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WHS Build/Suggestions

post #1 of 19
10/9/09 at 3:51pm
Thread Starter 
Everyone,

I have been lurking for a while, researching, and asking questions. I think I have a WHS build that might be ready, but wanted someone else to take a look. If I can get away with doing what I want for less, I am more than open to that

Here is some background: I have 2 desktops and 2 laptops, maybe adding a laptop or 2 shortly. I want to use this system to obviously back those up. Doesn't need a lot of power for that, but here is the kicker. I want to be able to put all my DVD's and Blu-Rays on the server and have them streamed to separate TV's in the house, possibly at the same time. This will probably go to HTPC's, as of now I don't have them, so those will be a future build.

Here are 2 different systems that have been suggested for different reasons; please let me know what you think and/or suggest in it's place.

Case: AZZA Solano 1000 $109 - Pretty case with lots of spots for hard drives

MB: ASUS P5E3 WS PRO LGA 775 Intel x38 ATX $199 - this MB has drivers for Server 2003 and PCI-X expansion slots for the better port multiplier cards out there when I run out of space.

Video Card: There isn't one on the MB so I will pick up a cheap one

PSU: FSP Group Zen 400W ATX 80+ $125.99

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz LGA 775 95W $189.99 - thinking the quad would be good if streaming multiple movies to different rooms

RAM: G Skill 4GB (2X2GB) DDR3 $84.99

HDD: Will probably pick up a few WD Green Drives 1.5TB

-or-

MB: GIGABYTE GA-MA790GP-UD4H On-board video, On-board gbit, (2) PCI-E for dual controller cards. This motherboard paired with two of the super micro controllers will net you 20 SATA ports + the 2 on-board raid ports. This gigabyte board has great voltage adjustments for undervolting plus a few other features that the Biostar lacks.

SATA CARD: AOC-SASLP-MV8

CPU Options: Could wait for the 235e or 240e 45w AMD processors to be released. The 240 listed below is the same as the 240e but instead of running at 45w the 240 runs at 65w and costs nearly half the price.
AMD Athlon X2 5050e 45w (Buy at Frys Electronics B&M)
AMD Athlon II X2 240 65w
AMD Sempron 140 45w

Power Supply Options: CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W

Case: LIAN LI PC-A17B

Please hack away, but keep in mind that I want to be able to stream DVD's and/or Blu-Rays to multiple rooms. Probaby no more than 2 - 3 streams at a time.

Thanks!
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post #2 of 19
10/9/09 at 4:34pm
not bad, but some of those parts are extreme overkill for a WHS storage server, especially in the first system.

Tons of options for you in this thread here (from my sig):
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1186090

Feel free to contribute more options, and good luck!
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post #3 of 19
10/9/09 at 4:40pm
By streaming you mean other PCs will read data from WHS shares? You don't need a lot of CPU for that.
I have Pentium 2160, 1.8GHz dual core and it does the job fine. Once I read blu-ray ISO from 1st PC, 1080p MKV from 2nd and SD AVI from 3rd at the same time from the same WD GP HDD on WHS with this CPU - no problems. Powerful CPU may be useful if you plan to re-encode in future.

You can build WHS practucally with anything. The most important thing to consider is number of SATA ports and space for HDDs.
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post #4 of 19
10/9/09 at 4:43pm
Yeah, for a media server a dual core processor (or even single) is just fine. Streaming video doesn't rely on the CPU much at all.
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post #5 of 19
10/9/09 at 5:16pm
Thread Starter 
OK, so are most thinking the second system? Anything I should change in the second system?
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post #6 of 19
10/9/09 at 5:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rsmclay View Post

OK, so are most thinking the second system? Anything I should change in the second system?

umm, did you read the thread I linked to? I priced out several whole systems that you can pick and choose from... as well as ask any questions you want about each different component.

If you choose to come up with an entirely unique combination of components, let me know and I'll add it to my list.
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post #7 of 19
10/9/09 at 5:30pm
Thread Starter 
TheSkinsFan,

Yes I did, still trying to digest it all I guess. It looks like most of your systems were the very small form factor, where I don't really have to limit myself to the space. I will be putting this in the basement and was planning on using a Mid Tower - so I can get more HDD's in there. Although if you have more than the mini/micro setups, I just haven't gotten that far yet, but I will.

I also took a look at your HT link as well. Cool stuff.

Thanks,
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post #8 of 19
10/9/09 at 5:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rsmclay View Post

TheSkinsFan,

Yes I did, still trying to digest it all I guess. It looks like most of your systems were the very small form factor, where I don't really have to limit myself to the space. I will be putting this in the basement and was planning on using a Mid Tower - so I can get more HDD's in there. Although if you have more than the mini/micro setups, I just haven't gotten that far yet, but I will.

I also took a look at your HT link as well. Cool stuff.

Thanks,

The systems I pieced together in that thread range from the mini-ITX (options 3 through 6) to micro-ATX mid-towers (options 7 and 8). Also, if it's simply a matter of wanting a taller case, you can always choose a different one and add even more HDD cages.

If you do decide on a mid-tower system, I wouldn't mind adding it to the main list. Even if you simply decide to use a higher-quality case, please post there and tell us which one you like.

You can also change the Sempron 140 systems there to Athlon X2 systems for only $20 more.

How many HDD's are you planning for total?
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post #9 of 19
10/9/09 at 6:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rsmclay View Post

It looks like most of your systems were the very small form factor, where I don't really have to limit myself to the space. I will be putting this in the basement...

