Spec me a server build for unRAID...

StevieP

StevieP

StevieP

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I currently have a HP Gen 8 microserver running unRAID but it's starting to struggle slightly and so was wondering about building my own.

The only problem with this is I have no idea about server CPU's in terms of a good balance between power draw and performance.

My existing server has an Intel Xeon E31260L and 16GB RAM - and its the RAM usage that seems to be nearing max usage!

I use it for hosting 2-3 game servers (in Docker containers), Plex and the odd bit of torrenting - in addition to general "NAS" usage to store family photos and videos etc.

Is there a generally regarded "best bang for buck" spec for servers that gives a nice balance between performance and power draw?
 
Unless you specifically need features only available in server processors (generally just ECC), then any desktop CPU you can currently buy will offer triple the performance of your old Sandy Bridge based Xeon.

Personally I'd go for an Intel chip, as the majority have integrated graphics which is supported by Plex/Emby for hardware accelerated transcoding if needed.

A decent DDR4 motherboard with 4 dimm slots, also offers cheap/easy access to 64GB RAM (via 4x 16GB DIMMs), which isn't possible on the Gen8 microserver.

The only thing the Microserver has in it's favour, is it's form factor, but there are NAS style or small form factor cases available e.g. Fractal Node.
 
StephenJ said:
could you not add more memory if that's the only issue ?
Click to expand...

Apparently it's not possible with the system I've got - I think 16gb is the max!

Armageus said:
Unless you specifically need features only available in server processors (generally just ECC), then any desktop CPU you can currently buy will offer triple the performance of your old Sandy Bridge based Xeon.

Personally I'd go for an Intel chip, as the majority have integrated graphics which is supported by Plex/Emby for hardware accelerated transcoding if needed.

A decent DDR4 motherboard with 4 dimm slots, also offers cheap/easy access to 64GB RAM (via 4x 16GB DIMMs), which isn't possible on the Gen8 microserver.

The only thing the Microserver has in it's favour, is it's form factor, but there are NAS style or small form factor cases available e.g. Fractal Node.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the ideas - I'll have a look at some "normal" options and go from there!

Just as an aside, what is the benefit of ECC RAM? (I should probably know this but don't!)
 
StevieP said:
Apparently it's not possible with the system I've got - I think 16gb is the max!
Click to expand...
32GB is possible but not necessarily practical at this point due to cost, and the fact that only certain sticks work due to it being a bit picky with compatibility.

StevieP said:
Just as an aside, what is the benefit of ECC RAM? (I should probably know this but don't!)
Click to expand...

ECC helps protect against in-memory data corruption. Whilst a rare event, for information that is of upmost importance (irreplaceable?) having additional protection is a good thing. That said, most consumer NASes don't have ECC memory, your desktop PC doesn't have ECC memory, so your data is still vulnerable to being corrupted when transferring from any of these devices, so in the scheme of things, personally it's not something I would be concerned about.

Your microserver does have ECC Unbuffered memory, as it was primarily designed as a low cost "business" server, where a bit more value was placed on it having ECC.
 
I seem to remember doing some reading and it was either the CPU or the chips etc didn't play well with more than 16GB!?!?

Either way I'm inclined to look at a small form factor alternative - any suggestions as to a mid-range CPU that isn't overly power-hungry?
 
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