Home Server - CPU?

leejayd

leejayd

leejayd

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21 Aug 2009
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14
I'm looking to build a home server for the new WHS.

Any ideas on what socket/cpu to go for that has reasonable power with reasonable energy requirements. Integrated graphics should be fine I guess.

The server will not be transcoding or doing anything special - mainly file serving and backup.

I'm thinking of the I3 Sandybridge 1155 socket.

Whenever I build something myself I try and ensure there is a bit of longevity in the socket for upgrades.

What's the status of 1155/1156?

Cheers.
 
leejayd said:
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The server will not be transcoding or doing anything special - mainly file serving and backup.

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If that really is all it's going to be doing then an atom would suffice. I have an atom based WHSv1 machine and it does that no problem.
 
I just remember that WHS 2011 is 64-bit only so you would have to be a bit more selective about which atom board you chose. WHS 2011 according to wiki requires a 1.4Ghz CPU. I think there would be an atom chip that would do.
 
I'm not sure an Atom based board will do as I'm looking to maximise the Sata connections. Ideally I'd like 6. The Midi case will have 4 drives in hot-swap bays with a spare capacity for 2 drives inside.

If there is an Atom based board with 6 Sata please let me know.

Lee
 
Also - if I go for an I3 with integrated graphics is it possible to boot with no monitor attached. I'll only need the graphics for initial set-up and and major maintenance.
 
I'm currently running windows homserver with a dual core atom on a 945 mobo. Purely as a file/printserver. Hasn't skipped a beat. Atoms are a solid low power option, in my humble opinion.
 
Atoms are fine but as pointed out, they lack SATA ports for a heavy-duty file server.

An Athlon II X2 or Sandy Bridge Pentium would probably be the best bet right now. Maybe there'll be Llano products with lots of SATA ports in the future, we'll see. We know there's already an FM1 socket motherboard with 6 SATA 6 Gbps ports in the pipeline.
 
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Im using an i3 with integrated graphics. I also use the box for streaming media, sabnzd, at the moment utorrent as I need FF CM10.4 downloaded,, and some stock control software. Doesn;t even get warm! 6 drives in there as well. 5 onboard and 1 via the esata. routed the cable through a spare slot.
 
Thanks for all your comments. I'll punt for an I3 I think. At least if I do want to transcode in the future I'll be able to.

Does anybody know what energy consumption of a typical I3 is compared to the Atom?
 
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