Building a WHS server - BEST CPU to choose?

[mmx]

Building a WHS server for the following reasons:
Stream DVD, MUSIC and other Files
Backup computers

Whats the best CPU to get? Most energy savings too since it will be running 24hr?
I want something that will last a few years... LOL

I was looking at someting stronger than a celeron or atom. Maybe i7? Core 2 quad?

 

[elconejito]

There is no such thing as "best" IMO, there is always a compromise between cost & performance depending on your particular situation. From what it looks like you are doing a C2Q is overkill, and i7 is way overkill. Unless you've got like 100 concurrent users or some other scenario.

EDIT: To answer the question, a low-power dual core from either AMD (one of the 45W versions) or Intel (maybe the e5200) should do nicely.

 

[Stoneburner]

I got the following from newegg for mine.


GIGABYTE GA-MA74GM-S2 AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813128342
$54.99

AMD Athlon X2 4850e 2.5GHz Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core Processor Model ADH4850DOBOX - Retail
Item #: N82E16819103255

I just installed WHS yesterday so I can't tell you a whole lot, but I am informed and believe that this is more than enough power.

 

[mmx]

Look its going to be my HT Streamer box.

At the moment I have a 2 laptops, 1 Imac, 1 Xbox360

I want to be able to stream DVD's, Music, to the whole house using Media Center consoles (EX XBOX360)

If I have to buy new - what is the best to the point that if 10 users are sharing the WHS works great?

 

[Stoneburner]

Your WHS won't be doing the heavy lifting so I don't see why you'd need a super powerful machine. It's data access which means you need fast hard drives and a fast connection. I was going to raid 1 plus 0 mine to assure fast read speeds but apparently WHS no like hard ware raid. If the server is purely on the backend and your Xbox and laptops are the frontend, you won't need anythign beyond a low power processor.

 

[sdsdv10]

You might get a few more replies over at the wegotserved website and forum. Links below
A nice source of WHS related info.

http://www.wegotserved.co.uk/

http://forum.wegotserved.com/

 

[Bateluer]

Seems like a lot of the WHS OEM towers come with Celerons or other low end CPUs, but gobs of hard drive space. When you stream media, its the receiving computer thats doing all the heavy CPU work, isn't it? So you'd be better off with lots of fast storage space.

 

[nyker96]

get the cheapest setup, i doubt it uses too much cpu.

 

[faxon]

get an e5200 and underclock it to save power and run it cooler. should keep you covered, and the $40 extra over a celeron 430+ will be recouped in power savings pretty quicly

 

[dbcooper1]

Any recent CPU that you already have gets my vote; you're not going to need much CPU power and I'd enable all energy saving options as well.

 

[Gillbot]

Celeron 430 or something else low power will do fine.

 

[IndieSnob]

I picked up a Celeron 430/ECS combo at Fry's last year, and paired it with a 2x1 GB kit of DDR2.

I have various sizes of ATA/SATA harddrives in there, and have it backing up two laptops and desktops. It also stores all of my photos, videos, music, software, and VMWare images. With that setup I have never had any problem with it running slow what so ever.

 

[mmx]

I actualy have some old:
p4 3.2ghz - ENERGY HOG
Core2 1.3ghz OK? Energy hog?

 

[BD2003]

I had a celeron 420 in there, ended up upgrading to a Dual core celeron E1200, basically a dual core version of the same chip. The 420 was fine, but the price and power consumption differential was so small that I went with the second core for future proof.

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: BD2003
I had a celeron 420 in there, ended up upgrading to a Dual core celeron E1200, basically a dual core version of the same chip. The 420 was fine, but the price and power consumption differential was so small that I went with the second core for future proof.

there is no such thing as future proof.

 

[PCTC2]

I'm running a basic file and web server off the D945GCLF2 and it's a bit slow, but it gets the job done.

 

[dbcooper1]

Originally posted by: mmx
I actualy have some old:
p4 3.2ghz - ENERGY HOG
Core2 1.3ghz OK? Energy hog?

Key word in my previous suggestion is 'recent'; what Core2 runs at 1.3Ghz? If you're underclocking something, that would be a good solution.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: Gillbot

Originally posted by: BD2003
I had a celeron 420 in there, ended up upgrading to a Dual core celeron E1200, basically a dual core version of the same chip. The 420 was fine, but the price and power consumption differential was so small that I went with the second core for future proof.

there is no such thing as future proof.

I'm not sure what your point is....?

 

[mmx]

Sorry I got it wrong.

