Recommendations for headless server, low power, low cost

[banibratadutta]

Hi,

Looking for config recommendation --

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

- The PC shall be used as a headless server, running CentOS / Ubuntu Server. The workload will be database (transactional), and media encoding/decoding (SD-video at most, not HD). One of my biggest challenges is providing power backup and cooling, so a high priority for me is for the system to consume low power and not generate excessive heat.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

- $200 (i.e. about INR 10000) [for a functional server, pizza-box is fine, w/o display,keyboard,mouse]

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

- India (Bangalore, SP Road mostly)

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

- Not a fanboy. Whatever is practical in my circumstances.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

- None (just the monitor, keyboard, mouse for initial setup).

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

- Have read some comparisons of intel/amd processors, typically a kind of comparison of proccy's that are in $100-$150 range.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

- Do not intend to OC

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.

- N.A.

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

- In about 2 weeks


regards,
BD

 

[Zap]

I don't know what hardware prices are like in India, but here $200 usually won't buy a brand new complete (CPU/mobo/RAM/HDD/case/PSU) computer of any kind.

If I were to disregard cost and think about the best hardware for your needs, then one of the new Sandy Bridge setups would be ideal due to these reasons:

The IGP has built-in hardware to assist in video transcoding.

It creates very little heat and is very energy efficient, and indeed can idle at super low power draw. Heck, at idle it can probably get close to an Atom in power draw and heat output, but of course has performance on tap when you need it.

 

[mfenn]

Yeah, $200 ain't going to get you much. Certainly not a proper 1U system (I'm assuming that's what you meant by your "pizza box" comment). You're really not going to get much beyond the most bare-bones Atom setup.

 

[banibratadutta]

Thanks @mfenn and @zap. Appreciate your comments. @zap, the wait for Sandybridge, and I am sure their pricing (given history of newly launched low-power high-perf products), is something I may not be able to afford. @mfenn, had considered Atom, but after investigating performance, Atom is out of question. TDP is high on my priority list, but Atom makes the sacrifice on performance a deal-breaker. Also, I am not looking for "rack-mount" servers, but desktop type configs that I plan to run headless (or max. w/ KVMs) but in desktop form-factor. So desktop grade CPU/memory/mobo.

I managed to find a config and would like the feedback of forum members to see if this may be a good configuration.

CPU AMD Athlon II X2 245 (2.9GHz/2MB-L2, AM3, DDR2/DDR3, 65W TDP, 45nm)
MOBO ASUS M4N-68-TM (AM3, DDR3, max 8GB)
Memory 2GB DDR3 1300MHz Hyundai
DVD-RW Sony OEM 24x (Black)
HDD Seagate SATA 500GB, 16MB cache
Cabinet Frontech Appy Rattle (w/o SMPS)
SMPS Zebronics 450W

I can do this under $200 by assembling the thing myself. Just wondering how important would HyperTransport3.0 be... but adding HT3.0 on mobo (i.e. slightly better mobo) is peanuts... add just another $20, so I might as well. There's a slight compromise on the TDP. Reading about Sandybridge, I think they'd be ideal though... i.e. once I can afford them, and they are available locally.

Comments/suggestions welcome.

 

[fffblackmage]

That doesn't look too bad for just $200.

HTT 3.0 isn't that important.

 

[Zargon]

gigabyte ud3-785g gives you a great lower power platform for the AII cpus.

my LP server(in sig) is running that, and with an SSD and a 5400.6 momentus I idle at 40w on stock voltage with 2gb of budget ram

I have it an antec p180mini and use only the 200mm fan so save power/cut noise

 

[banibratadutta]

Thanks for the feedback regarding HT3.0 @fffblackmage.

@Zargon, sorry but I couldn't quite figure out the LP Server in your signature. By description, it simply looks awsome, and just about what I might need, although I couldn't dream of doing it even within $300 here.

Edit: Was darn sleepy I guess, saw your config again.

Anyhow, my $200 config has taken a hit. just realized that my MoBo requires a better SMPS, i.e. one which has 24pin + 4pin ATX 12V supply, which seems to have pushed up my numbers by about $40 or so.