First server build, $1000-1500, for webhosting/game server

Karkinos

Reputable
Feb 12, 2015
2
0
4,510
Approximate Purchase Date: March 2015

Budget Range: $1000-$1500

System Usage from Most to Least Important: 24/7 web server, file sharing, game server

Do you need to buy OS: No

Location: Sacramento CA, USA

Parts Preferences: Xeon processor, at least 16GB Memory…prefer ECC (but if that’s unnecessary let me know)

Priorities:

1. Reliability
2. Capable of running up to 2 VMs with a min. of 4GB RAM each.
3. A case with good cooling, that’s decently quiet and isn’t a nightmare to install parts in.
4. Relatively low power consumption.

Purpose:

- Web hosting with no streaming video.
- Cloud storage / file sharing accessed by approx. 15 people. Space needed still TBD, but likely no more than 20GB total.
- Hosting various game servers with 8-12 users peak.
- Flexible budget. Less money would be great, but not at the expense of more reliable parts.
- No one’s job depends on 100% uptime. RAID 1 is probably sufficient.

Build Experience:

Not much! I have a Raspberry Pi doing home media tasks. The last PC I built was in 2008, and I have no idea what brands/parts are best today. I’ve never built a dedicated server before but administered one for a school.

Any help would be greatly appreciated - even just a case or mobo suggestion would help tremendously as I'm drowning in options. Thank you!

Edit: clarified a few points.
 
Solution
ok first thing you cannot have a computer / server for both of those running that much on that budget though if you cut it into 2 computers then yes you can.
the server you will be using will be this one:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor ($368.88 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H50 57.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($49.98 @ OutletPC)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste ($6.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI X99S SLI Plus ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($189.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($179.99 @ Adorama)...

yumri

Distinguished
Sep 5, 2010
703
0
19,160
ok first thing you cannot have a computer / server for both of those running that much on that budget though if you cut it into 2 computers then yes you can.
the server you will be using will be this one:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor ($368.88 @ OutletPC)
CPU Cooler: Corsair H50 57.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($49.98 @ OutletPC)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste ($6.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI X99S SLI Plus ATX LGA2011-3 Motherboard ($189.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($179.99 @ Adorama)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.88 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.88 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 6450 1GB Video Card ($28.99 @ NCIX US)
Case: Thermaltake VL80001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case ($19.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Thermaltake 750W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $1004.46
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-12 04:45 EST-0500

There is a ton of room to upgrade in the future when and if needed it is just that the requirement to stay within the budget only allowed 16GB of RAM atm.

For the Gaming computer now:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz 8-Core Processor ($133.75 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: MSI 760GMA-P34(FX) Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($51.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (1 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($58.79 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.88 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 270 2GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($144.99 @ Micro Center)
Case: Thermaltake VL80001W2Z ATX Mid Tower Case ($19.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: Thermaltake 750W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $519.38
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-02-12 04:44 EST-0500

Both combined will cost $1,523.84 and be better than a single machine solution to your purpose.

What they do not include are the following: Operating systems, keyboards, mice, and speakers. I am assuming that you are already with a legal windows license and going to use Linux for the server anyways. I am also assuming like me you have a ton of unused keyboards and mice just laying about unused. Lastly i am also assuming that speakers are a very personal choice to which only the gaming machine will need as the computer speaker for the motherboard in the server build is included in the motherboard package to which is the only speaker needed for a server.

So a little over budget at $1,523.84 but it does what you want with you still being able to game and run multiple servers at the same time with no slow down to either one.
 
Solution

Karkinos

Reputable
Feb 12, 2015
2
0
4,510
I should've been a little more specific. I have a separate PC for playing games, and this build will run the game server only. That said, the server build looks good. Thank you!
 

Cristi72

Admirable
Hello,

A Xeon is a must, even if you're not using ECC memory; they are certified to work in the harshest conditions. The ECC memory is a nice addition for extra peace of mind, but only few chipsets can support ECC memory for SK1150 (Intel's 222, 224, 226 for example).

Here is a decent configuration: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/y4cFqs

Go with 32 GB from the start, less compatibility problems later.
WD Blacks are not the fastest, but they are backed by a 5-year warranty.
The motherboard seems a little bit pricey, but sports something very useful: two Gigabit LAN ports and two separate SATA controllers (you could build two RAID arrays).
While a cooler is not mandatory (you can use the Intel boxed cooler), it's better to use an aftermarket one; that way, you'll never have to worry about CPU overheating, even for 100% usage (I don't recommend a closed loop liquid cooler because the pump is not designed to work 24/7).
This specific Xeon, E3-1241 v3, don't have integrated graphics, that's the reason of the GT630 addition; you can go for an E3-1246 v3 and use its integrated P4600.
The case is always a subjective matter; i chose that specific model for the ability to hide the SATA cables behind the HDDs.