building a Windows Home Server

[Caladin2]

I am looking to setup a "Windows Home Server" for storing all my digital media (MP3, AVI, and JPG) and saving images of my 3 other pcs. This Pc will be hooked up on my network and will have a secondary function of pushing media to my xbox. Im looking to save money and go with will work best for overall. This PC will not be used for gaming or number crunching.. purely a media server.

Here is what I go so far...


Windows Home Server

+++++

CPU:


MotherBoard:


Case:
Rosewill R102-P-BK 120mm Fan MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $20


Memory:
4GB ?


Hardrive:
(5) 7200.11 1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s Harddrive $100 - $125


PowerSupply:


Video Card:


Extra:
Scythe SCY-HDS2 "Anti-Vibration HDD Stabilizer 2" for 3.5" HDD - Retail $9
(2) Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120mm Case Fan - Retail $16

 

[JackMDS]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813153133

It take one stick of 2GB RAM which is more than really needed.

No need for Video Card.

Simple 150-200 Watt PSU would do.

OS, http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16832116550

http://www.ezlan.net/WHS.html

 

[Knavish]

I don't have a WHS myself, but I've been reading the threads. Most WHS people seem to run on WAY less than 4GB of memory. Quite a few report no slowdowns with 512MB. I'd say just get 2GB and save a few bucks.

Similarly, WHS doesn't need much CPU horsepower. Since this is a server (that will most likely be on all day) you might as well get a lower power consumption CPU & make it more environmentally friendly. Some people have used the Intel Atom for WHS, but you'll probably want something bigger because it could be difficult to get an Atom board to support 5 SATA drives. I'd suggest a low power dual core AMD, perhaps the 45 Watt X2 5050e or an intel equivalent. Definitely get a mobo with integrated graphics.

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...E16819103298&Tpk=5050e ($62)
Example Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813138105 ($74)

I don't really know anything about that motherboard, it's just an example with integrated graphics and 6 SATA ports. You might want to read up in the motherboard forum to see what people's favorite brand is for a low cost AMD CPU.

 

[Knavish]

FYI, when you're using 5x SATA drives you'll probably want something bigger than a 150-200W PSU. The drives will pull less than 10W when idling, but they can apparently pull up to 30W a piece when starting up. For a low power CPU and 5 SATA drives, I'd recommend a 200-250W PSU to be safe.

 

[fyleow]

..

 

[LeonarD26]

Here's the build I put together just a few weeks ago:

GIGABYTE GA-MA74GM-S2 AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
AMD Athlon X2 4850e 2.5GHz Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core Processor
Kingston 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory
Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EADS 1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

 

[JackMDS]

If the five near the drive means 5 drives than ignore my Mobo recommendation.

As is, it supports only 2 drives.

 

[Knavish]

Originally posted by: fyleow
Definitely go with an AMD dual core with a cheap motherboard. I don't think it's worth getting the atom board unless low power or space is a priority. You'll end up paying more for less performance.

Do you have a link that shows a hard drive uses 30W? Even the most power hungry old 10,000 PRM raptors used only <13W under full load.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article904-page2.html

I saw this one...don't know if it's reliable
http://ixbtlabs.com/articles2/storage/hddpower.html


Better info....from WD's website (in Watts)
Caviar Black 1TB -- 8.4 for R/W, 7.8 for idle
Caviar Green 1TB -- 6.0 for R/W, 3.7 for idle
VelociRaptor 300GB -- 6.1 for R/w, 4.5 for idle
---
Seagate Cheetah 15.5k 300GB -- ~18 for R/W, 13 for idle

No one really mentions startup power requirements. I'm sure these are very transient, but I'd be surprised if the drives didn't pull extra current when they're initially spinning up. (I always assumed that's why lots of big RAID servers spin up their drives sequentially instead of turning them all on in parallel.)

 

[Caladin2]

WOW! Thanks for all the replies...

Ok so how does this look. All from Newegg. Agree 4 is as cheap as 2 so.. Not sure about what brand or model of harddrive. Want relibilty but like the green powersaving idea.

CPU:
AMD Athlon X2 4850e 2.5GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core Processor - Retail $55


MotherBoard:
GIGABYTE GA-MA74GM-S2 AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $55


Case:
Rosewill R102-P-BK 120mm Fan MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $20


Memory:
CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail $45 ($20)


Hardrive:
(5) 7200.11 1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s Harddrive $100 {5TB}
Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EADS 1TB 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM {Option 1}
Seagate drive (Option 2)



PowerSupply:
SeaSonic SS-300ES 300W ATX12V Ver.2.2 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - OEM $38


Extra:
Scythe SCY-HDS2 "Anti-Vibration HDD Stabilizer 2" for 3.5" HDD - Retail $9
(2) Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120mm Case Fan - Retail $16

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Originally posted by: Caladin2
WOW! Thanks for all the replies...

Ok so how does this look. All from Newegg. Agree 4 is as cheap as 2 so.. Not sure about what brand or model of harddrive. Want relibilty but like the green powersaving idea.

