Low power GPU for 24/7 fileserver

[aidanjt]

I know some people will argue the toss over 1GB or 2GB or RAM, but if this is *just* a fileserver there's really no need to go for more than 1GB

Actually, fileservers massively benefit from more RAM, for caching, buffering, filesystem stuff, etc... Especially operating systems with more powerful filesystems like ZFS, btrfs, xfs, etc... And that doesn't even include other services that you might run on the machine, databases, web server, email, etc...

[scaryjim]

that doesn't even include other services that you might run on the machine, databases, web server, email, etc...

replace my existing media fileserver livign under the stairs, as its and old dell P4 system, and I'm sure that thing eats power.

I've known people who had email, database and web servers living under the stairs, but I don't think this is going to be one of those instances. I'll give you that in large, corporate situations more memory in a fileserver is a good thing, but for Windows File Sharing (or, indeed, for Linux running a Samba server) I think 1GB *should* be sufficient. I've done the same job quite adequately with 256MB before. On the other hand, I trust the OP to have sufficient self reliance to ignore me and spend the extra £7 on RAM if they feel they need it. I was simply illustrating that a sufficient subsystem could be acquired for less than £80...

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

TBH 1gb of RAM is enough for a file server doing normal tasks especially if you are running a Linux based distro. We even SSH into from work if we need to get some files. Also look at many of the ready built file servers for under £400 they are not running very fast CPUs(often they are embedded ones) and have a huge amounts of RAM either.

If anything power consumption and heat are more important considerations as is the efficiency of the PSU you are using as the server is going to be on 24/7.

Also having a UPS attached to the server will be useful in case there is a power cut or surge on the power line.

[jonathan_phang]

Phew - been away a few days, and it looks like this thread has moved on a bit. I appreciate all the suggestions and tips, but trying to stop myself from making my own requirements creep... Which as we all know, is hard to do!

I want to reuse as much as possible of my old X2 rig, which has 2gb RAM and a half decent mobo. I really want to spend as little as poss to get it up and running, which will be the GPU (which is the whole point of the thread) and also a decent PSU.

Apart from that, I think that all other courses of action will entail too much, or actually work out more expensive than keeping the old rig. I think I will settle on one of the 2400 series... and trying to find an efficent PSU now...

THanks for all the help peeps!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Why don't you sell you CPU?? Goodness grief you can almost get a whole new system with lower power consumption for the same price.

Look on Ebay:

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/_W0QQ_n...Q_fromZQQ_mdoZ

Here is how much the last few auctions for your CPU went for:

£119.99(Item number 200318671932)

£100(Item number 120384200537)

£85(Item number 160319391469)

£139.99(Item number 250386898125)

£111.00(Item number 180334323528)

This is only from the 10th and EXCLUDES postage.

Your 939 cpu has a TDP of 110w.

For £100 you could get a 780v motherboard,Athlon X2 4850e and 2gb of ram. The X2 4850e has a TDP of 45w and the chipset has a low power consumption. The HD3200 is basically an integrated HD3450 anyway.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/150347

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/144638

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/142376



Total: £112.

It will even be cheaper to go with a Celeron E1400 dual core,2gb of RAM and a 945G motherboard.


http://www.ebuyer.com/product/151482

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/142376

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/145259

Total: £91


Both the setups including the processor,RAM and motherboard will consume less power than your socket 939 processor alone !!

By the time you buy a new graphics card it will actually cost you more than selling your old bits and upgrading!

[jonathan_phang]

Christ - thanks for that - I've never really sold anything on ebay before, so not really sure how to take it further, but will maybe look into it then... Seems promising!!! How did you find out how much those other CPUs went for on ebay? I rarely use it, so not sure where to look it up!!!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I did the folloing search:

X2 4600 939. You can check under completed listings to see previous auctions.




I have circled the option you need select to see previous listings. You do need to be logged in though.

Have you noticed the muppet who sold the processor for £15!!?? Epic research failure Batman!! Would not surprise me if the buyer even sold it on and made a tidy profit!!

I have sold processors on Ebay before so if you want some tips on listing them to get a good price you can PM me!

[Biscuit]

dont forget about sellers fees. They are pretty steep now i believe

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

If the OP can sell the processor as a buy it now for at least £100(plus postage) he/she should be still looking at making £90. The new fee structure has hit auctions and not buy it now listings.

[jonathan_phang]

Thanks again, I will look into again. FYI - I actaully have a X2 4400, not a 4600, but hopefully there isnt that much difference. Will look again into the prices again, and give it a shot. First things first, I need to test it, as its been sitting idle for about 6 months since I upgraded...

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Looks like the X2 4400 socket 939 sells for between £70 to £100 plus postage. This would work as a profit of between £60 to £85. This will pay for most of the E1400 build I suggested. It has a TDP of 65w.

[jonathan_phang]

Been looking over the links that you gave and basically seeing if which platform I would go for... The Intel route is a bit cheaper, but the AMD uses less power so would probably save me money in the long run (???). Also, when I get back will have a look at what else is in the box to sell. I'm sure that I have 2GB DDR1 corsair ram in there, but I cant remember - its been ages!!! But that might help fund things a bit. Oh also, a mate of mine has offered his Antec Earthwatts 430w for £30, it seems to be a 80%+ efficient model, which seems like a good deal...

This is why I dont do upgrading that often. Too many choices!!!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I would go for this PSU instead for £35:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/400w-...2V-6Serial-ATA

Silverpower is part of Tagan BTW. Here is a review:

http://techreport.com/articles.x/16073/11

Under lighter loads it seems to have 91% efficiency which will be great for your needs!!

I think that the TDP for the Celeron is a tad optimistic and I think in real use the actual power consumption will be lower. It depends if you have an extra £20 to spare or not for the AMD based system

You must realise that either the Celeron or Athlon based system will be an improvement over your P4 in performance,heat and power consumption.

[jonathan_phang]

Yeah, I'm sure that its going to be a massive improvement either way, but I'm trying to really get the lower wattage system, as even if its going to be more expensive that the alternative option, I'll make it up in electricity bills really... I can make it even cheaper if I can go for a lower spec AMD CPU... I dont think I need much more really, but just a lot of options that I'm trying to do the figures for really.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

TBH you could go for a single core Sempron scaryjim suggested. This will bring the cost down by over £20! You could even go for the motherboard he suggested although IO performance probably will be better with the 780V IMHO.

You can always slot in a cheap secondhand dual core processor down the line when you need it!!

What specs you need depends on the OS you will be using. A Windows based box will probably need faster hardware than one based on Linux for example.

[jonathan_phang]

Gah - just booted the old comp up into the BIOS - its actually a X2 4200!!! Doh!!! Told you it was a long time ago But I did manage to find out that I also had a spare Opty 146 so that should help if I can sell that...

Anyway, mods - any chance this could be moved into the main Hardware forum and have a slight title change? as its now more of a general low power setup thread rather than just about the GPU...