Looking for cool and decently power server CPU, what are some options?

[unseengundam101]

I am looking to build a data server. For that I am looking for CPU is the fairly powerful but still runs very cool and use less power. The data server will be left on 24/7 so power consumption is factor. I want to make sure it isn't using up tons of power keep it up 24/7.

I am planning on keeping my data server for years to come (5-10 years). I will probably just keep on adding more storage (probably 2 TB) each year. So I want to make sure the CPU doesn't become too out dated. Then again, server probably won't very CPU intensive.

As for the cost of the CPU, I don't have anything fixed. Maybe around $200. But if some one suggest a great quiet and powerful CPU for $300 I will be willing to consider it.

 

[formulav8]

If your just using the server for your personal storage basically any modern cpu will be fine. Even a single core will be ok. Newegg.com has a OEM 3400+ AM2 Sempron for $20 shipped.

You can also get a decent 65w 4200+ OEM shipped for only $40 shipped.

A 45w 4850e low voltage and low power consumption for $57 shipped.

Buy anyways, any half way modern cpu will be more than fast enough for a simple data server. I've even ran a Pentium1 166-200mhz in a data and web server about 5 years ago and it worked just fine.

It will most likely be your network and/or hd that will determine overall speed.

If you buy a AM2/AM2+ compatible mobo you can easily upgrade the cpu in the future with a Tri/Quad core cpu.

Click here for cpu's at newegg.

Be sure to check out the combo deals if you need a mobo. The 3400+ Sempron and very decent Biostar mobo is only $70.


This is all just my opinion and hopefully I understood what you were asking.


Jason

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: thureen
I am planning on keeping my data server for years to come (5-10 years). I will probably just keep on adding more storage (probably 2 TB) each year. So I want to make sure the CPU doesn't become too out dated. Then again, server probably won't very CPU intensive.

Im sorry your second paragraph is a pun.

i cant think of any processor off the top of my head minus a i7 and that possible not even, that would last 10 yrs and not get outdated.

10 yrs ago, 1998:


were talking about k7's and P2 days...

ROFL.... no .. no .. and definitely no..

 

[mooseracing]

Depending on what your setups are, your CPU can be the bottleneck. My last small raid setup was limited by an Atom CPU. So I moved it over to my Dual Opty setup and I never have the slow downs.

I know at work when I moved data backups, a P4 3.2Ghz, from one hard drive to an esata drive, you can't do anythign else on the PC. The CPU is pegged as well as disk activity and it comes to a crawl.

If you want somethign that will last, buy a true server board, dual socket. Run one socket until perfomance degrades mroe than you would like and throw in the 2nd cpu. Also I would look at the LV or HE lineups of Opterons or Xeons.

 

[unseengundam101]

I really don't want spend so much right for dual socket server stuff and I don't really need.

I think the AMD 45w TDP CPU look good and cheap. My be a 5050e? I might just end up getting a Intel E8x00 for $200 also.

I had a A64 3400 S754 that just died. It was 4 years old, but I am pretty sure it A64 3400 would been enough power 6 more years. Especially for not so a not so intensive Server like mine. AMD 5050e or E8x00 would be more than enough to last 10 years for the server, but server class MB + CPU stuff would be overkill.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: thureen
I might just end up getting a Intel E8x00 for $200 also.

If you end up going Intel, then get an E5200. It is just about the cheapest and most power efficient desktop chip they offer, being the slowest 45nm socket 775 chip Intel makes. Pair that with a P43/P45 chipset board (uses less power than P35, IIRC). Not counting hard drives, your idle power draw should be under 50W from the wall and you should be able to easily passively cool it with something like a Scythe Ninja - because fans draw power too.

 

[NXIL]

Hi Zap,

hey, I am not stalking you, really.

May I recommend to thureen: a server style motherboard that takes ECC (but unregistered) RAM:

Why ECC? Very important for servers, not really important on a desktop:

http://setiathome.berkeley.edu...um_thread.php?id=39399

http://searchwindowsserver.tec...d68_gci1251848,00.html

I like this Tom's article: looks like one of their "emory" chips dropped the "M" bit out of the title:

Sub-quality emory is a "serious problem"

http://www.tomshardware.com/re.../ecc-vista,1838-2.html

DDR2 ECC RAM is pretty darn cheap right now:

2 x 1 GB, $11 a GB:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820134113

2 x 2GB, about $55:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820148115

$10 a GB, you *could* max board out at 8GB & be set for a long while:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820134309

Supermicro & Tyan make server quality, designed for long life boards:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...2166%2CN82E16813182158

Intel brand boards still have a great reputation, but some of their desktop/consumer grade boards have been getting some shaky reviews; I am not sure about the server boards, whether or not they are still held in high regard--I think they are.

Not cheap, but, i7, DDR3 w/ ECC, and all the trimmings: good for ten years? Maybe:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813182166

These two boards will take a regular AMD AM2 CPU:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...1134%2CN82E16813182111

Get one of these latter two baords, and an energy efficient AMD CPU like the ones listed above, the ECC RAM, and you are good to go for a long time.

HTH,

NXIL