35 replies to this topic

[BAlGaInTl]

Okay, I've been considering handing down the CPU from my desktop (Ryzen 7 1700) to replace my server (Xeon E3-1271)

 

My server is basically:

 

Xeon E3-1271

Supermicro X10SL7-F

16 GB - ECC

Unraid

 

It handles most things very well for what I need.  It pulls double duty as my file and media server.

 

Recently, I've added a couple of 4K media files and it seems that the Xeon just struggles if any transcoding needs to take place on them.  I realize that it's more complicated than that, but I get buffering on anything other than a direct play/stream.

 

I recently got a small bonus from work, and I was considering an upgrade for my normal gaming/workstation rig to a 3700X, keeping everything else the same.

 

The question is, is it worth it to upgrade my server by passing down the Ryzen 7 1700?

 

Basically that would involve the purchase of a new MB and ECC RAM to make the switch.

 

At the moment I'm considering:

 

AsRock Rack X470D4U - $260

2x16GB ECC UDIMM - $180-200

 

I like to use server grade components wherever possible.  I realize I could do it cheaper with consumer grade stuff.

 

So that's a pretty expensive upgrade for ~+4000 Passmark.  I'll also gain a lower TDP and double the physical cores.  The question is... will that CPU handle 4K content?  Or is it also borderline?

 

Of course there is also the "@Doofus Approved" nuclear option which is to get the 3900X or 3950X for the server as well.... but at least this would put me part of the way there.

 

 

Thoughts?

 

 

[BAlGaInTl]

There's another option which I thought of.

 

I could get a cheap 1050ti or 1650 and play around with passing that to my Emby docker.  I would probably never need more than 2 transcodes at a time.

 

There are some pretty good tutorials for doing that with Unraid.

[PenkethBoy]

If it was me....

 

why not install a test emby server on your desktop which i think has your 1700 installed - if reading the above correctly

 

and test a 4k transcode to see how you go?

 

if the above is not up to it - then get a gpu - for the xeon

 

last resort go the doofus route

Edited by PenkethBoy, 13 January 2020 - 12:37 PM.

[BAlGaInTl]

If it was me....

 

why not install a test emby server on your desktop which i think has your 1700 installed - if reading the above correctly

 

and test a 4k transcode to see how you go?

 

if the above is not up to it - then get a gpu - for the xeon

 

last resort go the doofus route

 

Run Emby on Windows?   Absurd!! 

[Doofus]

Not sure how well a 1700 would handle 4k. It would be interesting to find out.

[PenkethBoy]

Run Emby on Windows?   Absurd!! 

you have no idea what you are missing 

[BAlGaInTl]

you have no idea what you are missing 

 

I could say the same for those not running Linux/Docker.

 

[BAlGaInTl]

Not sure how well a 1700 would handle 4k. It would be interesting to find out.

 

I may give it a shot on the current desktop (Ryzen 7 1700) just to see how it goes as @PenkethBoy suggested.

 

I'm currently in the @Doofus camp of CPU > GPU though.

 

[PenkethBoy]

I could say the same for those not running Linux/Docker.

 

true - but all i see is people having permission issues - for the inexperienced 

 

although i do have a QNAP nas for when i feel the need to go to the dark side

Edited by PenkethBoy, 13 January 2020 - 01:26 PM.

[BAlGaInTl]

true - but all i see is people having permission issues - for the inexperienced 

 

although i do have a QNAP nas for when i feel the need to go to the dark side

 

I think I may have figured all of that out back in the dark days of Plex when I was running Docker with OMV.  I already had the permissions knowledge when I moved to Emby.  Unraid makes all of that even easier with the templates.

[Doofus]

I put Linux on a mini PC for the purposes of experimenting with it. But I can never get enough time to actually do anything with it.

[BAlGaInTl]

I put Linux on a mini PC for the purposes of experimenting with it. But I can never get enough time to actually do anything with it.

 

Too much time spent troubleshooting the bleeding edge in Windows? 

 

Speaking of which... I was triggered into thinking about all of this when I was in a local Micro Center yesterday.... they had two Ryzen 9 3950X CPU on the shelf. I was less tempted to leave with one of them at $720.  But the $299 Ryzen 7 3700X is tempting.

[Doofus]

Some time this year, I'm planning to get my hands on new Ryzen.

[BAlGaInTl]

Some time this year, I'm planning to get my hands on new Ryzen.

 

Ryzen 9 3990X?  

 

64-Core 128-Thread

 

[Doofus]

Maybe, but by the time I buy one, they may have new stuff. Then I can get frustrated with all the bugs

[BAlGaInTl]

Maybe, but by the time I buy one, they may have new stuff. Then I can get frustrated with all the bugs

 

 

I predict that they have a 128-Core 256-Thread TR by Q1 2021.

[Doofus]

Ha! Yeah, a 350 watt blazer!

[BAlGaInTl]

Ha! Yeah, a 350 watt blazer!

 

That wouldn't be too bad considering the 3970X is 280W. 

[Doofus]

I imagine they'll reduce the architecture, in future. The Threadripper is a beast.

[BAlGaInTl]

@PenkethBoy @Doofus

 

I ran a quick test using the portable version of Emby on my desktop.  It is marginally faster, but still not ready for real 4K content.  H264 4K was handled fine, but HEVC content stuttered.

 

My test was mostly unscientific.... I downloaded several demo "4K" files for testing.  Then I created a folder on both systems for them.  

 

Certainly not worth spending that much for a marginal upgrade.