My UNRAID server is running on an old system and I'm thinking about upgrading it.

 

Currently these are the specs:

• Super Micro X8SIL-F
• Intel® Xeon® X3470 @ 2.93GHz
• 8 GB DDR3 Single-bit ECC

 

For disks I have 16TB combined between WD Red and Seagate IronWolf and I have an SSD as a cache drive (possibly adding one more soon).

 

I've been checking some videos and found out I could run Tdarr to convert my library and save disk space (my case is a Fractal Node 804 so I can fit a maximum of 10 3.5" disks). For this it would also be ideal to add a GPU (I have an MSI GTX 970 laying around that I could use but I can't fit it in my motherboard and I'm really not comfortable in using the Dremel to hack the x8 PCIe slot). Ideally the board would sit in a x16 slot for space reasons so I could still use the bottom of the case (on the motherboard side) for additional 3.5" disks.

 

Also, my CPU seems to struggle with Sabnzbd when I'm downloading or unpacking. Most of the threads reach the maximum load and I'm not able to keep a constant download speed (I think it's not ISP traffic shaping) and if I'm downloading something it struggles to play a movie from my Android TV (without transcoding) at the same time.

 

I like the Super Micro motherboards so far. Really can't complain. If I'm only direct playing a 4K movie on the Android TV it works very well and the CPU doesn't throttle. But I guess I can't stretch this system much more if I want to start converting my library and get more performance for Sabnzbd.

 

I wonder if this upgrade would make sense or if I should look into optimizing what I download and maybe looking for alternatives for Sabnzbd. And if none of the later make sense, which motherboard (micro ATX), CPU and RAM combo should I go for. Any ideas?

Edited April 21, 20224 yr by jncunha

18 minutes ago, jncunha said:

which motherboard (micro ATX), CPU and RAM combo should I go for.

Some of the more modern Intel CPUs have really good iGPUs that do a great job with transcoding which eliminates the need for a separate GPU.

 

I personally have a Xeon E-2288G (8c/16t) with iGPU on an ASRock Rack mATX motherboard (see my signature for all the details).  The CPU is 9th generation Intel. The E-23XX Xeons are 10th generation.  There are SuperMicro boards that support these as well but I think they are full ATX?

 

Later generation Xeons are the W-12xx and W-13xx "entry-level" Xeon lines.

 

Some of the 11th and 12th generation Intel CPUs with iGPU are still problematic with unRAID (just the iGPU for transcoding) until an updated Linux kernel 5.17 or above shows up in unRAID 6.10.

 

You don't need to go with a Xeon unless you want ECC support.

 

Just some thoughts.   There are certainly plenty of good options should you decide to upgrade.

Edited April 21, 20224 yr by Hoopster

16 minutes ago, Hoopster said:

Some of the more modern Intel CPUs have really good iGPUs that do a great job with transcoding which eliminates the need for a separate GPU.

 

I personally have a Xeon E-2288G (8c/16t) with iGPU on an ASRock Rack mATX motherboard (see my signature for all the details).  The CPU is 9th generation Intel. The E-23XX Xeons are 10th generation.  There are SuperMicro boards that support these as well but I think they are full ATX?

 

Later generation Xeons are the W-12xx and W-13xx "entry-level" Xeon lines.

 

Some of the 11th and 12th generation Intel CPUs with iGPU are still problematic with unRAID (just the iGPU for transcoding) until an updated Linux kernel 5.17 or above shows up in unRAID 6.10.

 

You don't need to go with a Xeon unless you want ECC support.

 

Just some thoughts.   There are certainly plenty of good options should you decide to upgrade.

 

I was taking a look at your system and I do like the idea of sticking with a Xeon CPU and ECC RAM. I was also checking your motherboard but in my country is super expensive ☹️. I need to find a cheaper solution where I can keep the CPU, RAM and motherboard combo around 500$ total. Maybe going a generation older?

9 minutes ago, jncunha said:

 

I was taking a look at your system and I do like the idea of sticking with a Xeon CPU and ECC RAM. I was also checking your motherboard but in my country is super expensive ☹️. I need to find a cheaper solution where I can keep the CPU, RAM and motherboard combo around 500$ total. Maybe going a generation older?

Prior to my current system, I had a C236 based mini-ITX board which supported the E3-12x5 v5 and v6 Xeons (6th and 7th generation Intel).  In those Xeon lines, any model number ending in a 5 has an iGPU.  I had the E3-1245 v5 which was the sweet spot of clock speed to price in that Xeon line.

 

I don't know if you can find any of those parts, and if you do, they may be just as expensive on the used market as newer generation parts.  About 18 months ago, I sold my C236 MB with the Xeon, Noctua CPU cooler and 32GB ECC RAM for US$470. 

 

The E-21XX Xeons are 8th generation and also require an MB with the C246 chipset.

Edited April 21, 20224 yr by Hoopster

4 minutes ago, Hoopster said:

Prior to my current system, I had a C236 based mini-ITX board which supported the E3-12x5 v5 and v6 Xeons (6th and 7th generation Intel).  In those Xeon lines, any model number ending in a 5 has an iGPU.  I had the E3-1245 v5 which was the sweet spot of clock speed to price in that Xeon line.

 

I don't know if you can find any of those parts, and if you do, they may be just as expensive on the used market as newer generation parts.  About 18 months ago, I sold my C236 MB with the Xeon, Noctua CPU cooler and 32GB ECC RAM for US$470. 

 

Well it probably means that if I want to keep the Xeon and the ECC RAM I just have to get more money together. My system is working more or less for my needs but as soon as I do something that is more CPU intensive the whole thing just panics.

 

Your CPU from the generation around 2019 right? I'm checking something between 2015-2019 and definitely the prices are just crazy. Is there any kind of UNRAID database with builds I could take a look to see what kind of components would fit my price?

4 minutes ago, jncunha said:

Your CPU from the generation around 2019 right?

Yes, released in mid-2019.  I bought it in early 2020.

 

4 minutes ago, jncunha said:

Is there any kind of UNRAID database with builds I could take a look to see what kind of components would fit my price?

Not to my knowledge.  A PCPARTPICKER like forum in unRAID would be very useful.  The closest thing may be the compulsive design forum.

19 minutes ago, jncunha said:

the prices are just crazy

I bought my current system as a combo from eBay seller (imc) who, unfortunately, does not ship internationally.  He runs a data and server hosting center and sells new and used excess inventory at very good prices.  I got the motherboard, Xeon CPU, 64 GB ECC RAM and a 256GB NVMe (all new) for US$1099 in early 2020.  Priced separately, the parts were over US$1300 at the time.

 

Here is an example of a current system he is selling roughly equivalent to what I have.

 

There were at least 6 unRAID users I know of that bought systems from that seller.  Perhaps you can find something similar where you are.

 

 

Edited April 21, 20224 yr by Hoopster