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Low wattage server (1220L)

P

plodgy

n00b
Joined
Mar 11, 2012
Messages
8
Hello,

I'm looking to build a system that will be on 24/7, hosting a game server and more. The system has to have a low current draw. I'm interested in the 1220L Xeon processor because it has a low TDP. I'm lead to believe this processor is similar to the 2100t (I do not want on board graphics.)

I plan to build the server, set up VNC/RDC and then take out the graphics card. Onboard graphics just means the system is drawing more current than need be. I've read that certain motherboards will fail POST if there's no graphics card. Is this the case for many of the 1155 motherboards?

I like the mini itx form factor, but if there's something bigger that does what I want, I will be more than happy. I'm mostly interested in finding a motherboard that will POST without a graphics card, something suitable for that particular processor. Are any particular brands of motherboards known to be more or less efficient than others? When I've found the answers to those questions, I'll elaborate more on what I'm trying to achieve with the server, but for now I'm really just interested in finding out a way to get the server running with the graphics card removed.

I am located in the UK, so please suggest things available to this area.
 
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Im not sure you will be able to post without a Decidated GPU or integrated GPU (mobo or cpu based), a lot of the server mobos come with an integrated GPU on the mobo, thats the way my supermicro works, but idk check your os and mobo of choice to see if you can post without a gpu.
 
This server board http://ark.intel.com/products/60637/Intel-Server-Board-S1200KP?wapkw=dbs1200kp doesn't have integrated graphics if the CPU doesn't support it. So I assume this would use less watts than a system that had a completely on-board graphics chip?

So I am interested in that board, and I'd also like to know if a non server board would work? If so, I am interested in this one http://uk.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_1155/P8H67I_PRO/#overview

Do you know how many watts a board with built in graphics would consume, in comparison to one without?
 
plodgy said:
I plan to build the server, set up VNC/RDC and then take out the graphics card. Onboard graphics just means the system is drawing more current than need be.
Click to expand...
Than need be? If the system needs that power to power the onboard graphics, it counts as needed power. Not to mention that the power usage of the onboard graphics isn't that much.
plodgy said:
I've read that certain motherboards will fail POST if there's no graphics card. Is this the case for many of the 1155 motherboards?
Click to expand...
Probably is. To be honest though, you probably won't find too much info on this unless someone has actually gone out and try to boot a particular motherboard without the onboard graphics or dedicated graphics. Considering that there are 200+ LGA 1155 motherboards out there, good luck trying to find one that boots without onboard graphics. And we're not even talking about mobos that supports that CPU. Speaking of which...
plodgy said:
I like the mini itx form factor, but if there's something bigger that does what I want, I will be more than happy.
Click to expand...
If you want a higher chance of official support for that CPU, you're basically looking at server class motherboards. The only mITX server class motherboard that does exists does not support that CPU. Here's a list of some of the available socket LGA 1155 server class motherboards out there:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...SpeTabStoreType=&AdvancedSearch=1&srchInDesc=

Basically, look through the CPU support lists of those motherboards, see which ones don't have onboard video, and there's a good chance it'll boot without dedicated graphics from those two pieces of information.
 
When I said "than need be", I mean for what I need. I don't need on-board graphics. I just need graphics to set the system up, and then I can take the card out. Also, if I am going to get a server motherboard with onboard graphics, I might as well just get the i3 and a regular motherboard instead? Or do the server onboard graphics draw less current?

I've read that the Intel® Server Board S1200KP will post without a graphics card, but it will give a beep/light. This isn't a particular problem, but the 1220L isn't in the supported list, even though the 1220 is.

Thanks for the link, I'll look through those.

Do you think I am being realistic in trying to get a system to run with 10-20watts, idle (no hdd's)?
 
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plodgy said:
Also, if I am going to get a server motherboard with onboard graphics, I might as well just get the i3 and a regular motherboard instead? Or do the server onboard graphics draw less current?
Click to expand...
Probably about the same.

plodgy said:
Do you think I am being realistic in trying to get a system to run with 10-20watts, idle (no hdd's)?
Click to expand...
It's realistic if you're using Intel Atom or AMD's Zacate platforms. But for a regular platform? Not realistic at all IMO.
 
Damn, I was hoping it was. I've seen the i3 2120T run at 17 watts (measured with a kill-a-watt). So I was hoping I could get a bit less if I didn't have any form of onboard graphics. I'm not sure what these boards use though... Unfortunately there's not much information regarding the 1220L. It has a TDP of 20w as opposed to 35w with the 2120T.

Is there a way to find out what the current draw of the on board graphics is with a server motherboard?
 
