Workstation Update 2016: New video card and Windows 10 upgrade (see below) Server Update: New build in-progress including Intel i7-4Ghz The Process My home server build went through two phases, both were built from scratch, and using two complete sets of new parts purchased from Canada Computers.
They were built in series with the first being a power-house, and a
power pig! The second was far more efficient, with more storage. They
both exist now, but serve different purposes. First Build The first build was the most powerful using the best hardware and processor available on sale without breaking the bank for the project. Given
that the server was to be running non-stop 24/7 it was important that
it had enough computing power, but did not use excessive electrical
power. After being fully built and operational with applications
running, the server was pulling anywhere from 100-130 watts which in my
mind was far too much. The amount of computing power was far more than expected, and could be used in good conscience. Ironically many of the things learned at work include problems experienced such as rack space design, cabling, cooling, and power. Consolidation means less cabling, less complexity, less hardware which means less power, and less power results in less cooling being required. It is very important not to oversize or undersize the solution, doing so would result in too much power wastage, or applications that are not responsive enough. The lesson here for home was to not oversize, but to keep the workload right, and thus the power load reasonable. The original i7 configuration went like this:
After the power discovery, I decided to remove many of the components from the original server build and donate them to the new server in the second build. Above is the original server configuration, below is after the parts removal and rebuild. Since the initial build, this system has been re-purposed to be a high-end workstation. Given the new purpose of the system I had to purchase some additional components including video card and faster WD Black hard drive. UPDATE 2016: The final i7 configuration went like this:
Upgrade 2016: ASUS GEFORCE GTX 960 2GB - STRIX-GTX960-DC2OC-2GD5
Second Build So, I did a little research and found that the i3 processor from a
cost/computing perspective was the best value. The processor I really
wanted was a specific low power model of the i3 (35 watts), but the
lead-time to order was almost 3 months. I opted instead for the next model up, a
little more power, a little more performance, but same cost. The new
server build was a huge success from both a compatibility perspective with VMWare,
and overall power consumption. Including
the cable modem, and the server running a reasonably
heavy load the power meter was indicating a mere 60-65 watts; almost a
50% savings. The final and only configuration of this server is as
below, and it has been operating in this configuration for approximately one year: The only i3 configuration:
Keep on the look out for another article with more information on the VMWare build, the servers running on the host, and their respective purposes. Screenshot of the VMWare console running on the new server: |
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