I'm not sure I understand the need for small form factor either... I wouldn't think you'd want the thing near your viewing/listening area but rather in the basement or closet or something.

It does look as though that list has some nice inexpensive options but I'd think you want larger spaces in your NAS for nice air-flow/cooling.
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post #10 of 19
10/9/09 at 8:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mnn1265 View Post

Yeah, for a media server a dual core processor (or even single) is just fine. Streaming video doesn't rely on the CPU much at all.

He'll want a dual core. That way you have a full core left for other things when the drive balancer kicks in on WHS.
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post #11 of 19
10/9/09 at 8:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Flowerday View Post

He'll want a dual core. That way you have a full core left for other things when the drive balancer kicks in on WHS.

That sounds prudent... dual core CPUs can be had for about the same price anyway so no point in getting a single.
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post #12 of 19
10/10/09 at 12:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rsmclay View Post

TheSkinsFan,

Yes I did, still trying to digest it all I guess. It looks like most of your systems were the very small form factor, where I don't really have to limit myself to the space. I will be putting this in the basement and was planning on using a Mid Tower - so I can get more HDD's in there. Although if you have more than the mini/micro setups, I just haven't gotten that far yet, but I will.

I also took a look at your HT link as well. Cool stuff.

Thanks,

If you want something mid-tower as a baseline you may want to look at this. Just an example of a cheap WHS setup.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1160305

You really can put anything in WHS. Just chose case with enough HDD space for you and MB with enough SATA ports.
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post #13 of 19
10/10/09 at 5:42pm
Thread Starter 
TheSkinsFan,

I sure will let you know what I decide.

As for the CPU, I was thinking the minimum would be a dual core. Just wasn't sure if I need a Quad Core with the HD stuff going on, but sounds like Dual Core is just fine.

Doesn't look like anyone has too much beef with what I have, or other suggestions, so based off of what TheSkinsFan has on his thread and what I had researched before, I will have something good coming along soon.

I am happy to find out I don't need all top-end gear for it, because that leaves me more money for RAM and HDD and/or my soon to be HTPC.

Now time to start researching that :-D

Thanks
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post #14 of 19
10/10/09 at 6:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rsmclay View Post

TheSkinsFan,

I sure will let you know what I decide.

As for the CPU, I was thinking the minimum would be a dual core. Just wasn't sure if I need a Quad Core with the HD stuff going on, but sounds like Dual Core is just fine.

Doesn't look like anyone has too much beef with what I have, or other suggestions, so based off of what TheSkinsFan has on his thread and what I had researched before, I will have something good coming along soon.

I am happy to find out I don't need all top-end gear for it, because that leaves me more money for RAM and HDD and/or my soon to be HTPC.

Now time to start researching that :-D

Thanks

If you do each of the systems right, you can build both for less than $1000 up front, and then add one new hard drive to the server every month or two thereafter, until you reach capacity.

That's my plan as well. However, for my next HTPC, I'm waiting for the Clarkdale revolution in early 2010.

Here's another very interesting server option that dizzy just posted in my thread... check it out:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attac...8&d=1255222595
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post #15 of 19
10/10/09 at 10:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheSkinsFan View Post

IHere's another very interesting server option that dizzy just posted in my thread... check it out:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attac...8&d=1255222595

Just FYI in my build some old Mushkin 550W power supply was unbearable loud. I bought it new when I had other loud components and I didn't care. When I tried to bring PC to reasonable noise level and PSU was out of warranty I had to disassemble it and put a resistor before fan. I would not go through that route again.

Why not to buy quiet PSU from the beginning? Even if server stays out of sight the extra noise is unnecessary.

Also don't you think Q35 chipset is a little old? There are 45 series already even if we don't consider Core i5.
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post #16 of 19
10/11/09 at 1:20am
Yes, Q45 is indeed around but all you get is (usually) one PATA port less and a SATA (internal) less but you get a newer version of Intel AMT. If you're fine with it go for Q45 instead.
//Danne
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post #17 of 19
10/11/09 at 4:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by micksh View Post

Why not to buy quiet PSU from the beginning? Even if server stays out of sight the extra noise is unnecessary.

Also don't you think Q35 chipset is a little old? There are 45 series already even if we don't consider Core i5.

Dizzy handled the Q35/Q45 part, and a Core i5 would be overkill for what is needed. The beauty of a WHS or other type of storage server is that it doesn't need to utilize the latest and greatest parts. Save that money and spend it on the HTPC front-end where it will make much more of a difference!

Then again, if you can build a Core i5 server with all of the same capabilities for less than $500, I'm all ears (eyes?)! The Core-i5 750 CPU combined with Intel DP55WB mobo is almost $300 already, so good luck!

As for the PSU, have any suggestions for a much quieter higher-power PSU for roughly the same price as that mushkin?
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post #18 of 19
10/11/09 at 11:48am
No, I did't suggest Core i5. I mentioned it only to show that Q35 is 2 generations old. For example, would it support latest low cost CPUs like Celeron e3300 (which to me looks like ideal WHS CPU)? May be it would, I'm just not sure.

And for PSU, yes, really quiet PSUs are expensive. Antec Earthwatts 500W may give reasonable noise/price ratio at $65.
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post #19 of 19
10/11/09 at 2:13pm
Yes, the Q35 chipset works fine with E3***-CPUs
http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/c...me=P5E-VM%20DO
//Danne
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