yea the L model Xeons are def the ones to use at home, I have seen E5-2670's for $80 USD a few times so if you can find a really cheap starter platform the price jump to LGA2011 can be bearable just not easily obtainable. Been hoping for a flood of LGA2011 systems to hit ebay for a year now, wish hosting providers would hurry up and upgrade