RAM in a Gaming Server

[thecoolnessrune]

ummmmmm. ok thx. sounds kinda picky seeing as it still fits in the same socket. Plus I dont think you even realize that this discussion is about bandwidth. Not keeping pace with the HT speed.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Go for the Jetway 939-GT4 and a 4200+

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
ummmmmm. ok thx. sounds kinda picky seeing as it still fits in the same socket. Plus I dont think you even realize that this discussion is about bandwidth. Not keeping pace with the HT speed.

It's a server, which generally means no OCing, especially as it is going to be left alone in a room with other servers, with no physical access for weeks or months at a time, usually.

Also, your own statements about bandwidth, and how the timings themselves are described (ns? Nope), have very much been false, especially concerning timings.

DDR400, loose timings:
http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=2390&p=4

DDR400, tight imings:
http://www.anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=2392&p=4

Notice that tighter timings win, even in bandwidth (the CPU is the same in both). In actual tests, a bit of tightening on the timings does more than a bit of extra MHz.

 

[enzoslashslash]

Cerb, you seem like a smart guy. Do you have personal experience with servers? Is the setup that I have stated a viable one for a $1000 budget?

Also, since you claim that most of rune's statements as false, do you think a Pentium D/Intel 6xx coupled with DDR2 would be a better solution?

Remember, fast load times and little to no lag/jitter (this is going to be used for a LAN gaming server).

Thanks everyone for their input, I never would have expected all of these replies!

 

[Cerb]

With gaming, not one bit. I have no idea what BF2 takes. If it follows along with 90% of software, the X2 will surely be a better option. The Pentium D's just aren't fast enough to be competitive (and the 820 and 830 are the only decent ones for the cost). A 3.4 or 3.6GHz might be able to compete, but overall, the X2s have a lot of power for the money. He's mainly been wrong on RAM (technically, anything over 200MHz is over spec, but you can definitely get up there; timings are in clock cycles, not ns; tighter timings are pretty much always better).

If it's going to be on a LAN, rather than a 'net server in a little hole at the ISP, then by all means, see about OCing, as you can be there to monitor it . Get a nice DFI or Epox board for the money (~$150 should be plenty for that). I don't think that config can really be boosted much more, unless you want to up the CPU and bring the Raptor down to 36GB--but that might be too small after a time, and doesn't net that much faster CPU (though it could allow for some better RAM, as well, it's probably not worth the penny-pinching).

If you plan to OC, maybe add in a nice cooler, like a Zalman 7700 (if it fits, it's a good compromise between cost and performance), Ninja (best, but not as cheap), XP-90 (fits anything, nicely priced, even w/ a fan added into the cost), SI-120 (should fit, but somewhat expensive), etc.. If you have to bump the voltage up on the CPU, a beefy cooler will help a lot.

 

[enzoslashslash]

Thanks Cerb!

Ok here is the solution:

Hard Drive - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822144415
RAM (two of these for a total of 2GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820227211
MoBo - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813123243
Proc - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103547

 

[enzoslashslash]

Tell me what you guys think

By the way, the motherboard isn't certain for me, I might get a board with integrated VGA. I really would like to put this in a rackmount though :/

 

[keeleysam]

Id stay with the X2. ECC memory is more expensive and slower.

 

[Davegod]

How many slots on how many gameservers running per machine? tick rate? I dont know how anybody can suggest what hardware you need without even knowing your basic requirements. Please ignore all the "AMD is better for gaming" comments. That is true for playing, not hosting.

I'd suggest trying a good BF2 forum, preferably one who have either a dedicated server help forum or a good (and quite technical) server guide article.

