Small Business Server Build.

Dave,

As you might imagine, the possible combinations are infinite. If the cost is the primary concern, it will be necessary to make recommendations on the basis- know the limit.

The data storage requirement of 2X 300GB seems quite modest as a server should be run at a minimum of a RAID 1 to protect the data. However, the specification of a hard disk cage of 8 disks simultaneously suggests the possibility of substantial expansion.

You might consider:

BambiBoom DataCannon Compiladatamatarific iWork TurboBlast ExtremeSignature Super Serverette 9000 ®©$$™®£™©™_ 5.20.15

This is based on a Supermicro Superworkstation chassis/ case which have a server-grade motherboard, CPU cooler, power supply. This saves a lot of reasearch and ordering of components. Assembly is quick- you only plug in the CPU, Cooler, RAM, GPU, RAID controller and drives and load software. These are also supposed to be very quiet, so this serve could be located in the workspace instead of a separate room as are most servers. The Quadro NVS card is more or less strictly 2D. I suggest setting this up with a 19" monitor, k/b and mouse for the configuration and maintenance. This list does include a hub. How many nodes will there be?

In my view, A dedicated RAID controller is essential. In a RAID 5, the total capacity is only the size of a single drive, so there is an option for both 300GB and 600GB.

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1. Supermicro SuperWorkstation SYS-5038A-IL LGA1150 500W Mid-Tower Workstation Barebone System (Black) > $396 (case, motherboard, CPU cooler, power supply)

http://www.supermicro.com.tw/products/system/tower/5038/SYS-5038A-iL.cfm

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=SY-538AIL

2. Intel Xeon E3-1241 v3 Quad-Core Haswell Processor 3.5GHz 5.0GT/s 8MB LGA 1150 CPU, Retail > $265

http://ark.intel.com/products/80909/Intel-Xeon-Processor-E3-1241-v3-8M-Cache-3_50-GHz

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=E3-1241V3B

3. (4) Samsung DDR3-1600 8GB/1Gx72 ECC CL11 Server Memory > $316 ($79 each)

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=D38GRE160S

4. PNY NVIDIA Quadro NVS 315 1GB DDR3 DMS-59 Low Profile PCI-Express Video > $89

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=PNY-NVS315

5. LSI MegaRAID SAS LSI9240-4I 4-Port 6Gb/s PCI-Express SATA/SAS Single RAID Controller, Retail > $180

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=LSI-92404S

6. Seagate Cheetah 15K.7 ST3300657SS 300GB 15000 RPM 16MB Cache SAS 6Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive > $480 ($160 each)

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=HD-ST307SS

6.ALT (3) Western Digital XE WD6001HKHG 600GB 10000RPM SAS2/SAS 6.0 GB/s 32MB Enterprise Hard Drive (3.5 inch) > $804 ($268 each)

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=HD-ST607SS

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TOTAL= $1,726 or $2,050 with 600GB SAS drives

OPTION 1: If this is too expensive, there is a cheaper alternative that actually has a higher performance and potential for expansion. The concept is to upgrade a Dell Precision T7500 with dual four core Xeons and a 6Gb/s RAID controller. These have 4 drive bays and 1100W PSU. See the Precision T5500 system listed below which had a total cost of about $900. This could add a 2nd 6-core CPU for about $350.

OPTION 2: Supermicro also makes a dual LGA1366 Superworkstation chassis that can use the excellent X56X0 series Xeons with 6x hot swap drive bays. The memory is DDR3-1333Mz. This option would probably cost as much as the Xeon E3 system, but could have either 8 or 12 cores, 48GB expanded to 96GB RAM (the system can use 192GB), 6 hot swap drive bays and 865w power supply.

1. Supermicro SuperServer SYS-7046A-T Dual LGA1366 865W 4U Rackmount/Tower Server Barebone System (Black) > $830

http://www.supermicro.com.tw/products/system/4U/7046/SYS-7046A-3.cfm

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=SY-746ATB

Other components as the above Xeon E3 system, except:

2. 48GB (6X 8GB) Super Talent DDR3-1333 8GB/512Mx8 ECC/REG CL9 Samsung Chip Server Memory > $480 ($80 each)

http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=W13RB8G8S

The X5680 6-core @ 3.33 /3.6GHz used in the T5500 system cost only $190- it was $1,600 new. There is an X5690 6-core @ 3.47 /3.73 and various other speeds and very good 4-cores in that series. The 2.93Ghz 4-core and 6-core is very good on that series. Of course, the system could be built with a single CPU and 24GB RAM to start. Eight GB modules are suggested so as to leave slots for more RAM later.

Cheers,

BambiBoom

HP z420 (2015) > Xeon E5-1660 v2 six-core @ 3.7 /4.0GHz > 16GB DDR3 ECC 1866 RAM > Quadro K2200 (4GB) > Intel 730 480GB > Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX 1TB> M-Audio 192 sound card > Logitech z2300 > Linksys AE3000 USB WiFi > 2X Dell Ultrasharp U2715H (2560 X 1440) > (600W PSU) >Windows 7 Professional 64 >
[ Passmark Rating = 4918 > CPU= 13941 / 2D= 823 / 3D=3464 / Mem= 2669 / Disk= 4764]

Pending upgrade: HP /LSI 9212-4i PCIe SAS /SATA HBA RAID controller, 2X Seagate Constellation ES.3 1TB (RAID 1)

Dell Precision T5500 (2011) > Xeon X5680 six -core @ 3.33 / 3.6GHz, 24GB DDR3 ECC 1333 > Quadro 4000 (2GB ) > Samsung 840 250GB /WD RE4 Enterprise 1TB > M-Audio 192 sound card> Linksys WMP600N PCI WiFi > (875W PSU) Windows 7 Professional 64> HP 2711x (1920 X 1440)
[ Passmark system rating = 3339 / CPU = 9347 / 2D= 684 / 3D= 2030 / Mem= 1871 / Disk= 2234]

Pending upgrade: PERC H310 PCIe SAS /SATA RAID controller, 2X WD Black 1TB (RAID 1)(Converts disk system from 3GB/s to 6GB/s)