Processor suggestions for Windows Home Server

[alevasseur14]

Hey everyone. As the title suggests, I've got the upgrade bug again and would like to upgrade the CPU in my Windows Home Server to something that takes as little power as possible. Right now I'm running a single core AMD 3500+ in some generic Biostar board.

I had a nice combo picked out on Newegg but it was removed before I could actually order it. It was a AMD BE-2300 dual core running at 1.9 GHz with a 45 watt TDP. Now that the bundle is gone, I can't find the processor anywhere. I'm also really confused as to which processors in AMD's lineup are low power. There seems to be about three different lines with the 45 watt TDP.

I was hoping you wonderful people could offer me a suggestion on the lowest power processor available that won't hold me back in terms of backup speed and network transfer. I've already got 4 GB of DDR2 that I'd like to reuse so the motherboard has to take DDR2.

Thanks for your time, everyone!

P.S. I know 4GB of memory is way overkill for a glorified fileserver but I've already got it laying around so why not?!?

 

[mc866]

I'm using a mobile processor in my WHS box, you could try and use something like that??

 

[JackMDS]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813121359

 

[RebateMonger]

Did you take a look at Intel's integrated Atom 330 motherboard? It's $84 at Newegg (including the Atom 330 processor and Gigabit NIC). It'll only hold one DDR2 module and one PCI card, but 2 GB should be plenty for WHS.

I haven't measured the power draw of this board. But I built a WHS server with a MSI Wind barebones PC, with the same chipset and the Atom 230 CPU, and it drew 30 Watts (measured) with a single hard drive. Based upon various articles, I'd expect the Intel board to draw about 40 Watts.

Edit: I see JackMDS beat me to it.

 

[alevasseur14]

Thanks a lot, Jack and RebateMonger. I've been curious about using the Atom processor but didn't know how to find them on Newegg. Is there anywhere I'd be able to read up on the specs of the different Atom CPUs?

The lack of SATA ports kinda kills that option for me, unfortunately. I'm already running 4 drives and would actually like to add a couple more. I'm just a little hesitant to use a PCI SATA card for performance reasons. I'll keep looking for other other Atom solutions, though.

Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction!!!

 

[RebateMonger]

Well, the Atom CPUs (either the 230 or the 330) are nice. But, as you're finding, when you want to use a lot of drives, it's tough to find a solution. It's the same problem with compact cases. None are designed to hold many hard drives.

I doubt you'd have significant performance issues with a separate PCI SATA drive controller. I've had 70 MB/sec transfers from PCI SATA cards (with Silicon Image 3112 chipsets). That's more speed than you'll see across a Gigabit network, so it's good enough.

 

[JackMDS]

The ATOM 330 has 2 SATA. That is 2TB of space.

More drives more power is taken. Bigger drives and thus less of them, less noise and less power mongering.

 

[alevasseur14]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
The ATOM 330 has 2 SATA. That is 2TB of space.

More drives more power is taken. Bigger drives and thus less of them, less noise and less power mongering.

As much as I'd love to have fewer drives, I already have the four drives. It just doesn't make sense for me to not use them. I can probably use a PCI card and be alright.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

 

[mc866]

I was gonna mention the trouble with the Atom combo's is the lack of sata ports and you are limited on expandability. I was able to find a socket 754 2800+ mobile processor with mobo for $25 in the for sale forums here. I believe it's a 59w processor which isn't the lowest but it was cheap, that and you get a full mobo.

 

[dbcooper1]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813121359

I built mine using that board and have been quite happy with it. It sits in the closet headless and backs up all my systems while I sleep.. 2GB RAM and 2x 1GB drives and no complaints.