Extremely High-end Performance/Home Server Computer Build #2, top budget $3500

[szvwxcszxc]

Ok, new build. I have a very high budget. Don't say "you don't need that much" - I know. But I have that much budget if needed. And will be happy to use it. Otherwise it will go to the government in taxes anyways. So I prefer to use it. I don't want other ways to spend the cash, only strictly Computer/Home Network related.

Uses:

1. High Performance
2. Home Server
3. Not Gaming ($200 or less graphics card will suffice)

Build will take place next week. Need to have all info in next couple days.
Will post detailed pictures when done!

Fundamentals:

• <$500 Monitor(s) 1080p for 24"; or IPS 1440p for 27-30"
• $200 to $500 for motherboard
• <$500 for processor
• <$250 for RAM
• <$150 for PSU
• <$250 for graphics card
• <$150 for case
• <$450 for 512GB SSD
• <$250 for hard drives
• <$100 for blu-ray burner
• <$200 for keyboard
• <$150 for some kind of extreme dual-band 600MB/s extreme wireless-N or something

__________
Subtotal for PC components:
up to $2550


Other things to consider:

• Dedicated NAS separate from system
• Wireless media server
• WIDI (Intel Wireless Display) for wirelessness (perhaps put PC in another room?? or something)

Other factors:

• Full NAS functions
• Remote server ability (although is more of a software issue, but consider with regards to hardware)
• Cutting edge technology

• Want to be very quiet.
• Could do water cooling for silence; although would have to have ZERO maintenance so that might not be an option (will be unattended)

• Not too huge. Mid-Tower Full ATX is big enough.

More details to come.

Need help/suggestions:

• Parts
• Links
• Advice
• Suggestions

Thank you!

UPDATE: LOWERED TO $3500 SINCE $6500 APPEARS UNREASONABLY OVERKILL
Will spend remaining ~$3000 on something else

UPDATE:
I opted for a dedicated NAS instead of integrated.

UPDATE:
I opted for a less-overpowered CPU and GPU and paid a little more for silent components - that is, fanless.

PC Components:

(Case) - Nexus Prominent 5 Silent Soundproofed Case
(RAM) - 16GB Corsair Vengeance 1600Mhz
(PSU) - Seasonic 460W 80 Plus Gold Fanless Modular
(ODD) - Lite-On LightScribe 24X SATA DVD+/-RW
(HDD) -
(SSD) - SanDisk Extreme SSD 240GB - 550 MB/s Read, 520 MB/s Write

(Mobo) - MSI Z77A-G45
(CPU) - Intel 3750K
(Cool) - Noctua NH-C14 Low Profile Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler
(GPU) - Radeon HD 7750 Fanless 1GB 11202-03-40G

[Peripherals]
(LED) - Samsung SyncMaster 24" 1080p Monitor #1
(LED) - Samsung SyncMaster 24" 1080p Monitor #2
(KBD) - Logitech Wave MK550 Keyboard
(MSE) - Logitech Wave MK550 Mouse
(BTH) -
(WIFI) - D-Link DWA-566 Dual Band Wireless Adapter PCIe 300Mbps a/g/n
(EXT) - 2x DVI-D Dual Link
(EXT) - HDMI to DVI Adapter
(EXT) - Cat6 Cables
(EXT) - Zip ties

Networking Components:

(Router) - ASUS ASUS RT-AC66U
(Modem) - Motorola SB6121
(NAS) - Synology NAS DS213+

 

[mfenn]

What is it that you want this machine to do?

 

[szvwxcszxc]

• High Performance
• Home Server/Web File Server
• Bragging Rights
• Not Gaming
• Cook Dinner (JK)

 

[masteryoda34]

How about this for a start Mr. $6500

Start with two of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819117272
One of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813182346
Several of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820161576
And several of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820147194

 

[Eureka]

Well, if you got the money,

SR2 motherboard with dual SB-E Xeons, quad-SLI, and raid 5 SSD array. About as much as you can get for a non-specialized desktop.

