M-ITX Server Questions..

Just Dave · 15 Dec 2013 at 15:26

Hi All,

Looking to build a decent file/minecraft server. Got some fairly specific requirements though which seems to be causing problems. .

At the moment I've got the following:

Lian Li PC-Q25
Coolermaster Silent Pro 600W PSU
6! 3TB WD Caviar Greens..
8GB Generico Ram

The Mobo and Processor have been taken out to be used in a gaming rig. So I'm looking to buy a new mobo with 5/6 (could drop a drive) SATA ports and a processor that would be more than capable of running Minecraft whilst transcoding video. I was wondering if you could offer some advice? Also! To throw a spanner in the works, i'm looking to do this as cheaply as possible, preferably around the £150 mark however, I could budge.

Cheers All!

Defconluke · 16 Dec 2013 at 23:35

BitFenix Phenom ITX can take six 3.5" HDDs according to the specs.
If you're not going to be using a large GPU it could be a good option.

lsg1r · 16 Dec 2013 at 23:46

Defconluke: he's looking for a cpu/motherboard not a case lol

InfiniteNoise · 17 Dec 2013 at 01:01

AMD FM2+ ITX board + maybe AMD A10-6600K + PCIe SATA card, should cost you just over £150

Maybe not the best option, but the CPU should be able to handle Minecraft okay, transcoding not so much I guess, and you get extra SATA ports (though the performance on cheaper SATA cards aren't awesome but should do the job fine.)

Server ITX boards are expensive, you could go Intel but not many of them has 5/6+ ports like http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-580-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=2071 and when you add in the CPU, it's not a cheap option.

Defconluke · 17 Dec 2013 at 01:53

lsg1r said:
Defconluke: he's looking for a cpu/motherboard not a case lol

Serves me right for skim reading haha

Best option would probably be something like this:

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3330 3.00GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £143.99
1 x MSI H61I-E35 Intel H61 (Socket 1155) DDR3 ITX Motherboard £49.99
1 x Startech 2 Port PCI Express Internal SATA II Controller Card (PEXSATA22I) £19.99
Total : £213.97 (includes shipping : FREE).

The SATA PCIE card seems to be the cheapest way to get 6 SATA ports on an ITX board and you should be able go get an i5 for much closer to £100 if you don't mind going second hand making it around £175 all in.

Just Dave · 15 Jan 2014 at 14:37

Thanks for all the help, ended up going for the 3330 and the MSI H61I.
Works a dream!