New Server/Desktop Hardware Advice

Whiffle

Whiffle

Whiffle

Associate
Joined
27 Jul 2009
Posts
386
Hi there,

Here are the current specs of my server and desktop PCs:

Server
* NSK2480 Case
* 2 x 4GB RAM (4GB being used as RAMDisk)
* 60GB Sandisk Ultra SSD
* MSI H61MA-E35 Mobo
* i3-2105
* 2 x 2TB Samsung Spinpoint F4
* Antec 400w High Current Gamer PSU
* 2 x TV Tuners - HVR-2200 and NOVA-HD-S2

Destkop
* Xigmatek Midgard Tower
* 2 x 4GB RAM and 2 x 2GB RAM
* 60GB Crucial M4 SSD
* Asus M4A785TD-M EVO
* AMD Athlon IIx2 240e
* 2 x 1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3
* Antec 380w Earthwatts PSU (taken from the NSK2480 above)

Over the weekend my desktop PC died - the motherboard seems to have had it and I am going to chuck it and the CPU away.

My dilemma is whether to buy a new motherboard and CPU for the desktop or whether to put the Server motherboard/CPU/RAM in the desktop tower and buy a replacement motherboard/CPU for the Server.

What would you guys do?

My instinct is to build a new server as:

1. 12GB of RAM would be better utilised in my server
2. Perhaps there are more efficient CPUs that are better suited to a server

Any tips would be much appreciated.

In case it helps - both PCs are running Windows 10 and the Server runs headless with Argus TV backend a Emby Server - which feeds various Raspberry Pi and Android clients (all running Kodi) and also acts as storage for a Windows laptop.
 
Well the CPU/Motherboard out of the server won't make your desktop majorly quicker or anything so either way really.

You could always just put the ram from desktop in your server and get yourself an el cheapo CPU/Motherboard/RAM bundle for your desktop.

Unless you feel your server could use the extra CPU speed that I assume you will give it with the new parts.
 
Hi,

Sorry - should explain that the current Server Motherboard only has two Ram Slots so I would have to use it for the Destktop PC if I wanted to put 12GB RAM in the Server (so, essentially would have to buy a new Mobo for the Server, which has four RAM slots).

Budget wise - I do not have any particular budget, as long as the new equipment can do everything I need, without being disproportional.
 
Having done a bit more research, I reckon that the best way forward is going to be to buy a new low-spec CPU and a new motherboard with 4 RAM slots and use it in my Server.

What generation of chips should I use?

Haswell seems to be the best choice as there are no apparent Celerons for Broadwell and Skylake (as far as I can tell) might cause me issues with the RAM.

Is Haswell the way to go?
 
So you reckon I should go the whole hog and get an i3? Given that it is only going to be used in a Media Server, would something like a G1820 not suffice?
 
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