Gaming server build

[TripperJoe]

Bandwidth is being taken care of. What the concern is right now is hardware. I've built plenty of desktops in my time, but nary a server. I have very limited knowledge of the differences in part selection.

I guess my questions are about where to spend the money if it's a gaming server. What are the bottlenecks? It will be used for HLDS for day of defeat and hopefully source engine stuff too.

CPU? (intel vs amd, dual?)
RAM? (1gb vs 2gb, ECC?)
STORAGE? (scsi vs sata, raid 0, 1, 5?)

Anyway, I could use suggestions. Thanks!

 

[stelleg151]

I am interested in this as well, as I am hoping to do the same someday.

 

[TripperJoe]

anybody?

 

[bluestrobe]

I'm building one centering on a 2.8ghz P4 533mhz FSB VID. People have always told me Intel based dual processor rigs are the way to go. I don't see how since most gaming code can't utilize dual processors. I would go with a basicly workstation setup if I had the money using a processor with a lot of cache and about 1GB of dual channel ram and reliable NIC hooked to a rock solid network. I seen too many build a decent system then run it on cheap run down packet dropping switches and frayed cables.

edit: Just look at any webserver, since a gaming server does kind of the same thing.

 

[TripperJoe]

So is processing power and cache the big things to look for? Storage isn't as important?

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: TripperJoe
So is processing power and cache the big things to look for? Storage isn't as important?

You certainly dont need some crazy RAID setup or even SCSI..a good 7200RPM 8mb cache IDE drive would work..or you could get a raptor.

 

[bluestrobe]

Hard drives access times aren't important as you only can go as fast as your net connection. An IDE 8mb Cache drive will be plenty.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: bluestrobe
I'm building one centering on a 2.8ghz P4 533mhz FSB VID. People have always told me Intel based dual processor rigs are the way to go. I don't see how since most gaming code can't utilize dual processors.

Because there is usually more running than just the game.

 

[bluestrobe]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: bluestrobe
I'm building one centering on a 2.8ghz P4 533mhz FSB VID. People have always told me Intel based dual processor rigs are the way to go. I don't see how since most gaming code can't utilize dual processors.

Because there is usually more running than just the game.

I run 2 dual rigs and hardly noticed both processors going above 50%. If they do, its a spike and they bounce back down to 50%. In my experience, True dual processor rigs only meet thier full potnetial when used with software designed for them.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: bluestrobe

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: bluestrobe
I'm building one centering on a 2.8ghz P4 533mhz FSB VID. People have always told me Intel based dual processor rigs are the way to go. I don't see how since most gaming code can't utilize dual processors.

Because there is usually more running than just the game.

I run 2 dual rigs and hardly noticed both processors going above 50%. If they do, its a spike and they bounce back down to 50%. In my experience, True dual processor rigs only meet thier full potnetial when used with software designed for them.

I max my two out easily with multiple processes.

 

[bluestrobe]

Wierd. I have mine setup as servers and both run F@H and one is an ftp server and the other is a processing/raring/LAN file sharing rig. I've seen each one up to 100% on both processors maybe once or twice.

 

[TripperJoe]

so if it's purely a gaming server (no other significant processes running), I really only need the single cpu?

something like this would suffice?
A64 3000+
1gb value ram
7200 8mb cache HDD
cheap video
stable MB

Do I need to worry about ECC ram? And is there any reason to go P4 over A64 as the latter is cheaper...