LINUX
- Minimum Specification, based on playing a 16 player game:
CPU: 1 Ghz Processor
RAM: 256 Mb
- Recommended Specification, based on playing a 64 player game:
CPU: 3 Ghz Pentium 4 or Athlon XP, or a 1.8 Ghz 64-bit Opteron.
RAM: 1 Gb

WINDOWS
- Minimum Specification, based on playing a 16 player game:
CPU: 1 Ghz Processor
RAM: 384 Mb
- Recommended Specification, based on playing a 64 player game:
CPU: 3 Ghz Pentium 4 or Athlon XP
RAM: 1 Gb

BANDWIDTH
- Minimum
2.5 Mbit
- Recommended
5Mbit

 

[enzoslashslash]

I really don't expect more than 32 people on the BF2 server. I will probably be running either another 16 man CS:S server or CS 1.6 server. Hopefully this dual-core processor coupled with 2 gigs of ram will be sufficient. Any ideas?

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Crescent13

Originally posted by: enzoslashslash
Hello all and thanks for reading!

From my understanding, you can get better throughput with DDR2 memory, but the timings on DDR2 are looser than standard DDR memory. I would like fast loading times for maps and such (BF2, Source Engine), but I do not want any jittering mid-game. Does anyone have any firsthand experience with this and would like to recommend a brand/type of RAM?

By the way, I am getting a Pentium D Dual-Core and some 76gB Raptors, just keep that in mind

No, you ARE NOT GETTING A PENTIUM D, and YOU ARE NOT GETTING 74GB Raptors. Do you have ANY IDEA how ABSOLUTLY HORRIBLE intels perform in gaming?!?!?!? Get a new SATA II drive, not an old raptor. latency is directly related to throughput, and DDR2 performs horribly. If you get an intel (which I pray that I can convince you otherwise), you will have to get DDR2, it is the only thing that is compatible. AMD uses DDR, and also performs about 4x faster (i'm not streching that, the most expensive amd x2 is 4x more powerful than the most expensive pentium D). PLEASE DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!! If you want more proof just give me some time to find some articles.

EDIT: oh yeah, and welcome to the forums!

enzoslashslash
Member

Posts: 22
Joined: 09/03/2005

 

[enzoslashslash]

God bless you Googer

 

[Davegod]

Originally posted by: enzoslashslash
I really don't expect more than 32 people on the BF2 server. I will probably be running either another 16 man CS:S server or CS 1.6 server. Hopefully this dual-core processor coupled with 2 gigs of ram will be sufficient. Any ideas?

if you use process of elimination on the supplied server requirements, I'm guessing
- cpu requirement will be somewhere around 500mhz + (35mhz * number of players)
- ram requirement will be somewhere around 256Mb per 16 players
- personally I'd always leave a decent margin of resources because firstly there's no point in crappy servers unless all others are completely full, and secondly the moments when it lags are going to be the moments when it's most annoying (i.e. loads of players having a lot of action).
... and that's just BF2, running two different engines can be quite a b1tch on memory resources.

note the bandwidth requirements are both directions, but especially upload.

 

[Cerb]

If CS:S isn't too bad, either, saving a bit w/ a 3800+ might not be a bad idea. If you've got a $1000 budget, not much of a point not going dual-core, esp. for server stuff of any kind, but a 3800+ vs. 4200+ would save bearly $100. If Davegod's stuff is fairly close, 1GB might do, as well. Don't worry much about video--the cheapest card you can get will suffice. Onboard would be nice, but hard to find for the kind of thing you want. IGP is still not quite cheap enough to be on every board out there.

 

[enzoslashslash]

Yeah, I just read the Anantech Review of the 3800+. It does seem silly to pay an extra $100 for 3% or so more performance.
I also want this to be futureproof for a year to two (who knows what crazy games will pop up) for Quake IV and UT2007, so I think 2 gB will help in those server tasks.

A little food for thought: I remember reading in BF2 readme (if I'm not mistaken) that the bigger the map size is (16, 32, and 64 player maps are all different sizes) the more RAM is required. Some of may or may not know this. Sorry If I have wasted your time

 

[Cerb]

Well, if it's a concern, then go with a 3800+, but still 2GB RAM.