 

[szvwxcszxc]

Well, if you got the money,

SR2 motherboard with dual SB-E Xeons, quad-SLI, and raid 5 SSD array. About as much as you can get for a non-specialized desktop.

no no, not just throw all of it into a couple components to throw away money. I only need one maybe 3 to 5ghz processor (no more than $500), 16 to 32gb ram (no more than $250). the rest should go into really good motherboard (maybe $200 to $500 max), maybe one 512gb ssd ($400), and home network hardware. Let me put a list up above. >> Details in OP

 

[SheHateMe]

• High Performance
• Home Server/Web File Server
• Bragging Rights
• Not Gaming
• Cook Dinner (JK)

High performance what, though?

What exactly are you trying to build? What will you be hosting on this server?

I would say you are going overboard..but you want to spend $6500. Maybe spend $500 of it on the server and go on a nice vacation?

 

[szvwxcszxc]

High performance what, though?

What exactly are you trying to build? What will you be hosting on this server?

I would say you are going overboard..but you want to spend $6500. Maybe spend $500 of it on the server and go on a nice vacation?

Yes overboard, so what, it's my money Better than going to government in taxes where it will only fill the pockets of greedy politicians

Hosting files and media and basically overhauling home system and network with awesome new setup. Some help would be nice. Stream videos locally to tv in other parts of house, backup hundreds of GB and thousands of files almost daily across several home computers and laptops, as well as across internet to other parts of country for easy quick access. Overhaul PC for extreme multitasking; however don't need 8 cores or multiple graphics cards because there is no video editing or gaming.

Willing to drop to $4500. $~2500 to $3000 PC with other things for the home server.
But if needed have top budget of $6500.

 

[SheHateMe]

Hosting files and media and basically overhauling home system and network with awesome new setup. Some help would be nice. Stream videos locally to tv in other parts of house, backup hundreds of GB and thousands of files almost daily across several home computers and laptops, as well as across internet to other parts of country for easy quick access. Overhaul PC for extreme multitasking; however don't need 8 cores or multiple graphics cards because there is no video editing or gaming.

Yes, I understand that. You don't need to spend that much money to build a NAS server for home and personal use...which is essentially what you are saying you want to have.

You probably aren't going to bother hearing me out, but this forum is run by a company that builds servers, has a linux based server OS available for FREE (unRAID) and the forum is full of server enthusiasts who have various builds (often with pictures), some people have put a lot of money into their builds, some have not. It is obviously based on your personal needs. Some of the things on your list, an SSD..a 27" monitor, expensive add on cards and other frills, etc are not needed for a server. Even if you needed to have visuals on the setup, you can do all of that remotely... that's why its a server.

...anyway.

http://lime-technology.com

These guys know what they're doing, and if you look at their products page..even their most expensive server is less than what you're trying to spend and already more than powerful enough to do what you are trying to achieve.

This in particular will pique your interest more,

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=7998.0

Lastly, I will say that its a bit odd that you posted here asking for advice but you don't want to listen to people tell you that you are spending too much for what you want to build. Why ask for input if you are going to assert that you know more that everyone here and that its your money? If you are so sure you want to spend $6500 on your OP, then do it. You don't need our approval.

I hope a lot of your questions are answered on the lime technology forum. They sell some very nice pre-built servers but they go WAYY beyond what I need.

 

[szvwxcszxc]

Yes, I understand that. You don't need to spend that much money to build a NAS server for home and personal use...which is essentially what you are saying you want to have.

You probably aren't going to bother hearing me out, but this forum is run by a company that builds servers, has a linux based server OS available for FREE (unRAID) and the forum is full of server enthusiasts who have various builds (often with pictures), some people have put a lot of money into their builds, some have not. It is obviously based on your personal needs. Some of the things on your list, an SSD..a 27" monitor, expensive add on cards and other frills, etc are not needed for a server. Even if you needed to have visuals on the setup, you can do all of that remotely... that's why its a server.

