Remote Gaming Client/Server

[TeeJayHoward]

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
This will be a rackmounted server which will have 2-3 people connected to it via their laptops over an existing LAN. They will play games that will not work on their laptops via the hardware on the server. HDX, RemoteFX/HyperV, and PCoIP are the technologies we're looking at, but I am open to other suggestions. Desktop clients are not an option due to our limited living area. I would like to be able to play the latest and greatest at medium settings. Battlefield 3, Final Fantasy XIV, Rift, Dirt 3, etc.
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
Budget is fairly fluid, but I'm estimating ~$4000 including tax/shipping.
3) Where do you live?
Colorado Springs, CO
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
Chassis (I'm partial to SuperMicro and redundant PSUs), CPU, GPUs, Memory (prefer ECC Registered), Motherboard, SSD(s), PSU (if not included in chassis), Server OS/Client OS (via TechNet?), and anything I've forgotten.
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
I will be using my existing rack, UPS, monitor/keyboard/mouse/external-DVD (for install), and network. (Gigabit)
6) Will you be overclocking?
No. Stability and data integrity are more important to me than overall speed. I'd rather pay more for a chip that is capable of doing that speed at stock settings.
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
The laptops have a 15" screen, estimate 1280x1024 video being sent over the LAN
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Depends on when the technology becomes what I need it to be - I want the client laptops to be able to run the latest and greatest at speeds within 75% of the server's native hardware. To date, I've not seen any native-vs-virtualized graphics benchmarks. If it's capable now, I'd probably be purchasing within the next few months.
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? etc.
IPMI would be nice. Aside from that, as long as it meets the requirements (SLAT/RVI/VT-d/whatever), I'm golden.
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If so, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
Two of the laptops currently have Win7 64-bit. The third laptop is running Windows XP, and requires an upgrade. It is 64-bit compatible and meets Win7's minimum requirements. My only Windows-based Server OS right now is 2008, but it's not R2, so I'll need a copy of that, too. Probably via TechNet, as that would allow for additional client licenses as well - The VMs have to run something, right?

 

[xBanzai89]

Just curious on the "limited living area". How are you setting the 3 people up to play these games. Is it in the living room on a coach or a room that is a office? if it is a office room that is small and you do not want a bunch of towers did you look into mini-itx gaming setup (wicked small form factor)?

 

[Dangman]

Any chance that you can hold off a few more months for Ivy Bridge and socket 2011 CPUs to hit the market? BF3 is gonna require a lot of CPU horsepower. And since there's a possibility of three people playing BF3 at the same time, I recommend getting as many CPU cores as possible.

Also, did you want to go with the list of supported RemoteFX GPUs or are you willing to be a guinea pig and try regular consumer cards with RemoteFX?

 

[TeeJayHoward]

Just curious on the "limited living area". How are you setting the 3 people up to play these games. Is it in the living room on a coach or a room that is a office? if it is a office room that is small and you do not want a bunch of towers did you look into mini-itx gaming setup (wicked small form factor)?

Couch and beds will be the seating area - Fiancee's reclaiming our table for something called "dining". I don't understand it, but apparently it's important.

Any chance that you can hold off a few more months for Ivy Bridge and socket 2011 CPUs to hit the market?

Sure can. Bulldozer vs. Ivy Bridge... Although given the need for clock speed, I have a feeling Ivy Bridge is going to be the winner for my application.

Also, did you want to go with the list of supported RemoteFX GPUs or are you willing to be a guinea pig and try regular consumer cards with RemoteFX?

My budget is fluid, but not THAT fluid. Definitely going to need to go with consumer-grade cards. The professional stuff costs as much as a server for a single card!

 

[Dangman]

Sure can. Bulldozer vs. Ivy Bridge... Although given the need for clock speed, I have a feeling Ivy Bridge is going to be the winner for my application.

It may not be depending on its actual release date. It seems that the release date is rumored to be late 2011 to early 2012.

My budget is fluid, but not THAT fluid. Definitely going to need to go with consumer-grade cards. The professional stuff costs as much as a server for a single card!

Ok then.