3 replies to this topic

[Xountini]

As this is the closer to a technical forum I'm currently watching, I've got a question to make....
If nobody knows it's ok.. I'll have to address to some specialized forum... but if someone does, pls help.

So my query concerns two very different CPUs

Intel i5 2400 (link) Vs Intel Xeon E3 1230 (link)

I'm trying to make a small backup-server for my home...
I don't need the CPU to be very strong by means of hardcore tasks, but I'm going to put on it like 8TB of HDDs...
And ofc multitasking all the way is requested...
This backup-server-PC will be my storage for everything, as well as my main audio/video player.
So I want it to be able to download from the web, interact with my laptop, show a full HD movie and run an AV-test at the same time...

Afaik the E3 1230 is a good cheap solution for small business centers... But here in Cyprus there's no retailer to sell Xeons!
And I came up with the i5 2400 which is close in terms of characteristics and way cheaper. (I can actually find it in Cyprus or if I finally decide to buy some parts from abroad and this is one of them I can save 40 €.)

Main difference is that the 2400 has only 4 threads while the 1230 supports Intel's multithreading and so, has 8.
I don't care about the loss on power (3.1/3.4 vs 3.2/3.6 GHz) and I don't know whether 8MB Cache is significantly better than 6MB Cache for my project.

Thanks in advance...

Edited by Xountini, 04 January 2012 - 01:49 PM.

[House]

For a server build, the Intel Xeon will be a better choice, specifically because that line was/is designed for applications in which the machine in question will be on for long-extended periods of time.

At work, we use Xeons in nearly every server that I have used thus far. They really cannot be beat.


Also, depending on your use, it could very well be worth going for the Xeon. Streaming any sort of HD-video requires horsepower in a machine. Unfortunately, in my research however, there is no official guidelines to say "This is the minimum requirements."

That also being said, for a project such as this. I have found via experience it is best to start with something small, and then upgrade as you are able to define and redefine your wants and your needs. Believe me, that will save you money in the long run.


I also recommend you using Windows Home Server 2011 x64. It is a wonderfully fantastic operating system that acts as a target backup, and also will allow you to stream your digital content across your home network and the web (provided your upload rates are fairly decent). Quite honestly, you will not find a better server OS than WHS for the home environment. (Also, if you do decide to use WHS, you can stream to other devices such as a cell phone, iPad, Xbox 360, etc.)

Anyways, I know that is probably a lot of information right now.

Let me know if you have anymore questions.

[Xountini]

Thank you Sardonis,

although, I already knew that the Xeon is better, my uncertainty was whether the i5 could stand as a cheap alternative or not... Guess you answered that as well with the part on "machine will be on for long-extended periods of time" and that's true... I already planned to overcome this using some hard-duty water cooling but if I can trust a Xeon to only require air-cooling (i.e. one or more fans) then the Xeon is surely the way to go....

So, obviously my second question on the subject is whether the Xeon is that much trustworthy, to only have air-cooling to such a resource intensive machine (because ofc only in order to manage 8TB of storage, and that is with software induced Raid 5, the processor will be working 24-7)


Concerning your next proposals, as I said, my main scope is to have a huge backup load, cause atm I fill one external HDD per couple of months (too much data for a home user, huh?) plus the opportunity to send everything on to that computer directly, avoiding the need to download firstly to my laptop and then to that. In order ofc to use my BACKUP as my MAIN storage I need to have raid and a strong AV (I'm thinking Avira for the scanning capabilities and some hardcore specialized AVs for the extraction of any possible virus - like Malwarebyte's A/M, Spybot S&D etc, these coupled to Avast+Comodo on my laptop should avoid pretty much, anything...). For this reason I can't really start low, since I do know that I require that amount of storage, and with that come the other requirements, summing up to the requirement for a pretty tough CPU.

Then, given that I'll give so much money to make a Storage PC instead of buying a storage array of disks and plug it on my router, I thought that I should use it for audio/video player as well to make up some of it's value by saving from a smart-TV... So here comes the request for it to be able to play full HD movies while running all other tasks...

So in reality, I can't start lower than the aforementioned CPUs

As for the Windows Server operating system, I had the... luck (well, for me it wasn't luck) to work with it already... I didn't like it to say the truth, although I respect it's capabilities. I think that I'll stick to the classics, Windows Vista Ultimate 64bit seem fine to me, especially since the server will actually serve a maximum of 3 PCs at any given time and usually only 1, my laptop.

[House]

Quote

As for the Windows Server operating system, I had the... luck (well, for me it wasn't luck) to work with it already... I didn't like it to say the truth, although I respect it's capabilities. I think that I'll stick to the classics, Windows Vista Ultimate 64bit seem fine to me, especially since the server will actually serve a maximum of 3 PCs at any given time and usually only 1, my laptop.

Given that statement, I am done supporting this thread. Vista is a crap OS, and certainly isn't made to serve as a server. Furthermore, it never has, and never will be a "classic" operating system. Do your research and you will learn that.

Also, given your rather vague descriptions, I am unwilling to support this thread further. It is apparent to me that, clearly, you might be pirating movies/games/data of other sorts. There is no single user, let alone a group of three users, that can produce as much data in such a short amount of time that you have described.

To that end, 1) go and do your own research on the subject. 2) Convince me that your not pirating stuff, and I might even open this thread/continue this discussion.

If you have any questions/complaints, please forward them to me in a PM.

~S