- Apr 1, 2008
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I have 3 computers in my home...a gaming PC, a family PC, and a home server. I am not touching the gaming rig, but I am wondering if my needs warrant both a Family PC and a Home Server, or if it might be better to just have a single PC take over the roll of both?
Current PC hardware/software...
Family-PC
i3-4160 on B85 mobo
16GB RAM
250G SSD
GT 750 videocard
Windows 7 Home(to be upgraded to Win-10 when it comes out)
Primary uses: General Internet, Productivity, & light gaming.
Home-Server:
i5-4690(non-K) on H97 mobo
8GB RAM (OS limit)
12TB in storage using NAS drives(backed up to external USB drives), 500GB laptop HDD for system.
No videocard
Windows Home Server 2011
Plex media server
Primary uses: Media Server, File & Print server, Backup Server
I am still in the process of loading the WHS2011 OS on my server, and it's one problem after another and I am about to drop kick the dang thing!!! I have a spare copy of WIn7, so was thinking about just beefing up the server and loading Win7 on it, to be upgraded to Win10 soon. I could swap the RAM giving the beefy box 16GB, swap the SSD & HDD so the beefy box would boot off a SSD, and move the GT-750 to the beefy box. I could then sell the i3 PC as a basic computer and only have a single PC that does the roll of both Family PC and Home Server.
My question is a single beefy PC is a better solution or not...
PROs:
More powerful CPU for family PC.
Can sell i3 system for money, which can be used to upgrade new beefy PC or gaming rig.
All files are locally stored rather than via network share.
Don't have to deal with WHS-2011.
System will always be on, so no need to boot.
One less system to backup & manage.
CONs:
Hardware failures impact both the Family-PC & Home-Server rolls.
Sofware issues like viruses impact both the Family-PC & Home-Server rolls.
Not running a dedicated Server OS, so less secure overall.
$100 spent on WHS-2011 COA wasted.
Possible slowdowns when streaming media and using PC.
I don't know, torn on this, any input would be helpful...
Current PC hardware/software...
Family-PC
i3-4160 on B85 mobo
16GB RAM
250G SSD
GT 750 videocard
Windows 7 Home(to be upgraded to Win-10 when it comes out)
Primary uses: General Internet, Productivity, & light gaming.
Home-Server:
i5-4690(non-K) on H97 mobo
8GB RAM (OS limit)
12TB in storage using NAS drives(backed up to external USB drives), 500GB laptop HDD for system.
No videocard
Windows Home Server 2011
Plex media server
Primary uses: Media Server, File & Print server, Backup Server
I am still in the process of loading the WHS2011 OS on my server, and it's one problem after another and I am about to drop kick the dang thing!!! I have a spare copy of WIn7, so was thinking about just beefing up the server and loading Win7 on it, to be upgraded to Win10 soon. I could swap the RAM giving the beefy box 16GB, swap the SSD & HDD so the beefy box would boot off a SSD, and move the GT-750 to the beefy box. I could then sell the i3 PC as a basic computer and only have a single PC that does the roll of both Family PC and Home Server.
My question is a single beefy PC is a better solution or not...
PROs:
More powerful CPU for family PC.
Can sell i3 system for money, which can be used to upgrade new beefy PC or gaming rig.
All files are locally stored rather than via network share.
Don't have to deal with WHS-2011.
System will always be on, so no need to boot.
One less system to backup & manage.
CONs:
Hardware failures impact both the Family-PC & Home-Server rolls.
Sofware issues like viruses impact both the Family-PC & Home-Server rolls.
Not running a dedicated Server OS, so less secure overall.
$100 spent on WHS-2011 COA wasted.
Possible slowdowns when streaming media and using PC.
I don't know, torn on this, any input would be helpful...
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