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Building a SFF Server for Work need suggestions

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Darkamek

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 2, 2007
Messages
154
I'm building a SFF pc for work soon again and need suggestions on motherboards and whether that a quad core 2 would be better or phenom quad core processor. The last server I built was using the gigabyte GA-G33M-DS2R 775 motherboard and worked quite well.

Here are the specs so far I'm planning to go with.

Corsair HX620 power supply
PC Design Lab Case
4gb of crucial ram
2x Raptor 300gb drives running in raid
1x 500gb WD drive for the OS
2 external backup drives

This just leaves what motherboard and processor to use anyone have any suggestions? This computer is being used at a veterinary clinic and will be networked with 2 other computers.
 
What exactly what will you be doing with this system?
 
The computer will be running xp and running microsoft server 2005 and the veterinary software it will be running is called Impromed Infinity. The server is used as a work station and is also networked to two other computers.
 
Darkamek said:
The computer will be running xp and running microsoft server 2005 and the veterinary software it will be running is called Impromed Infinity. The server is used as a work station and is also networked to two other computers.
Click to expand...

Just noticed something about your system: Why are you using the WD 500GB as your OS drive, not the 300GB Raptor drives in RAID0?

But in case the 300GB RAID0 serves a special purpose not related to the OS, I recommend swapping out the more than likely slow WD 500GB for the faster WD6400AAKS drives:
$70 - Western Digital WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$80 - Western Digital WD6401AALS 640GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

As for your CPU and mobo, it's pretty much a tossup between a C2Q and Phenom II setup in terms of performance. Some example setups:
$285 - AMD Phenom II X4 940 CPU and GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-US2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard Combo

$220 - Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 CPU
$119 - Asus P5Q-VM G45 mATX Intel Motherboard
----
Total: $339 plus tax and shipping
 
Darkamek said:
I'm building a SFF pc for work soon again and need suggestions on motherboards and whether that a quad core 2 would be better or phenom quad core processor. The last server I built was using the gigabyte GA-G33M-DS2R 775 motherboard and worked quite well.

Here are the specs so far I'm planning to go with.

Corsair HX620 power supply
PC Design Lab Case
4gb of crucial ram
2x Raptor 300gb drives running in raid
1x 500gb WD drive for the OS
2 external backup drives

This just leaves what motherboard and processor to use anyone have any suggestions? This computer is being used at a veterinary clinic and will be networked with 2 other computers.
Click to expand...

For the mobo, you could use a P5Q-EM or EG45M-DS2H as they have a ICH10R.
Dunno about the CPU but you probably won't need something super powerful.

One thing: your PSU doesn't make any sense. You are not running a high-end graphics card so you'll never be pulling more than 150W more or less. You should aim for a 400W (or less) high efficiency PSU. I know there is a good seasonic in the 300W range, or you can choose a Corsair (if that's your preferred brand) 400CX, 450VX or 400HX. Dunno if modularity is a requirement, but if it is, there is a Enermax Modu82+ 425W if I'm not mistaken. They are even better than Corsair (higher efficiency, quieter and modular Enermax PSUs have more SATA ports than their Corsair HX counterparts). But even then, 425W would probably be too much. You'll want your peak usage to be in the 50-75% usage band. An Antec Earthwatts 380W could do, even.
 
yeah, for psu anything over 420-450W is an overkill for your setup
 
JonTa said:
yeah, for psu anything over 420-450W is an overkill for your setup
Click to expand...

It's more than overkill, it's not very wise: below 20% usage (where this setup would be with a HX620) efficiency is way below 80% so you pull more from the wall socket. I personally think that a Seasonic 330W would be enough. Dunno about its efficiency though. There was an article recently on Tom's that for once made the effort to stress this:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-2-q9550s,2162-8.html
 
Yeah I understand it would be overkill. I will go with something smaller and modular, probably the Enermax Modu82+ 425W.

The raid will be a raid 1 for the server information, although I could just make the operating system part of the raid.
 
For the mobo I'd be more inclined towards an Intel chipset as their RAID is (supposedly) better (P5Q-EM from Asus. There is a new Gigabyte mATX G45 board coming out: the EG45M-UD2H, even though the DS2H should be enough for your needs as the limited PCIE slot won't really matter in your case). Coupled with a cheap quad like the Q6600 (if you can find one) or a Q8200 to Q9400 that should be more than enough.
 
One question do you think software raid is good enough or would you suggest a raid card?
 
Darkamek said:
One question do you think software raid is good enough or would you suggest a raid card?
Click to expand...

For RAID 0 and 1, no need for a true hardware RAID card.

Keep the OS off the RAID array and vice versa. That way should you have any troubles with the OS, it's all kept on the OS drive and not the RAID array where data is being stored. So I recommend getting a 3rd drive for the OS. The WD 640GB is still a good choice for the OS drive.

Oh and none of your links work
 
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