New Server Build Help Please

[mikolaj87]

There is new prodigy m released that supports m-atx :-)

[UltraLinx]

I have so far, taking into consideration the suggestions so far.

http://www.ebuyer.com/392377-coolerm...e-rc-120a-kkn1 or http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...362&catid=2279

http://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/...roductId=52724 or http://www.ebuyer.com/398815-amd-a8-...-ad560kwohjbox

http://www.cclonline.com/product/982...anmIbVhBLswpzg
http://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/...roductId=51949
http://www.ebuyer.com/390983-wd-red-...sata6-wd10efrx
http://www.cclonline.com/product/109...dule-/RAM0970/

Still need some help on which of the two processors to go for though.

UltraLinx

[DanceswithUnix]

If you are after an ITX machine, then I don't know of any motherboard that will take an FX-6300. You are down to FM2, or stumping up the extra for Intel with that form factor.

[UltraLinx]

If you are after an ITX machine, then I don't know of any motherboard that will take an FX-6300. You are down to FM2, or stumping up the extra for Intel with that form factor.

FM2 it is then.

Not sure how much more then Intel are but for the primary reason I'm building this server I think the FM2 will do.

[UltraLinx]

Anyone else have any suggestions before I start ordering the listed kit above?

[herulach]

You know that board is AM3 right? Mini ITX AMD boards are thin on the ground generally, I'd be tempted to go mATX for a better choice of boards, something like this case
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/coole...r-case-w-o-psu

is not much bigger, and will give you much more room for more drives etc if you need them later.

[scaryjim]

I don't normally recommend this, but if you're looking for a small cube server, it might be worth considering the Antec NSK1380. Yes, it's not cheap, but it's only an inch wider than the Coolermaster Elite 120, and it's both shorter and shallower. It comes with a 350W 80+ PSU (and being Antec it's a decent unit, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's actually FSP-made!), and gives you a choice of mATX motherboards, which puts things like the FX-6300 back on the cards if you're still undecided (as well as giving you far more options for FM2 motherboards if you stick with that). Has 3x 3.5" drive bays and a concealed 5.25", so plenty of room for storage drives.

Oh, and it's a pleasure to build in and out of - it's the same chassis as my older Antec Aria which you can see disassembled in http://forums.hexus.net/reader-revie...le-review.html

And while the newer version isn't anywhere near as good value as the Aria used to be, I think it would actually suit your purposes very nicely...

[UltraLinx]

I don't normally recommend this, but if you're looking for a small cube server, it might be worth considering the Antec NSK1380. Yes, it's not cheap, but it's only an inch wider than the Coolermaster Elite 120, and it's both shorter and shallower. It comes with a 350W 80+ PSU (and being Antec it's a decent unit, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's actually FSP-made!), and gives you a choice of mATX motherboards, which puts things like the FX-6300 back on the cards if you're still undecided (as well as giving you far more options for FM2 motherboards if you stick with that). Has 3x 3.5" drive bays and a concealed 5.25", so plenty of room for storage drives.

Oh, and it's a pleasure to build in and out of - it's the same chassis as my older Antec Aria which you can see disassembled in http://forums.hexus.net/reader-revie...le-review.html

And while the newer version isn't anywhere near as good value as the Aria used to be, I think it would actually suit your purposes very nicely...

Thanks for this scaryjim.

Going to make a decision on the case tonight and can then get building!

[UltraLinx]

I don't normally recommend this, but if you're looking for a small cube server, it might be worth considering the Antec NSK1380. Yes, it's not cheap, but it's only an inch wider than the Coolermaster Elite 120, and it's both shorter and shallower. It comes with a 350W 80+ PSU (and being Antec it's a decent unit, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's actually FSP-made!), and gives you a choice of mATX motherboards, which puts things like the FX-6300 back on the cards if you're still undecided (as well as giving you far more options for FM2 motherboards if you stick with that). Has 3x 3.5" drive bays and a concealed 5.25", so plenty of room for storage drives.

