Question Looking for a Powerful Machine Setup for a File Hosting Server – Hardware Suggestions Needed

[mozzi]

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to set up a high-performance machine to be used as a file hosting server. This system will handle a large number of file uploads/downloads, including video, music, and software archives. Speed, stability, and long-term durability are crucial.

Here’s what I’m aiming for:

• Fast read/write speeds (M.2 NVMe or RAID setup)
• At least 10 Gbps network support
• Large RAM capacity (32–128 GB range)
• Powerful CPU (Xeon, Ryzen Threadripper, or other server-grade)
• Efficient cooling and 24/7 operation capability
• Low power consumption would be a bonus

I’m open to both rack-mounted and tower cases depending on the best performance/price ratio.

Questions:

• What CPU + motherboard combo would you recommend?
• Is ECC RAM necessary for file hosting?
• Any real-world examples or success stories would help!
• Would GPU acceleration help in file encryption/compression tasks?

Thanks in advance for your input. Looking forward to hearing your experiences and suggestions!

 

[mikeymikec]

What's the scenario, is this a file server purely for your home LAN, or what?

 

[mozzi]

This will be used for a public file hosting platform — something similar to file sharing or upload sites where users can upload and download content. So it's definitely not just for home LAN. It needs to handle external traffic, possibly high concurrent connections, and offer fast transfer speeds.

I’m planning to colocate or host it in a data center later on.

 

[mikeymikec]

If you're starting this service from nothing then I would consider starting small and then learning how the machine's resources get hit by the website you'll presumably design and improve upon.

The server I've just built to replace my ageing server (pretty basic use, a few websites, several e-mail accounts) I spent a grand total of 90 UKP on, the rest of the hardware was from spares. It'll be a significant step up from its predecessor, and if my foray into Linux server sysadmin results in a system I can go live with, then I intend to do a couple of extra upgrades on it (e.g. the PSU is over ten years old).