Gaming/NAS server build using Windows VM

[Batmeat]

Heres the plan. I'm about to start my new build. It's going to be a full ATX tower case, water cooled, gaming, NAS media server, silent build. Windows 10 supports virtual machines as long as you have Win 10 Pro or enterprise 64bit.

Is it even going to be possible to use virtualization so the media server can be pumping out video/pictures/movies while I or any other person is gaming and have no slow down?

 

[Elixer]

What are your system specs for this machine?
What OS is going to be running in the VM?

 

[Ketchup]

IMO you would be better with two separate machines. My media server was running on super-old hardware until I upgraded it in '14, and it wasn't taking reasources from my main desktop while doing so. And the upgrade wasn't so much for speed needs as it was for newer technologies overall.

 

[sweenish]

I don't immediately see the need for a VM.

 

[XavierMace]

Running it as a VM doesn't necessarily mean it won't impact other things running on the computer.

 

[redzo]

Is it even going to be possible to use virtualization so the media server can be pumping out video/pictures/movies while I or any other person is gaming and have no slow down?

no running VM(s) = 100% of all available system resources(CPU cores, RAM, DISK I/O) at your disposal while using the PC.

running VM(s) = less than 100%(CPU cores, RAM, DISK I/O) of all available system resources at your disposal while using the PC.

 

[Batmeat]

What are your system specs for this machine?
What OS is going to be running in the VM?

Sorry as I've been out of town for a bit.

Windows server 2012 will be running it. I haven't built the machine yet, but it will utilize a Xeon based processor of atleast 6-8 physical cores. Looking at ASUS for motherboards with 10GB ethernet and for supporting the virtualization. 32gb ECC DDR4. Video card will be a next gen Nvidia or AMD card using HBM 2. SSD to boot and game, with NAS hard drives (likely WD Reds) for the media streaming. Now, none of this is set in stone. I saw a youtube video of a machine built to allow 7 people to game at the same time from a single machine. This is where I got the idea from.

Here is the link to the video.

Windows 10 for gaming, haven't decided on a OS for the NAS media server.
Forgot to add that the media server will be streaming to a max of two devices.

 

[tential]

I would use UNRAID and then use the VM to run a Windows VM to game on. Then, if you really wanna be cool, you can then use the Steam Link to stream the game, and have the server in a separate room. Of course, that has latency issues then if you're super sensitive to that.

Depending on the Zen corecount to price ratio vs Intel and dependent on Zen performance, that may be my upgrade to my UNRAID server so that it can double as a gaming rig. Except, I'm not using an ATX case, I'm using a 4U Server Chassis. So I'm pretty confident right now about the airflow.

In the video you're looking at, they're using UNRAID as well by the way. I was VERY happy as I purchased UNRAID right when this feature came out lol. So I'm super excited about Zen, since if it's an 8 core 16 thread CPU for the same price as 4 core 8 threaded CPU from intel, and if hte performance is decent, then I can use that CPU and my spare GPUs to power Windows VMs for guests for multiplayer gaming.
Yes OP, the possibilities are SUPER INTERESTING!

 

[redzo]

Windows server 2012 will be running it. I haven't built the machine yet, but it will utilize a Xeon based processor of atleast 6-8 physical cores. Looking at ASUS for motherboards with 10GB ethernet and for supporting the virtualization. 32gb ECC DDR4. Video card will be a next gen Nvidia or AMD card using HBM 2. SSD to boot and game, with NAS hard drives (likely WD Reds) for the media streaming. Now, none of this is set in stone. I saw a youtube video of a machine built to allow 7 people to game at the same time from a single machine. This is where I got the idea from.

Here is the link to the video.

That's a lot of cores at your disposal.
I'm thinking that windows 10 Pro with a hyper v role will do just fine, as long as you're left with at least 8 threads for your hyper v host(the one which you'll game on). 8 threads should be enough for gaming. The only possible drawback could be the fact that the xeon core will not boost as high as a i7 skylake.

 

[Ketchup]

no running VM(s) = 100% of all available system resources(CPU cores, RAM, DISK I/O) at your disposal while using the PC.

running VM(s) = less than 100%(CPU cores, RAM, DISK I/O) of all available system resources at your disposal while using the PC.

This is what you have to be careful of. You can absolutely run a VM while doing pretty much anything else you want to do on the pc side (assuming you are buipding a pretty hefty machine). If space is an issue, this is a pretty good way to go.

My question would be, how many people are going to be accessing this simultaneously? Just remember that the file/media server does not have to be high-end at all, so unless space is at a premium, you probably won't be saving any money with one do-it-all machine.

 

[Elixer]

You know, something like this would also benefit from AMD's FirePro S7150, which they say:

AMD today revealed the world's first hardware virtualized GPU products -- AMD FirePro S-Series GPUs with Multiuser GPU (MxGPU) technology. AMD's ground-breaking hardware-virtualized GPU architecture delivers an innovative solution in response to emerging user experiences such as remote workstation, cloud gaming, cloud computing, and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI).

If you want to go hard core about this machine...
Too bad they aren't out yet, but, I can't wait for the day where I can run full hardware acceleration across multiple windows & linux VMs, and seamlessly switch between them.

 

[sweenish]

I remain unconvinced that any VM is necessary. Put the server client on Windows and just run it from there. It will only use the resources it needs, and not be a constant chip in your overall resources the way a VM is.

I do this, at least. Run my Plex server from my desktop. I will eventually have a separate server, but for now this is working just fine.

 

[Ketchup]

I remain unconvinced that any VM is necessary. Put the server client on Windows and just run it from there. It will only use the resources it needs, and not be a constant chip in your overall resources the way a VM is.

I do this, at least. Run my Plex server from my desktop. I will eventually have a separate server, but for now this is working just fine.

Agreed. You do not need the overhead of another operating system to run a plex server, for example. The main reason I run a separate machine is due to it running on the local network only (not the internet), and I the fact that I already had all of the parts anyway (at least for the first build).

 

[Batmeat]

The main reason why I'm doing it is because I would like to. I can game fairly well on my MSI GE70 laptop all while streaming through PLEX. There are hiccups though and at times the machine is pegged using max resources. What it can't do is stream 1080p content while I game. 720p with media transcoded down to a 3Mb link is the max it can handle. Not the network either as I have it hard wired to a gigabit router which is hardwired to my blu-ray player which has the plex client on it. All cable is Cat6.