Oh, and it's a pleasure to build in and out of - it's the same chassis as my older Antec Aria which you can see disassembled in http://forums.hexus.net/reader-revie...le-review.html

And while the newer version isn't anywhere near as good value as the Aria used to be, I think it would actually suit your purposes very nicely...

Hi ScaryJim,

I can't seem to PM you so will leave the message here.
Could you please close/remove this thread, looking to open a new thread asking for recommendations on parts for compiling a build.

Thanks

[scaryjim]

PMs are a post count reward, 25 iirc - so you're almost there

General policy for Hexus is to leave old threads open, in case anyone has any more input on general server hardware which may be interesting to other users, or if anyone wants to drop in and say thanks for any of the advice in the thread (which does happen - have a read through http://forums.hexus.net/help-quick-r...ot-laptop.html).

I suggest that when you've opened your new thread (presumably in the builds subforum?) you post a link to it in this thread so people reading the thread can see you've got a new one started specifically for build suggestions.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Bagnaj97 here on the forums has a couple of FM2 mini-ITX builds with an Elite 120. His server is an A4-4000 with the ASRock A85 mini-ITX which does many things,such as host Minecraft,etc.

There is not only an intake fan which blows air over the HDDs but what most reviews don't show,is that at the back of the cage you can mount another case fan:

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cas...anced-review/2

So you can fans in push-pull cooling your HDDs.

[UltraLinx]

Bagnaj97 here on the forums has a couple of FM2 mini-ITX builds with an Elite 120. His server is an A4-4000 with the ASRock A85 mini-ITX which does many things,such as host Minecraft,etc.

There is not only an intake fan which blows air over the HDDs but what most reviews don't show,is that at the back of the cage you can mount another case fan:

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cas...anced-review/2

So you can fans in push-pull cooling your HDDs.

Hi CAT,

Thanks for that, I am still leaning towards the Elite (mainly because it looks great compared to some others)

Do you have any other advice for my particular build?

Thanks

UltraLinx

[UltraLinx]

PMs are a post count reward, 25 iirc - so you're almost there

General policy for Hexus is to leave old threads open, in case anyone has any more input on general server hardware which may be interesting to other users, or if anyone wants to drop in and say thanks for any of the advice in the thread (which does happen - have a read through http://forums.hexus.net/help-quick-r...ot-laptop.html).

I suggest that when you've opened your new thread (presumably in the builds subforum?) you post a link to it in this thread so people reading the thread can see you've got a new one started specifically for build suggestions.

Great, as you can tell I'm still getting used to this forum

Will keep the above in mind.

Thanks
UltraLinx

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Hi CAT,

Thanks for that, I am still leaning towards the Elite (mainly because it looks great compared to some others)

Do you have any other advice for my particular build?

Thanks

UltraLinx

What sort of budget are you looking at??

I am thinking something along the line of one of the 65W TDP A8 or A10 CPUs and a Gigabyte F2A85XN-WIFI. The FSP 400W PSU is not too bad at all,although the XFX PRO 450W is quite short. The Seasonic G 360W probably would be a very good fit though:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/360w-...lent-fan-dc-dc

Its Gold rated.

I would also consider using the 125W TDP FX CPU cooler on one of the 65W TDP A8 or A10 CPUs. It might noisy under full pelt with a 125W TDP CPU,but for a 65W TDP CPU,I suspect it won't spin up that much.

[UltraLinx]

Original budget was around £350, will do a little higher if need be.

Want to build something that will cope with all the server/citrix/virtualization I will be gradually getting into over the next few months - without having to worry above upgrading soon after.

Thanks

UltraLinx

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The FX6300 would be faster for such things but would consume far more power and there is the possibility of it being OTT,depending on what you are doing. The other aspect is that there no mini-ITX motherboards for socket AM3+ and although you can get mATX motherboards with an IGP such as the following:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/gigab...vi-d-hdmi-matx

The only thing it is based on an older chipset. AFAIK,shaithis on here uses the same motherboard with an FX6100 for ESX though.

Also,unless you go Core i5 on the Intel side,the cheaper Intel chips tend to have less support for things like IOMMU,and I get the impression cheaper AMD motherboards are more likely to support it than cheaper Intel ones.