"Server" Build: Will it work... This time?

I guess this is the right place to put this but heres my second shot at a server. Basically I wanted to kow if it would work as a gaming server for things like, well, mainly minecraft (Maybe Gmod later) and if all of the parts are compatible, specifically if it will fit in the case (especially the PSU). Any tips, hates, suggesitons, ideas, or anything just let me know please and thank you!

PS: 4 of the RAM sticks listed @643.96 total

2 CPU @379.98

2 CPU Cooler @147.98

Total @1,725.98

This is all in USD

Could maybe add another HDD in the future to also use as file server

I will work with the internet connection, its crap right now but the internet is to be discussed later

Righto then.

You say this is for mainly Minecraft and Gmod. Firstly you need look at how these perform.

Minecraft is inherently a single threaded with Bukkit allowing for plugins to offload to other cores. But rarely will it use more than 2 cores, unless you custom code the plugins to do so. Minecraft on the server side (especially when lots of players and/or lots of mods are involved) loves RAM. Like Tons of the stuff!

Gmod is very similar in respect to minecraft, however as the client has a copy of the map, it doesn't actually need to serve it like minecraft does. Thus it has a far far far lower RAM usage.

As both these games are not threaded/lightly threaded, they favour fast processors over number of cores.

 

So, the AMD opteron 4334 is not ideally (if at all) suited do this. It has a high clock speed, however its single threaded performance does not match this and its actually a very poor processor unless you are running applications that favour cores over clock. Plus IMO the C32 Socket is pretty dated.

So your current budget for processors stands at $380. So instead look at a Xeon E3-1246 V3. Its just an i7 4770k but cheaper at only $280. Why the xeon over the i7? Well ECC RAM support. In single threaded performance, it has almost double the throughput of the Opteron.

For the motherboard (sticking with ASUS and a server grade Mobo) there is the P9D-M Which is a M-ATX form factor. Like the AMD board, still has ECC support and the IPMI. Plus the other bells and whistles. Which is $218.

However, I'd go with the P9D-C/4L. Just like the other board, except it is an ATX form factor and has 4 Gigabit LAN. (TBH this wont matter much to you) But the main reason I point this board out is because it is currently cheaper at $185??? 

AS A NOTE

These components are on the LGA 1150 platform so unfortunately it is limited to both UDIMM with ECC and only 32GB. But I will also say, you would never use 64GB of RAM on a single minecraft server.

TBH you won't really pass 16GB (unless you are running Wynncraft).

So to save money (and cater to the limitations) Corsair Vengance Pro will be just fine. $349.

As for the case. Get something from Fractal. Like the Define R4 $99 (in sale at the moment)

If you want to stick with a Noctua cooler. NH-D14 is nice. $78 (sale) However tbh, a Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo will do the trick just fine at only $34 (after rebate)

PLUS why on earth are you going with a referb drive??? 

 

Anyway, after chucking that through the lumber mill and seeing how it contorts. The Final price (using the less expensive Mobo and noctua cooler) is $1094.99

Much cheaper and still perfectly overkill for your needs.

Remember that a server isn't always about the class of components, but rather its task; and if the parts fit the task then nothing is wrong.

Oh wow, thats a lot to take in, but thanks for the detailed explanation on everything. I'll read over this much more carefully later but it just goes to show how much I still have to learn! +1 for explanation and +1 again for the detail and thought put into this. Thanks so much! :D

No problem, its what I do :P

Any questions just ask.

to me servers are tricky. if its sole purpose will be game servers only. and i mean literally only then non-ECC ram is fine for the task. if you plan to host ANY kind of database then ECC becomes a demand because a single bit error can lead to complete DB corruption later. not sure about you but rebuilding databases or having to start over with them doesnt sound like a fun task to me. also intel server platform is a requirement. AMD is great for value when gaming but server/workstation side i dont question it and say intel. also you dont need dual socket. the 1246V3 is a very capable server/workstation CPU. especially for the tasks you have in mind here. clock speed is good (3.5Ghz). price isnt terrible either.

HDDs do not buy refurb. buy new. dont skimp. these are your data holders. who knows what they were used for previously. or how they were treated. inspections may look good on the outside but who knows what happened to the internals. buy them new. Blacks are good, i have reds in my server but with these its mainly preference.

and finally try (and just try) to find a server barebones for relatively cheap (case, psu, mobo) but one with redundant supplies. you may never have a psu fail but its better to have one ready to go in the event that it happens than it is to not have the option and then it does happen.

there are a million other things you could get for a server. rack hardware, rack mounting hardware, UPS, the list is pretty endless.