Need a low power plex / file server build.

[Compman55]

Roles: File server, plex server, host of a ubiquity NVR with 2 cameras, and a ubiquity UNIFI controller.

Right now if you look at my server config in my signature, I checked it on my Kill-a-watt meter and it idles at 51.3 watts. Should the RAID 1 need to resync and my CPU needs to do plex transcoding, the power goes up to 73 watts. Is there a newer motherboard / cpu combo that would be more efficient?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Not really. The main power draw there are the 5 HDDs you've got. (Exact draw depends on model, and new drives are more power efficient than old ones. But I'd still figure ~7w per 3.5" spinner on average, and 1-2w per 2.5" HDD. The server in my sig pulls about 85w when it's not doing anything, over 100w under fairly heavy load.)

Consolidating on a smaller number of physical disks (2x 8TB) and replacing your OS drive with an SSD would lower your power usage a bit, I suppose.

Check out the Intel Power Gadget to check out your CPU power use. My bet is that even though you have a "55w" TDP CPU, you're using something like 8w at idle and ~30w at load. A newer gen (Skylake or whatever Lake/Well is current now) CPU may drop that idle number by a watt or three, but the load number will likely stay about the same.

You could also look into a replacement power supply. If your PSU is a big/cheap/older one, it might only be like 70-80% efficient at <100w load. Getting a platinum+ unit that's >90% efficient at the same load would drop your power use quite a bit.

edit: worth pointing out that in general, it's not worth the $$ to upgrade a system just to make it more power efficient, unless you were buying a new rig anyways.

 

[Compman55]

bummer.......

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Well, you could get one of those integrated Atom boards - it would probably save you 5w at idle and 20w at load. But your CPU performance would drop through the floor. I wouldn't do that.

 

[XavierMace]

Even at 73w, that's like $80/yr in electricity. Like Dave said, you might be able to save 5 to 20w (although I'd say 20 is pushing it). Not really worth it to save like $10/yr.

 

[Compman55]

Is this too good to be true?

A power supply, case, dvd, motherboard, Xeon all for only $299 Seems this may be a good replacement without adding much electric. Thoughts?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA6BM4988314

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Is this too good to be true?

A power supply, case, dvd, motherboard, Xeon all for only $299 Seems this may be a good replacement without adding much electric. Thoughts?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA6BM4988314

That's about right. Check eBay - you can probably get a similar machine for a few bucks less.

I think some of those tower workstation-grade "servers" only have room for 2 HDDs, though. Might want to double check the manual before you plunk down the money.

 

[XavierMace]

So you've gone from looking for something that uses less electricity to looking at something that's using more? So really, you were just looking for an excuse to upgrade?

 

[Compman55]

No not really. I just saw what I thought was a killer deal. If I could find somthing at some point that idles at 20watt and loads up to 40 watts I would jump on it. I will pass on the lenovo as there is no s3/s4 power states which means no hibernation when the UPS is depleted.