Spec me: Low power, home server

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Deleted User 298457

Deleted User 298457

I currently run an Intel Pentium E5200 - and was surprised to learn it uses a hell of a lot of power (169w idle, 216w under load) - and is also slow as hell.

I am looking therefore to build a new home server, with a more server grade orientation - possibly running a VM of PFsense so I can retire my router as well.

What do people recommend? Will an Intel atom have the grunt? This server struggles streaming HD content (gigabit network) and transcoding on the fly.

Any help appreciated, as always.
 
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Would a HP Microserver fit the bill??

Some people have said it's no good with VM's but as it's only Pfsense I'm sure that wont tax it much (assuming your not doing 100Mb of VPN that is!!)
 
HP Microserver is less powerful than what I have now.

I am considering something like an Intel G620?
 
There doesn't seem to be a Pentium E5100 - there is a Pentium E5200, however, which is what I assume you meant? Both the E5200 and G620 are 65w CPUs, so you probably won't see much power saving. The G620T is rated at 35w, doesn't cost much more than the G620, and would probably yield more of a power saving.
 
Sorry, updated Op.

It seems I may have took an all guns blazing approach to this, and I wouldn't be able to recoup any benefits from upgrading.

I may just throw some extra RAM in and change the system drive to a smaller disk, or even an SSD.
 
Ah, I missed the bit about your system struggling with transcoding media. I'm assuming that the CPU is the bottleneck, in which case I'm not sure if a G620T will be up to the job, either. An i3-2100T (or a i3-2120T if you can source one) might be a better choice; it's still a 35w CPU but with quite a bit more power than a G620. You'd still see some power savings over your E5200, too.
 
CPU may be the bottleneck, but in all fairness a dual core E5200 should still cope.

Maybe the lack of RAM is what's killing it - I believe it had 2 gb, but it's only showing up as 1gb. A stick may have failed or come lose.

The PS3 Media Server and Serviio both use Java which is pretty intensive so maybe why.
 
I've got a C2D E6320 and 4gb ram and can stream 1080p films transcoded on the fly, but it does sup some electric I think. Never really measured it but since taking the 7800gtx out it's cut down on how much elec is used.
 
dLockers said:
I currently run an Intel Pentium E5200 - and was surprised to learn it uses a hell of a lot of power (169w idle, 216w under load) - and is also slow as hell.
Click to expand...

An E5200 shouldn't use that much power, unless you have a beefy GPU too? I set up a few HTPCs a year or two ago with an E5200 and a GA-E7AUM-DS2H board - with a cheapo fairly accurate watt meter it was taking a max of around 45 watts from the wall, maybe a bit less - I can't remember exactly, but certainly less than 50.

If your power supply is old, then old PSUs can become very inefficient over time - this could be a sign that it's dying.
 
mrbell1984 said:
You missed this thread then?

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18216324
Click to expand...

You missed the posts above?


smargh said:
An E5200 shouldn't use that much power, unless you have a beefy GPU too? I set up a few HTPCs a year or two ago with an E5200 and a GA-E7AUM-DS2H board - with a cheapo fairly accurate watt meter it was taking a max of around 45 watts from the wall, maybe a bit less - I can't remember exactly, but certainly less than 50.

If your power supply is old, then old PSUs can become very inefficient over time - this could be a sign that it's dying.
Click to expand...


It's an E5200 (although CPUZ shows it as a Xeon??), with 2GB DDR3 (which windows registers as 1gb..??) and 6 1TB HDD's. I'm not 100% it's taking that power, it's just that is what I have seen on review websites for this particular chip.

If it's less than 50 I am happy, and will just work on swapping out the faulty drives (2 have bad sector warnings through SMART) and putting another stick of RAM in. The mobo isn't really made for this purpose and the SATA card im using I bought for flashing xbox drives so may not be that great either.
 
Odd. I can't comment on power because I've never monitored it but usually low heat means low power and my E5200 in my media PC runs very cool.
 
I have a more sensible home server in the attic, lol.

Those HP's draw so much power and noise that I am looking to get shot of them!

Home server I may bite the bullet and build a new rig in the future, or at least change the hard drives to 3tb drives now that they're coming down in price (3tb 7200rpm seagates seem good value)
 
If you go for a complete new home build ... I would contemplate a i3-21XX based system. Appears to be a balance between power and effiency.

A couple of pages back.. RimBlock has outlined several good builds based on this chip for Home Servers.

Might be worth having a dig and seeing what you think ?

:)
 
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