...anyway.

http://lime-technology.com

These guys know what they're doing, and if you look at their products page..even their most expensive server is less than what you're trying to spend and already more than powerful enough to do what you are trying to achieve.

This in particular will pique your interest more,

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=7998.0

Lastly, I will say that its a bit odd that you posted here asking for advice but you don't want to listen to people tell you that you are spending too much for what you want to build. Why ask for input if you are going to assert that you know more that everyone here and that its your money? If you are so sure you want to spend $6500 on your OP, then do it. You don't need our approval.

I hope a lot of your questions are answered on the lime technology forum. They sell some very nice pre-built servers but they go WAYY beyond what I need.

You aren't listening. This is much more than just a data server.

I checked out the Lime website. That's not what I need.
Thank you though...

 

[DSF]

How much time do you plan to spend sitting in front of this machine? I'm trying to imagine why a server needs a $200 keyboard and a Blu-Ray burner.

I also don't quite get the logic that this money either goes to a server or taxes. Is this getting written off a business expense or something?

 

[Eureka]

So... you still haven't explained what else it does besides act as a server. A home media server can't take use of high end parts, besides the SSD array.

You're the one talking about not throwing money at parts, well that's what you're doing if you want high end parts for a NAS server. Is it also going to be your main computer? What else will you do on it that requires such high processing power?

An intel atom with a raid array already does what you asked in the original post, minus the "cutting edge" part.

 

[szvwxcszxc]

How much time do you plan to spend sitting in front of this machine? I'm trying to imagine why a server needs a $200 keyboard and a Blu-Ray burner.

I also don't quite get the logic that this money either goes to a server or taxes. Is this getting written off a business expense or something?

Keyboard doesn't have to be $200 but it will be used very frequently. Not by me. My own PC (in sig) is the one with $100 keyboard that is great for me. But you can easily spend $150 on a nice mechanical keyboard.

Bluray burner is not mandatory but nice to have.

Yes it is getting written off as a business expense.

 

[Chapbass]

You said in the OP "Separate NAS from the server"...why not build an unraid box and a high performance PC?

You still need to answer what else you're doing with this. Running VMs? Some sort of database stuff? Do you have a domain at home, or all workgroup (even this though is low performance needed).

 

[_Rick_]

One: Why get such a cheap screen?
I find proper screens to be one of the most important factor of using a computer, and would never cheap out on them.
Get a NEC 30", and you're out 1700 dollars, for the entry level model with display port.
The SpectraView model is slightly more expensive, at $2500.
Boom, there goes your "huge budget" on a single screen.

Two:
For the home server, I recommend getting a SeaMicro X9SAE board, with an E3-1265LV2 Xeon and 16GB of ECC RAM. Add an HBA, a system SSD and six HDDs (RAID 1 backup, and RAID 10 for live data), a decent case with plenty of 5.25" slots (Lian-Li PC-V343B is probably a classic high-end enclosure for that), some hot swap back-planes, a decent power supply.

Should run you up about 1.5-2k, depending on the number of disks.
It's got optical audio out, so you can run a line to your stereo system and sue it as a music player. Plenty of space to put in TV-cards to DVR with it. Decent performance, if you just need to transcode stuff and run a few services.

 

[dmoney1980]

CPU: i7 3930k $570 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116492

Motherboard: ASUS P9X79 Deluxe $380 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131799

RAM: G-Skill 32GB DDR3 1866 $170 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231561

SSD: 2x OCZ Vertex 4 512GB SSD (RAID) $980 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227820

HDD: 2x WD Black 2TB drives $360 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136792

ODD: LG Blu-ray burner $90 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136249

GPU: Sapphire 7850 2GB $210 ($190 after rebate) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102999

PSU: Corsair HX 750 $130 ($105 after rebate) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139010

CASE: Fractal Define R4 $110 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811352020

CPU Cooler: Phanteks 140mm tower cooler $90 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835709011


Subtotal for all above: $3,090.00

OS: $100 Windows 8 (if getting Win7, make sure to get the Pro version since you'll have more than 16GB RAM)

Keyboard / mouse - your choice really.