Just curious, is there a reason it needs to be so low powered? I mean, is electricity super expensive in your area or are you just trying to see how low the power can go? If you want something super low power I'd recommend just getting a regular I3 and associated motherboard, just get an I3, from what I can see most of them are rated at 35 watts anyways.

At that low of wattage you're more PSU reliant than total-system reliant anyways imo. I have an e6850 (old gaming processor) with a TDP of 65 watts that's running with 2 hard drives and 3 PCI cards + an nvidia gt 430 and it draws less than 60 watts idle with its new psu. With the old one it was drawing ~110, so it got cut in half almost just from a better quality PSU that was more appropriately rated.

Edit: Just for the record, I don't think that integrated graphics are going to draw that much power at all, especially with the system mostly having them turned off anyways (since you're going to be running headless it sounds like).
 
Electricity is super expensive, and I am trying to see how low I can get without having a ridiculously low performance machine (hobby/project).

I feel like the 1220L is exactly what I want, but there seems to be millions of different motherboards, and very little factual information with any of them. I am guessing the CPU will idle at around 10watts. So at the moment, the only thing bothering me is the motherboard and as you just said, the power supply. If the graphics (that I don't need) is using 4watts, it's quite a high figure as a percentage of the system.

A laptop processor would probably work fine, but obtaining one of them is more difficult than getting the xeon processor.
 
plodgy said:
Damn, I was hoping it was. I've seen the i3 2120T run at 17 watts (measured with a kill-a-watt).
Click to expand...
Do note that KAW can be incredibly inaccurate sometimes: Here's Paul Johnson's post, PSU reviewer of HardOCP.com, about the inaccuracy of the Kill-A-Watt:
http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1032190998&postcount=7

So anytime you see KAW figures, take them with a grain of salt.

plodgy said:
Unfortunately there's not much information regarding the 1220L.
Click to expand...
Considering that it was an OEM only CPU, not surprised about that.
plodgy said:
Is there a way to find out what the current draw of the on board graphics is with a server motherboard?
Click to expand...
Not really AFAIK.
 
I'm not really sure how inaccurate it would be at these wattages. Hmm...

I've looked at another motherboard, it has been reviewed here http://www.missingremote.com/review/intel-core-i3-2100t-and-bh67cf-mini-itx-motherboard The Intel DH67CF supports the 1220L. The only thing I cannot seem to discover is whether it will boot without a graphics card... If it will work, it looks like it's the best motherboard for what I want, though it perhaps doesn't support some of the virtual technologies of the server boards.
 
According to Intel's page for that motherboard, "Add-in graphics card required" for the E1220L

You might want to just contact Intel directly and see what they have to say.
 
plodgy said:
Electricity is super expensive, and I am trying to see how low I can get without having a ridiculously low performance machine (hobby/project).

I feel like the 1220L is exactly what I want, but there seems to be millions of different motherboards, and very little factual information with any of them. I am guessing the CPU will idle at around 10watts. So at the moment, the only thing bothering me is the motherboard and as you just said, the power supply. If the graphics (that I don't need) is using 4watts, it's quite a high figure as a percentage of the system.

A laptop processor would probably work fine, but obtaining one of them is more difficult than getting the xeon processor.
Click to expand...

When i was planning my server i also consider and wanted the 1220L, but the price was ultra high, even more expensive than E3 1230, which was a quad core with similar cpu power of a 2500 with hyperthreading, at the ends i decided that i would also transcode on the fly.... i kinda hope still havent found time to set it up, so i went with 1230. One thing to note is that all Sandy Bridge CPU lower their clock in idle to 1600mhz, that i seen in all my builds, not sure about the celerons or pentiums but i think they are the same, my guess is that 1220L will have also the same clocks, and i expect very similar consumption at idle than a i3 2100T, you will probably see less on load with both cores active, and probrably a little more with single threaded if turbo is active... this are just guess on my part so take with a grain of salt.

Overall i think you wont see much difference in power consumption, not enough imo to justify a $100 difference between a 2100 and 1220L, and you still have the lower celerons like G530 that sells for $60, which would put the 1220L at $150 over, it would be very hard to make up this kind of difference in electric bill even over years, considering all will idle at very similar clocks and guessing very similar consumption. My i3 2100T build idles at 14W (no perif attached), lower than that i think you need to into atoms and sacrifice performance, but i think it will be hard to gain much. I would probably wait for ivy bridge dual cores, or pentiums, but might be a while....
 
Thanks for the information, and I looked over that thread. It looks like a nice build you've made. I just assumed I could shave off a few watts from idle, as the 1220l doesn't have built in graphics. I realise the few watts saved wouldn't be that productive, but it's something I'd like to achieve anyway. Just to see how low I can go.

I will try and contact intel and see what they say. Usually it's hard getting through to big companies.
 
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