First time building a server

[cuafpr]

So i'm looking to build a windows 2012 server, via adding some more RAM and another HDD to my current system. This will be my first time setting up a server and later VM's for a full network lab for work and class. My current system is as follows:

Windows 8 Pro
240GB SSD
500 GB Raptor drive
2 TB - USB drive
16 GB of ram
I5-3750k
AS-rock Z77 extreme 4
GTX 670 video card.

From that I plan to add another 500GB raptor drive, and another 16GB of RAM. My goal is to put server 2012 on the new HDD as a duel boot option, and build VM's as need on it as well.

Just want to make sure this is the right track for this, thanks!

 

[Smoblikat]

For a server, running VM's you will need more cores. So an I7 3770K might be a better choice for you.

 

[Ken g6]

More cores would be nice, but aren't necessarily essential. If you won't be running more than 3-4 VMs at once they probably wouldn't help much.

The other thing that comes to mind when you say "server" and "VMs" is ESXi. There, everything is a VM.

If you do decide to go for a new processor, a K processor isn't actually a good choice because it has some potentially very useful features, like VT-d, disabled. Since you have a graphics card I'd steer you toward a Xeon E3 1230 V2.

 

[cuafpr]

Thanks, it won’t be more than 3-4 VMs at a time for a while at least, nor do I expect to put a major load on it for awhile. Company I work for is offering classes in server 2012 for our MSCA so I'm taking those, and going to ECPI for network security. For now I need to be able to play with server 2012 for the 410,411,412 exams, and then I want to mess around some with exchange setups (MB/CAS/HUB etc&#8230😉, since that is what I work with the most currently.

As for a new CPU, yeah would be nice but a bit more than I want to spend right now. Thanks for the info on the "K" as well, as I was just reading about that via the google machine. Kinda odd they take out the VT-d on them...

I also have access to MSDN and ECPI’s software library to get about whatever I need there, and trying to stick with MS products for now, since that is what I work with, and what I have some experience with. Probably move to other stuff as I get more comfortable with the process.
I’d wager in 2-3 years I can upgrade to a new machine that is better designed for the dual purpose of gaming and running VM’s or perhaps two separate boxes.

 

[mfenn]

If you do decide to go for a new processor, a K processor isn't actually a good choice because it has some potentially very useful features, like VT-d, disabled. Since you have a graphics card I'd steer you toward a Xeon E3 1230 V2.

VT-d straight up doesn't matter for the OP's use case.

Spoiler

In fact, it rarely makes sense for any use case because it really takes away from the advantages you get by virtualizing in the first place, can expand upon this at length if somebody cares.

If the OP were buying a new CPU, the Xeon is a better choice for the OP because it gives the OP Hyperthreading for a low cost though. Not that he should buy a new CPU, VM environments are very rarely CPU-limited.

OP, your current system will likely be just fine for what you want to do. Definitely do not go out an buy another Raptor though, the cost-benefit ratio just isn't there. If you want to use two drives rather than partitioning you current one, I'd get Samsung 840 EVO 250GB for $200 to use as your main drive and shift the Raptor over to VM duty.