Monitor - if you live near a micro Center, I recommend you go there and check out the $400 Auria 27" 1440p monitor.

Full disclosure: this rig is way overkill, i would never spend this kind of money on a PC. You can go with a nice $180 z77 based board, add a socket 1155 Zeon CPU, bump to a Radeon 7970 and get 3 1080p monitors, a single 512 GB SSD and you'll be good to go

 

[Joje]

You aren't listening. This is much more than just a data server.

I checked out the Lime website. That's not what I need.
Thank you though...

don't understand anything

 

[SheHateMe]

You aren't listening. This is much more than just a data server.

I checked out the Lime website. That's not what I need.
Thank you though...

Actually, I've read everything you posted here and was offering help like you asked. Perhaps you think you are telling us one thing and it comes across as something else. What you are describing is a NAS server that is also a media server (Okay, that's easy)....but you think its something else. Its becoming more and more obvious that you don't actually want the input..from anyone. Like you said before, its your money, but what makes you happy and what will keep your money from going to "taxes" (?)

The more people that post in this thread, the more its becoming futile to give you advice. I'm done for now.




Good luck with this one guys.

 

[SMOGZINN]

I went ahead and played with what you could do with $6000:

i7 3930k - $570
ASRock X79 Extreme11 - $599
KINGWIN LZP-1000 - $209
Fractal Design Define XL - $149
2x 140mm + 1 120mm COUGAR CF Fans - $48
Sapphire 7950 - $299
G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) - $144
x8 Western Digital WD3000FYYZ 3TB Enterprise Drives - $2712
Crucial M4 256GB SSD - $199

That leave you $1071 to buy a monitor, KB+Mouse.
The way I see it the most important function of a media server is to store media. With 24gig of enterprise level storage in a Raid array and you will be set for a long time.

Really, if I was doing this, I would knock down the hard drives to Seagate Barracudas 2TB x5 and probably go with more reasonable CPU and MB, but literally build 2 of them that mirror each other. I happen to think that 10TB of fully backed up data is better then a lot of empty space.

I think I would also consider spending a chunk of that money wiring the entire place with cat6 cable and buying some gigabit routers so I didn't have to run any in-place units on wifi.

 

[Mfusick]

for such a big budget you got a pretty slow SSD. Might have been better getting two 240 GB toggle NAND MAX IOPS and RAID 0 them. About $260.

 

[Zap]

I think I would also consider spending a chunk of that money wiring the entire place with cat6 cable and buying some gigabit routers so I didn't have to run any in-place units on wifi.

That's actually the best idea in this thread so far. Decide on a place for your network equipment. Then pay a professional to wire it all up, and then get a nice gigabit switch.

For an actual "server" computer, will you use an equipment rack? Do you want it as a tower? "Home server" so you probably don't want it super noisy, right?

 

[mfenn]

You aren't listening. This is much more than just a data server.

This kind of post is anti-helpful. Instead of describing what the machine isn't, describe what it is. You've stated:

• High Performance
• Home Server/Web File Server
• Bragging Rights
• Not Gaming
• Cook Dinner (JK)

Out of these six, only the middle gives us the vaguest idea of what you want to do, but is still lacking in details. We need to know how much storage you need, what sort of backup strategy you use, what kinds of web sites you host and how much traffic they get, etc. etc.

It's fine if you don't know the answers to these questions, but that also means that you don't need to drop $3500 on a server.

