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| Thread ID: 101528 | 2009-07-18 00:48:00 | Home server specs | jwil1 (65) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 792644 | 2009-07-18 00:48:00 | Hi all, I am considering building a server running Windows Home Server. I'm not sure what specs it would need to run well. I want to be able to backup full PC images and possibly stream media from it. I'd also like it to function as a file server and use it to remote access into any PC on the LAN using the web interface (this is more of a want than a need though). If I would want to stream media, would I need to upgrade my network config (currently I have several PCs on two routers, wirelessly connected using DD-WRT - the speeds between these works out to about 1MB/s (according to copying a file across it in Vista). I'm a bit worried about the bandwidth of this wireless link). I've got a PC built on Ascent at the moment with these specs: - ASUS P5Q Motherboard - Intel C2D E7400 (2.8GHz) - A 80GB host hard disk (I already have a 1.5TB drive I want to reuse in it for data storage) - Asus 8400GS GPU (the cheapest ASUS one i could find :D) Thoughts? |
jwil1 (65) | ||
| 792645 | 2009-07-18 02:18:00 | A Windows Home Server machine doesn't need to be very high spec'ed at all. The main thing it needs is lots of storage and preferably at least two hard drives. My WHS box is an old AMD Athlon64 3400+ with 2GB RAM and approx 2.5TB of storage across 4 HDDs. I also use it as a my TV recorder using MediaPortal and stream live TV to other machines around the house as well as movies, music, photos etc. I would save some money on the C2D CPU and just go for a Pentium Dual Core and spend extra money on a bigger HDD rather than the 80GB. WHS automatically partitions the first HDD into 20GB for the O/S and the rest for data - You can't change this. A mobo with onboard graphics would also be my choice as you won't have any monitor connected to the WHS anyway so graphics performance doesn't matter. Look for one with at least 4 SATA ports. For the remote access to the other PCs on your LAN they need to be running XP Pro or Vista Business/Ultimate. The Home versions don't work. |
CYaBro (73) | ||
| 792646 | 2009-07-18 02:35:00 | Totally Agree with what CYaBro wrote. Both mine ( yeah I have two) have the following Specs . CPU P4 3.0 with 1Gb RAM Drives - the one I use the most currently has 2 x 250GB Drives, the other has 3 x 250GB Drives. As for movies - I dont bother streaming them as such - the PC's that want to play them - when you want to play a movie, go to the video folder on WHS, double click the film and away it goes. had 2 PC's all playing the same film once - didn't even notice any lag at all. They are all hard Wired, not wireless. If you want remote desktop to the PC's from outside your place, and they are XP home - try using Team Viewer (www.teamviewer.com) -- you can connect to it from anywhere as long as its running on the WHS server or any other PC and the PC you are on has the same module . Free for non commercial use. Example (www.imagef1.net.nz) - Team Viewer looking at the desktop of WHS. |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 792647 | 2009-07-18 02:48:00 | Thanks for your input guys :thumbs: The only ATX motherboard with onboard VGA in my budget is an Intel board - are they OK? Also, is an Intel Pentium DC E5300 CPU good? It would be nice to stream TV... so I'll look into MediaPortal too :D |
jwil1 (65) | ||
| 792648 | 2009-07-18 02:59:00 | The boards in Mine are gigabytes GA-945GM, Onboard Graphic - not that its ever really needed apart from setting up. The E5300 should work fine. As for actual Intel Boards -- not had much to do with them, I have seen a couple on customers PC's fail after a year. The last two WHS's I put in I have used the Asus P5KPL-CM - One in a small business that has 4 PC's accessing it most of the day , E5200 CPU and 2 GB RAM, with 2x 500GB drives. Never missed a beat so far and handles the load fine. They access / work on files, play music ( in the background) most of the day. The Board -- From Ascent (www.ascent.co.nz) -- But other places have it, maybe cheaper. I get them from my supplier. Edited: the ones I have put in work as servers - run headless - if you were going to use it to display the movies etc, on TV, then better graphics would be required than the onboard. |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 792649 | 2009-07-18 03:07:00 | Those specs were massive overkill for WHS... Intel Pentium Dual Core E2180 would be sufficient. Or, grab an Atom with a mini itx KB for a VERY small server:D Why does your mobo NEED to be ATX? Here's a good one IMO: pconlineshop.co.nz And integrated GFX won't be needed either, you could just throw in a card for installation and then connected remotely with the bundled software or VNC/Teamviewer. Blam |
Blam (54) | ||
| 792650 | 2009-07-18 03:37:00 | Mines in my sig, i use it as media center as well but will be very soon upgradin my desktop cpu and swapping the e6600 into the server cos the celeron doesnt quite cut it with HD stuff. The celeron was fine for everything else though, backing up etc |
hueybot3000 (3646) | ||
| 792651 | 2009-07-18 03:39:00 | One reason I usually put in more power than whats required ( without going to overboard) -- Murphys Law - you can bet your boots, people want to expand things, put on more loads etc. The ones I put in have not given any problems - as in plenty of power to do the job + semi future proof. The boards are only basic Boards, nothing fancy. |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 792652 | 2009-07-18 04:13:00 | Why does your mobo NEED to be ATX? I'd like it to be ATX because I will probably be putting more than 2 hard drives in it. I like MATX because of it's smaller form factor, but ATX has more functionality IMO. |
jwil1 (65) | ||
| 792653 | 2009-07-18 04:19:00 | It does. But most MATX boards have 4 SATA connectors. Is that not enough? |
Blam (54) | ||
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