Spec me a low power server

Martynt74

Martynt74

Martynt74

Soldato
Joined
20 Feb 2004
Posts
23,439
Location
Hondon de las Nieves, Spain
Hi Guys

I’ve decided to build myself a server to use for streaming after being disappointed with a pre bought solutions.

I believe the Atom is the way forward for low power builds these days (I’ve been out of the pc hard ware scene for quite a few years)

Could anyone give me some specs for what I’d need. Obviously sound/video can be onboard (although I’d quite like HDMI output incase I ever decide to change its job and connect it to the tv. Not necessary though)
I’m guessing I won’t need much ram. I remember using dual channel used to help performance but I’m guessing one stick would do in this instance.
I’m planning on using mirrored raid (raid 1 I think) so 2x1tb drives would be good, although at a push 2x2tb would be better if budget allowed.

Then I’d need a smallish case, Micro ITX, can these support 2 hard drives and potentially a cd drive as well?
 
I'm a muppet, i was thinking to myself i had to include that as i was typing and then forgot.

I bought the Readnas which was £200 including the drive space although i accept i will probably have to go over that. Probably up to £300.
Don't mind buying used although i'd much prefer being able to buy it all together so i can build it.

Also i forgot to add i remember when i was into it everything was all about high powered PSU's at around 700w, what kind of power would i need for the above?
 
Hmm it does look good, think a part of me is just a bit kid like at the idea of playing with new toys again and building it (i always did have a fascination with lego!) and after my disaster with the Readynas i'm a bit wary of how Squeezebox server will run on it.

However i have been thinking about how Raid probably isn't as big an issue as i originally though. I'm probably safer off just backing up onto a usb hard drive
 
just get a cheap atom, it'll do the job fine.

dont even need a good case for it if you plan to put it away somewhere.

for just streaming/file server, u really dont need much in the way of power.
so the cheapest atom will do u fine, and would use very little power as well.

even a cheap PSU would do as u wont be drawing much power at all from it.

if you have any spare parts, case/psu, hard drives, etc, then u could use them.

theres this case
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-010-OP&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=1582

but its only 1 3.5 HDD, and 1 2.5 HDD
 
I don't really have anything anymore as i threw out any old parts years ago.

Are the Atom cpu's the I3? I'm guessing they use socket 775?

Are there any motherboards out there with onboard wifi?
 
Struggling a bit with cases at the moment.

All these boards are m-ITX. The selection for these are quite small however my main question is about the power supplies included.
I always used to steer clear of included power supplies like the plague but in this instance would it be ok? Especially with some of the better known brands.

If i was to buy a seperate PSU what should i be looking for? Obviously i don't want to be spending £100 for a power hungry beast like i used to
 
the atoms arn't a socket, the cpu's are built onto the motherboard.

so you buy it as an all in one and just add ram.

some of the small m-itx cases come with small but ok PSU's, like 150-200w
would do fine for an atom.

if the case doesn't come with one, the Corsair CX400 would be a good choise

OCUK dont do much in the way of atoms thou, so u'll have to look elsewhere.

u can get them for about £60 for the complete board, then just need a case, ram and hdd
 
If you need HDMI then its Ion only (and starting aty £100+) .. Intel chipset boards are not allowed to have HDMI (or they lose the licence)
 
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