CPU:
AMD Athlon X2 4850e 2.5GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core Processor - Retail $55


MotherBoard:
GIGABYTE GA-MA74GM-S2 AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $55


Case:
Rosewill R102-P-BK 120mm Fan MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $20


Memory:
CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail $45 ($20)


Hardrive:
(5) 7200.11 1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s Harddrive $100 {5TB}
Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EADS 1TB 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM {Option 1}
Seagate drive (Option 2)



PowerSupply:
SeaSonic SS-300ES 300W ATX12V Ver.2.2 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - OEM $38


Extra:
Scythe SCY-HDS2 "Anti-Vibration HDD Stabilizer 2" for 3.5" HDD - Retail $9
(2) Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120mm Case Fan - Retail $16

Don't get the Seagates, the WD10EADS is a very reliable drive, can't say the same for Seagate (recently, former Seagate fanboy). Going to second everyone else and say you don't need 4GB of RAM, but it is only $20 after rebate.

I still think 300W is cutting it close with 5 hard drives. Stay on the safe side and get some extra juice: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817703018 . Ever hear of a computer failing because it had unused power? How about underpowered?

30W * 5 = 150. +50 for your processor leaves you with very little leeway. Power supplies run most efficiently close to 50% load anyways, you might even save some money. Besides, these PCP&P PSUs have 5 year warranties.

 

[Knavish]

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
I still think 300W is cutting it close with 5 hard drives. Stay on the safe side and get some extra juice: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817703018 . Ever hear of a computer failing because it had unused power? How about underpowered?

30W * 5 = 150. +50 for your processor leaves you with very little leeway. Power supplies run most efficiently close to 50% load anyways, you might even save some money. Besides, these PCP&P PSUs have 5 year warranties.

I'd bet that normal load on his PSU would be closer to:

CPU+Mobo = 45 Watts
HDs = 5x8 Watts = 40 Watts
---------------------------------
Total = approx 100 Watts


When you start the system, there's *some* evidence that the HDs may spike total power consumption up to ~200 Watts. I think running a 150 watt PSU would be a bit risky, but a 300 would be just fine.

Also, like you said, you want to keep the PSU load up around 50% for maximum efficiency -- I just think the 370 might be a bit much. If the 370 was a higher quality PSU, though, it's probably worth it. You definitely want a high quality psu in any system you build.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

My WHS box is running on a an Asus P5E-VM HDMI mobo with a E2140 and 4gb of RAM. I believe it is running on a Earthwatts 460w PSU--something around there, and haven't had any trouble running all 10 750gb hard drives on the Areca 1220 controller. Kind of a waste of the controller, actually, but oh well. It's working good for now, so I'll let it be. Eventually I need to get a cheaper card in there, and put the Areca in my gaming machine.

EDIT: pics. That mobo looks so funny in that case.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: Knavish
I'd bet that normal load on his PSU would be closer to:

CPU+Mobo = 45 Watts
HDs = 5x8 Watts = 40 Watts
---------------------------------
Total = approx 100 Watts

Some SATA controllers will allow delayed spinup of the various drives.

My first WHS box had four hard drives (both IDE and SATA). During drive balancing, it drew a measured 60 watts total with an E4300 CPU. I don't know what the initial spinup power was, but my 350 Watt Antec supply had no issues with it.

My other WHS box was a MSI Wind barebones box (Atom processor). It has a 60 Watt power supply. The motherboard/CPU supposedly draws about 30 Watts, and the total power consumption (measured) with the 640 GB hard drive was about the same (30 Watts).

 

[Caladin2]

One last question...

Was going to use another pc but a post I saw got me wondering. Do you see a potential issue with putting VMware on this machine with WHS and running Astaro as a Virtual Machine?

Thanks!

 

[somethingsketchy]

I wouldn't recommend it. WHS is meant to serve files and media. Not run a VM which requires a little more beefier CPU, depending on the application(s) of the VM. Just stick to one purpose for the WHS build and you will not have any problems.

 

[JackMDS]

It is Not clear what your plan is, maybe this can help.

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...283115&highlight_key=y

Look for a post on the Hyper-V by RebateMonger.

 

[Maverick]

I'd go with 2GB of ram. Also make sure your case can handle the 5 hard drives. One thing that many don't realize is that spinning drives create a lot of heat. Even if you have the slots for it, the heat generated might become an issue. Especially if you're throwing your server into a closet or something. I'm quickly outgrowing my MicroATX case for my WHS because of that very issue.

You might need to make room for a mid tower to get adequate cooling for all your drives.

 

[boomhower]

You build is a bit overkill but its not exactly expensive so who cares. The CPU is overkill, so is the ram. I pieced one together around Christmas with a Foxconn 780G mobo I got for ~$60, LE-1150 for $20 on black friday, used 2x512MB of memory left over from a Dell upgrade, and 2x1.5TB Seagates. Housed in an NZXT Rogue left over from an old build. I can max out my gigabit connection during read and writes.(hence higher end hardware isn't going to get you anything)

 

[Caladin2]

This was my final build


CPU:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5050e Brisbane 2.6GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core Processor $65


MotherBoard:
GIGABYTE GA-MA74GM-S2 AM2+/AM2 AMD 740G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $55


Case:
Rosewill R102-P-BK 120mm Fan MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $25


Memory:
CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail $50 ($25)


Hardrive:
(6) Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EADS 1TB 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $99 each


PowerSupply:
CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail - OEM $60 ($40)

 

[JackMDS]

Beside a waste of 2GB of RAM it is good choices.