Spec me a server

Randall8686 · 21 Jul 2015 at 21:54

Hi All

Looking to build a server, Ideally to run a a game server (game may change from time to time) and Xpenology on a VM and a few other bits and bobs.

I have been looking at old Dell power edge 2900 machines as £350 can get me a duel Xeon and 32gb of ram

But the power consumption will cost me a fortune.

So happy to go second hand but i need more horse power than my N54l can give. I guess im looking for about i5 power ideally as a minimum but most of all im after something fairly efficient. here comes the hard part ideally the budget is £400 but could stretch to £500

Must have 16gb ram HDD's i already have. must also be a tower style not 1/2u etc

Armageus · 21 Jul 2015 at 22:20

Forget the 2900 as they are too old (core 2 based), if you look at HP stuff you want G6 models e.g ML350 g6.

Power consumption is not as bad as you think with newer servers as power saving is more and more important in server rooms. Noise will likely be a problem though.

Randall8686 · 21 Jul 2015 at 22:30

It will be going in either the loft or if its still too noisy for the loft the shed (climate controled shed due to being filled with toys )

korgtronix · 22 Jul 2015 at 04:02

If the cashback deal is still on I would look at the Lenovo TS140. Basic comes with Xeon Quadcore and 4gb RAM for under 300 after cashback which will easily be quick enough to run gameservers for yourself and still be efficient.

Quartz · 22 Jul 2015 at 12:33

Randall8686 said:
It will be going in either the loft

Don't do this: it's a fire risk.

Randall8686 · 22 Jul 2015 at 14:52

how is it any more of a fire risk in my loft ? I have my existing server in he loft on a shelf.

Randall8686 · 22 Jul 2015 at 14:58

korgtronix said:
If the cashback deal is still on I would look at the Lenovo TS140. Basic comes with Xeon Quadcore and 4gb RAM for under 300 after cashback which will easily be quick enough to run gameservers for yourself and still be efficient.

This looks like a very good value way of doing it, Ram is a bit pricey if i use the genuine stuff tho, Any recommendation on a network card for it ? would like 3 lan ports

Quartz · 22 Jul 2015 at 15:12

Randall8686 said:
how is it any more of a fire risk in my loft ?

Because if it starts sparking or bursts into flame then you won't notice as quickly. And there's often plenty of combustible material in the loft. Think what might happen if some insects got stuck in the fans causing the box to overheat.

ChocolateStarfishRammer · 22 Jul 2015 at 15:16

Quartz said:
Randall8686 said:

how is it any more of a fire risk in my loft ?

Because if it starts sparking or bursts into flame then you won't notice as quickly. And there's often plenty of combustible material in the loft. Think what might happen if some insects got stuck in the fans causing the box to overheat.

Click to expand...

No different to it being anywhere else in the house.

paranoid.

Randall8686 · 22 Jul 2015 at 16:11

ChocolateStarfishRammer said:
Quartz said:

No different to it being anywhere else in the house.

paranoid.

Click to expand...

Have to agree if its in my office at home now like my microserver is now and starts sparking and catches fire then the result will be the same. Ultimately anywhere in the house is just as bad.

However thankfully due to IEC60950 standards and UL60950 plastics have to be self extinguishing and PCB's are not aloud to combust at temperatures caused by component failures so the chances of a fire caused by ITE equipment is very very low indeed. However i do not want to push my luck so i do put it on a metal shelf. However there is a lot more chance of your mobile phone charger or internet modem catching fire and causing a house fire. Infact most power supplies supplied with devices such as modems and sky box's etc only have self deceleration CE on them and not 3rd party certification that covers follow up inspections on manufacturing practices.

Quartz · 22 Jul 2015 at 16:52

Randall8686 said:
Have to agree if its in my office at home now like my microserver is now and starts sparking and catches fire then the result will be the same. Ultimately anywhere in the house is just as bad.

I disagree. I have fire extinguishers (one CO2, one powder) within easy reach and could rush to any fire starting in any room; getting to a fire starting in a loft before it takes hold would be far more difficult even if I could detect it.

Do you even have a smoke detector there?

Randall8686 · 22 Jul 2015 at 19:19

Quartz said:
I disagree. I have fire extinguishers (one CO2, one powder) within easy reach and could rush to any fire starting in any room; getting to a fire starting in a loft before it takes hold would be far more difficult even if I could detect it.

Do you even have a smoke detector there?

Yes i do, A nest one to be exact so all my fire alarms shout where the fire is too, This is because i store Lithium batteries for another hobby. However if the fire starts whilst im out the house by the time next texts me the house is already burnt down so how is that going to help ? what use is your fire extinguisher when your in town or at work ? my server is on 24/7.

Back on topic i have purchased the Lenovo thinkserver

got it for £234 and even used top cashback for a little extra too

Model:

Lenovo ThinkServer TS140 4GB Xeon E3-1226 v3 3.3GHz 1TB HDD Tower Server