 

[szvwxcszxc]

CPU: i7 3930k $570 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116492

Motherboard: ASUS P9X79 Deluxe $380 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131799

RAM: G-Skill 32GB DDR3 1866 $170 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231561

SSD : 2x OCZ Vertex 4 512GB SSD (RAID) $980 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227820

HDD : 2x WD Black 2TB drives $360 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136792

ODD : LG Blu-ray burner $90 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136249

GPU: Sapphire 7850 2GB $210 ($190 after rebate) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102999

PSU: Corsair HX 750 $130 ($105 after rebate) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139010

CASE: Fractal Define R4 $110 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811352020

CPU Cooler: Phanteks 140mm tower cooler $90 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835709011


Subtotal for all above: $3,090.00

OS: $100 Windows 8 (if getting Win7, make sure to get the Pro version since you'll have more than 16GB RAM)

Keyboard / mouse - your choice really.

Monitor - if you live near a micro Center, I recommend you go there and check out the $400 Auria 27" 1440p monitor.

Full disclosure: this rig is way overkill, i would never spend this kind of money on a PC. You can go with a nice $180 z77 based board, add a socket 1155 Zeon CPU, bump to a Radeon 7970 and get 3 1080p monitors, a single 512 GB SSD and you'll be good to go

Very good and detailed post with links and everything. I am going to read this in more detail in the next couple days. THANK YOU!
Only thing is No I don't want win8, and I have Windows 7 Ultimate already, which is the best OS Microsoft has ever made.

I went ahead and played with what you could do with $6000:

i7 3930k - $570
ASRock X79 Extreme11 - $599
KINGWIN LZP-1000 - $209
Fractal Design Define XL - $149
2x 140mm + 1 120mm COUGAR CF Fans - $48
Sapphire 7950 - $299
G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) - $144
x8 Western Digital WD3000FYYZ 3TB Enterprise Drives - $2712
Crucial M4 256GB SSD - $199

That leave you $1071 to buy a monitor, KB+Mouse.
The way I see it the most important function of a media server is to store media. With 24gig of enterprise level storage in a Raid array and you will be set for a long time.

Really, if I was doing this, I would knock down the hard drives to Seagate Barracudas 2TB x5 and probably go with more reasonable CPU and MB, but literally build 2 of them that mirror each other. I happen to think that 10TB of fully backed up data is better then a lot of empty space.

I think I would also consider spending a chunk of that money wiring the entire place with cat6 cable and buying some gigabit routers so I didn't have to run any in-place units on wifi.

Excellent advice. And yes, I agree; although I think that instead of seagate I will get WD because seagate is crap in my experience. And yes, I agree; instead I will get 3770K because the double-priced 3930K is not necessary for this build.

Excellent suggestion about the noise-dampening case! Excellent passive way to decrease noise.

And excellent idea about the Cat6 cables and gigabit routers. That is precisely what I will do!

THANK YOU!

for such a big budget you got a pretty slow SSD. Might have been better getting two 240 GB toggle NAND MAX IOPS and RAID 0 them. About $260.

No, the PC in my sig is not the PC in this build thread. It's a different PC build (build #1) that I built last week. But I don't know what the hell you're talking about, this SSD is FAST!!!!!!

That's actually the best idea in this thread so far. Decide on a place for your network equipment. Then pay a professional to wire it all up, and then get a nice gigabit switch.

For an actual "server" computer, will you use an equipment rack? Do you want it as a tower? "Home server" so you probably don't want it super noisy, right?

A tower, yes, but willing to wire it in serial using Cat6 cables with a server rack located elsewhere (i.e. in closet). And yes, I want the actual PC to be quiet. Willing to watercool (H100 perhaps?) if necessary.

p.s. I am a professional and can wire it myself. Doesn't take a genius to know "plug into the ethernet port, then hide the wires".

 

[JoeyP]

How about 2 purchases: one fast big computer with a moderate number of disks, and a file server with a lot of disks?

 

[szvwxcszxc]

How about 2 purchases: one fast big computer with a moderate number of disks, and a file server with a lot of disks?

That's an idea; but I really only need 2 or 3 disks 2tb disks for this build.