AMD Windows Home Server 2011 build advice

SavellM

SavellM

SavellM

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Joined
15 Nov 2010
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668
Hi all.

Im looking to venture into building a pc specifically for Windows Home Server 2011.
This pc will run Raid on my drives and share out media mainly movies to my XBMC HTPC.
But it will need to transcode now and then if playing to a tablet or phone.

I was looking at AMD mainly as they have Mobo's that support up to 8x SATA III 6Gb/s without an addin card.

I have never run WHS so dont really know what im getting myself in for.
But will this build work, in terms of drivers and well for my needs above.

Mobo:
MSI FM2-A85XA-G65 or GA-F2A85X-D3H (Driver support?)
CPU:
AMD A-Series A8 5500
Ram:
Corsair Memory Vengeance LP 8GB DDR3 1600 MHz
PSU:
be quiet! BN197 Straight Power E9 CM 480W
SSD (Boot Drive):
Intel 180GB 330 Series SSD
HDD:
WD Red - 3tb - WD30EFRX - x4

My main concern is the Driver compatibility with WHS 2011.
 
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Have you looked at a HP ProLiant Turion II N40L it works out £120 after cashback and I've got one running WHS and transcodes video files to work on a 360
 
I have read that WHS2011 requires minimum of 180gb and that it wont even install on lower than 160gb.

Also will that AMD APU be able to transcode a bit BluRay rip?
Lets say a 25gb rip?

The other thing I have going is building a Intel based build, maybe Core i3 with a hardware Raid card.
I think the Core i3 would be more power efficient, and could work better for my fileserver requirements.
But what about recovery of a Raid array over software or hardware?

Lastly I looked at that HP MicroServer and it does look good, but im building a custom case for this. (more to follow in the coming months)
 
Ok so I've changed it up to an Intel build.
As well I feel Intel is just that much better.
This is also running a mATX board and well its a bit over specced:

Mobo:
Asus P8Z77-M PRO
CPU:
Core i3 3240T - 35w
Ram:
Corsair Memory Vengeance LP 8GB DDR3 1600 MHz
PSU:
be quiet! BN197 Straight Power E9 CM 480W
SSD (Boot Drive):
Intel 180GB 330 Series SSD
HDD:
WD Red - 3tb - WD30EFRX - x4
SATA Raid Controller:
Highpoint RocketRAID 2720SGL 8 port (can anyone recommend anything better, that doesnt cost the earth?)

Only changes are, CPU, Mobo, and SATA Controller.
 
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SavellM said:
What do you mean by I wont need Raid?
I would like to run my drives in Raid 5 for safety to a degree.
Click to expand...

I mean't if you used WHS instead of WHS2011 you wouldn't, a lot of us old time WHS users boycotted WHS2011 as Microsoft removed a feature called Drive Extender which was (to most of us) the best thing about WHS. DE was basically folder level mirroring, I.E you tell it to enable duplication the folder "videos" and it would make that folder exist on more than one drive in the pool. Unlike RAID which duplicates everything DE's folder level mirroring meant you could choose which folders were worth keeping copies of saving a lot of disk space.
 
Thats interesting...
I've started reading into FlexRAID and wondering on the versatility of it?
If I get the Intel build with the Raid card, do I then just tell the Raid controller to set it up as JBOD and then use FlexRaid from within WHS2011?
As if thats the case, I can get a different raid controller as not all do Raid 5.
 
I've just seen that Microsoft has stopped Windows Home Server, and instead is going ahead with Windows Server 2012.
So Im looking at Windows Server 2012 Essentials or Foundation.
But a bit perplexed as to which would be best for my simple home server?
I dont really want a Domain and all...
But I do want to install things like SABnzbd, SickBeard, and CouchPotato on it.
I also want to use Storage options like Storage Spaces for a Parity Array.
Or potentially FlexRAID although I would prefer an all in one solution eg, Windows Server with no addons.
 
Windows Server 2012 requires a x64 cpu.
Will the AMD APU's work fine on a x64 box?
Everywhere I see it says that the AMD APU (A10 5800K) is x86.
 
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