 

[enzoslashslash]

Thanks again cerb
Do you have a particular flavor of RAM that you like?

I'm looking at this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820227211
2-2-2-5

 

[Cerb]

I've rarely had any trouble with good brands of RAM. I have never used OCZ. Looks nice, though.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

By my calculations I found that 2.6 Ghz would be need to run all those games effectively. (System requirements taken from website). (4.1 Ghz of intel divided by the 1.55 Intel to AMD equation= 2.6Ghz) Also unless he can get a server going without going into the game (never owned BF2 so dont know for sure), he needs at least an FX5700 or Radeon 8500 to get him into the game. A stuck on Rage XL or Savage Pro graphics solution won't work.

Ram wise, I still prefer good ole Corsair Value Select which should be more than enough for you.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: enzoslashslash
God bless you Googer

I just decided to imortalize the moment forever in the forum. Party for the new guy this weekend at my place: free beer, cake, BBQ, and DDR500 for everyone. Everybody is invited. Welcome Abard enzoslashslash, this is your moment enjoy it.


BYOmp3, DJ and LAN Provided.

 

[Davegod]

OCZ Gold Series us a little bit OTT for a game server. By all means go for it, but most professional hosts will cut all corners and dump it all onto the CPU. I mean professional literally, rather than just "trying to make money".

I'd be horrified if BF2 doesnt have a dedicated server. Listen servers are for small lans, and noobs trying to host a proper game on their "2mb" cable connection (i.e. 256k upstream).

 

[Stretchman]

A while ago, I became online friends with the admin of a Call of Duty multiplayer server. He mentioned that he had basically put the server together out of junk parts, using a Pentium 4 2.x chip and around 512mb's of RAM.

I'm not sure if that will cut it for today's top games, but I recall the experience on that server being particularly smooth and fun.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Stretchman
A while ago, I became online friends with the admin of a Call of Duty multiplayer server. He mentioned that he had basically put the server together out of junk parts, using a Pentium 4 2.x chip and around 512mb's of RAM.

I'm not sure if that will cut it for today's top games, but I recall the experience on that server being particularly smooth and fun.

Battlefield 2 plays on my P3 Tualatin 1.4ghz Server Chip with 512k Full Speed Cache
Single Stick 512mb PC133 @ CAS2 From Crucial
ATI 9700 PRO
Hitachi 7k250 Parallel ATA100
Intel D815EEA2U Motherboard.
I Can get a decent frame rate too- 1152x864 30-90 FPS

 

[imported_Kensai]

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: Stretchman
A while ago, I became online friends with the admin of a Call of Duty multiplayer server. He mentioned that he had basically put the server together out of junk parts, using a Pentium 4 2.x chip and around 512mb's of RAM.

I'm not sure if that will cut it for today's top games, but I recall the experience on that server being particularly smooth and fun.

Battlefield 2 plays on my P3 Tualatin 1.4ghz Server Chip with 512k Full Speed Cache
Single Stick 512mb PC133 @ CAS2 From Crucial
ATI 9700 PRO
Hitachi 7k250 Parallel ATA100
Intel D815EEA2U Motherboard.
I Can get a decent frame rate too- 1152x864 30-90 FPS

A server not a gaming system.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: Stretchman
A while ago, I became online friends with the admin of a Call of Duty multiplayer server. He mentioned that he had basically put the server together out of junk parts, using a Pentium 4 2.x chip and around 512mb's of RAM.

I'm not sure if that will cut it for today's top games, but I recall the experience on that server being particularly smooth and fun.

Battlefield 2 plays on my P3 Tualatin 1.4ghz Server Chip with 512k Full Speed Cache
Single Stick 512mb PC133 @ CAS2 From Crucial
ATI 9700 PRO
Hitachi 7k250 Parallel ATA100
Intel D815EEA2U Motherboard.
I Can get a decent frame rate too- 1152x864 30-90 FPS

Client != Server

- M4H