Next Hardware Build

[murky024 1]

So I am currently using an old i5 3550 HP with a 1050ti as my server along with a USB 3.0 RAID enclosure for data storage. The setup has been pretty easy to run and the only time I have issues is when I am trying to convert media to my RAID and the family are watching a 1080p or 4k movie. The USB 3.0 RAID enclosure just does not have the bandwidth to stream and rip movies at the time time.

 

I have Roku TVs and an NVidia Sheild so I don't need much transcoding power in the house, I just need more HD throughput. Any suggestions on what I should build as my next hardware solution? I have seen used server hardware but it seems overkill, loud, and power intensive for my needs.

[Luke 37008]

Hi, you may want to check this out as it sounds like requirements are similar:

https://emby.media/community/index.php?/topic/86184-new-server-build-question/

[murky024 1]

Hi, you may want to check this out as it sounds like requirements are similar:

https://emby.media/community/index.php?/topic/86184-new-server-build-question/

Thanks Luke, I had been watching his thread and build but looking through old threads it seems like a lot of people just recommend to buy an old server. Its just seems hard to justify over $1,500 in just hard drives when you can get a used server with 48+ TBs of storage in a SAS setup that would be a monster for speed.

[Getumzz 13]

I'm running a AMD 3000G with a B450 motherboard. Running Win 10 and DrivePool on a 500GB M.2.
Storage is 6x 6TB WD SATA and then a SAS PCIe card with 8x 6TB WD.
MB/CPU/RAM is around $150.
With no transcoding on the media sever it works fine for me.

Edited May 17, 2020 by MrDon

[Jdiesel 1113]

Things have changed in the last 1-2 years with the rollout of hardware acceleration and AMD's Ryzens CPUs. At one time it made sense to purchase retired enterprise hardware but together it is less and less attractive. When a single i3 CPU with hardware acceleration can perform more transcodes than a Dual Socket Xeon server only a few years old or a consumer AMD CPU outmatches it in pure horsepower it doesn't make sense anymore. The heat, noise and power of older enterprise hardware starts to quickly reduce the benefits of its low cost.

 

The general advice around here for the last few years has been:

 

Get a 7th Gen or better Intel CPU with a 630 iGPU. CPU performance is not important unless you run other services on your server.

 

Get a AMD Ryzan CPU with a Nvidia GPU. 1050 or newer, if you need lots of power and/or use your server for things other than Emby.

 

Get a case that supports the number of hdds you need and some enterprise disk controllers.

 

This is a good resource.

https://www.serverbuilds.net/

[murky024 1]

Things have changed in the last 1-2 years with the rollout of hardware acceleration and AMD's Ryzens CPUs. At one time it made sense to purchase retired enterprise hardware but together it is less and less attractive. When a single i3 CPU with hardware acceleration can perform more transcodes than a Dual Socket Xeon server only a few years old or a consumer AMD CPU outmatches it in pure horsepower it doesn't make sense anymore. The heat, noise and power of older enterprise hardware starts to quickly reduce the benefits of its low cost.

 

The general advice around here for the last few years has been:

 

Get a 7th Gen or better Intel CPU with a 630 iGPU. CPU performance is not important unless you run other services on your server.

 

Get a AMD Ryzan CPU with a Nvidia GPU. 1050 or newer, if you need lots of power and/or use your server for things other than Emby.

 

Get a case that supports the number of hdds you need and some enterprise disk controllers.

 

This is a good resource.

https://www.serverbuilds.net/

Oh wow, thanks... I never thought about just gutting an older pre-built desktop into a new case and power supply combo... I built my i5 machine with a 1050ti for like $250 5 years ago as a cheap gaming rig and just moved it to Emby Server and Unifi controller duties after I moved to a better gaming system.

[BAlGaInTl 279]

If it were me, I would also consider just moving your current rig to a better case that can handle your hard drives.  You aren't that under-powered for what you are doing.

 

You could always "test" to see if it works.  See if you can attach one physical hard drive to the BUS of your current system.  Then  create a library on that drive with some resource intensive material.  Test it out, playing from that "test" library and see what happens.

 

If your problems go away, then you've basically confirmed that you you just have a bandwidth issue.  Then you can invest in the hardware to get rid of the USB enclosure.

[murky024 1]

So after doing some more digging, it turns out some of my problem is that Windows 10 defaults all USB drives to quick removal and not better performance.

 

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/client-management/change-default-removal-policy-external-storage-media

 

I read about the change when Windows 10 version 1809 rolled out but I never really thought about it as it related to my RAID enclosure. That brought my speeds back to a reasonable level...