Intel® Core?2 Duo Processor E6300 (2M Cache, 1.86 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)

Summary Information Product Family Intel® Core?2 Duo Desktop Processor
Code Name Products formerly Conroe
Product Status End of Life
Launch Date Q3'06
Mfg Avail 2+ Yrs
Lithography 65 nm
Number of Cores 2
Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology
Intel® Virtualization Technology
Intel® 64 Architecture
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology
Demand Based Switching
Execute Disable Bit
Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (Intel® SIPP)
Intel® Trusted Execution Technology
Halogen Free Options Available
Package Size 37.5mm x 37.5mm
Tcase 61.4°C
Max TDP 65 Watts
Core Voltage 0.850V-1.3625V
1k Estimated Price N/A

 

[dbcooper1]

Originally posted by: mmx
Sorry I got it wrong.

Intel® Core?2 Duo Processor E6300 (2M Cache, 1.86 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB)

Summary Information Product Family Intel® Core?2 Duo Desktop Processor
Code Name Products formerly Conroe
Product Status End of Life
Launch Date Q3'06
Mfg Avail 2+ Yrs
Lithography 65 nm
Number of Cores 2
Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology
Intel® Virtualization Technology
Intel® 64 Architecture
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology
Demand Based Switching
Execute Disable Bit
Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (Intel® SIPP)
Intel® Trusted Execution Technology
Halogen Free Options Available
Package Size 37.5mm x 37.5mm
Tcase 61.4°C
Max TDP 65 Watts
Core Voltage 0.850V-1.3625V
1k Estimated Price N/A

That would work fine; would be better if you could run the bus at 800 instead of 1066 to underclock it since it will still be overkill for what you'll likely need. Try it both ways; you can't go wrong.

 

[maxSe]

I think you'll be using yours in very similar way I use mine. I have the following setup as my file/media server. It streams movies for my 2 htpc's (livingroom and bedroom) and is a repository for all my data and software. Also serves as my download server (up 24x7).

E7300 (with C1 and EIST enabled)
Asus Q35 mATX (has ICH9DO for AHCI & RAID support) - onboard everything
5 HD's (single drive for os and d/l, 1 raid1 and 1 raid0 arrays)
no optical drive (an external usb dvd/rw)
enclosed in Antec mATX case with Earthwatt 380 PSU (80+ don't know whether this gives me any real power savings though.. lol)

With C1 and EIST enabled, the chip runs at 1.6GHz at 1.1v 95% of the time. Probably an overkill for what my needs, but I got it for practically free.. I think you'll be fine with an E5200 - they're selling for ~$70 brand new retail.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: maxSe
I think you'll be using yours in very similar way I use mine. I have the following setup as my file/media server. It streams movies for my 2 htpc's (livingroom and bedroom) and is a repository for all my data and software. Also serves as my download server (up 24x7).

E7300 (with C1 and EIST enabled)
Asus Q35 mATX (has ICH9DO for AHCI & RAID support) - onboard everything
5 HD's (single drive for os and d/l, 1 raid1 and 1 raid0 arrays)
no optical drive (an external usb dvd/rw)
enclosed in Antec mATX case with Earthwatt 380 PSU (80+ don't know whether this gives me any real power savings though.. lol)

With C1 and EIST enabled, the chip runs at 1.6GHz at 1.1v 95% of the time. Probably an overkill for what my needs, but I got it for practically free.. I think you'll be fine with an E5200 - they're selling for ~$70 brand new retail.

Yep, pretty much any conroe will do. Even the slowest one is plenty fast and then some for WHS.

Even though the single core celerons are 35W and dual core chips are 65W, in practice they all use very little power while idle, which they will be most of the time. Since the price difference between the single core and the dual core is 10 bucks, definitely go for the dual.

 

[mmx]

In the end,

I'll be using the e6300 cpu
Dell MB WITH 4 GIG RAM
2X 1.5GIG HD WD- new one came out connected to the MB
DVD/Rw
Gigabeat ethernet from MB.

This should be a pretty powerful WHS. Right? How to best use the systm and energy savings?

 

[Stoneburner]

Originally posted by: mmx
In the end,

I'll be using the e6300 cpu
Dell MB WITH 4 GIG RAM
2X 1.5GIG HD WD- new one came out connected to the MB
DVD/Rw
Gigabeat ethernet from MB.

This should be a pretty powerful WHS. Right? How to best use the systm and energy savings?

I think some are wondering why you need a "powerful" WHS. You need HD space, you need a good network connection. Conroe? 4gb ram? Probably overkill.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: Stoneburner

Originally posted by: mmx
In the end,

I'll be using the e6300 cpu
Dell MB WITH 4 GIG RAM
2X 1.5GIG HD WD- new one came out connected to the MB
DVD/Rw
Gigabeat ethernet from MB.

This should be a pretty powerful WHS. Right? How to best use the systm and energy savings?

I think some are wondering why you need a "powerful" WHS. You need HD space, you need a good network connection. Conroe? 4gb ram? Probably overkill.

RAM is cheap and helps with file transfer performance due to more available RAM for caching. A Conroe is a good fit if you ever decide to do anything else with your WHS box, and it's also a good idea if you ever plan on upgrading to the Server 2008-based WHS v2 (which I think just about everyone here is drooling for).