CPU recommendation for lowest kw/h ever.

[gokuz]

Any recommendations? Atoms,sempron 140, athlon 3250e are really scarce at the moment.

 

Driving just 3x2tbs of data. CPU power not needed at all. So what do you recommend these days?

[Rajahal]

Atom is the absolute lowest power usage CPU available today that I would recommend for unRAID.  Here's a nice cheap option:

 

Supermicro X7SLA-H-B - note that it takes DDR2-533/400 RAM

 

I use this one, but it is a bit more expensive:

 

Supermicro X7SPA-H-O - (I found it for $100 on eBay)

 

Those are the same board, the top is just the bulk version and the bottom is the retail version (meaning it will come with more accessories).

 

Zotac makes some cheap Atom boards as well, as does Intel.  You should have a few options.  Just avoid the Realtek 8111E NIC, most others should work fine.

[nemloc]

I just went with Supermicro X7SLA-H-O recently and it's just awesome for a low power server.  I'm getting around 35W spun down and ~45W with a few (3 or 4) drives running.

[Johnm]

For file serving.

Atoms can handle the job with ease.

 

I have Atom builds running 8, 14 and 16 drive arrays with no issues. CPU and ram usage are at a minimal.

 

I am sure the AMD will be just as fine while only sipping electricity.

 

The new I3-2100t's should be about the same as an Atom for power use, they are just a bit more expensive.

 

If you are just starting out and do not have any hardware yet, I strongly recommend you look at the HP Microserver. A complete server for about $325.

Inexpensive and super low electricity. works with unraid right out of the box. just add drives.

[gokuz]

Atom is the absolute lowest power usage CPU available today that I would recommend for unRAID.  Here's a nice cheap option:

 

Supermicro X7SLA-H-B - note that it takes DDR2-533/400 RAM

 

I use this one, but it is a bit more expensive:

 

Supermicro X7SPA-H-O - (I found it for $100 on eBay)

 

ok thx for the recommendation, btw whats up with realtek 'E'? can i use a,b,c,d then?

Those are the same board, the top is just the bulk version and the bottom is the retail version (meaning it will come with more accessories).

 

Zotac makes some cheap Atom boards as well, as does Intel.  You should have a few options.  Just avoid the Realtek 8111E NIC, most others should work fine.

[gokuz]

ok thx for the recommendation, btw whats up with realtek 'E'? can i use a,b,c,d then?

[Rajahal]

Correct.  All other Realtek NICs are fine, there are just problems with the Realtek 8111E at the moment.  Unfortunately most current socket 1155 boards use this NIC, so you choices for unRAID are severely limited.

[gokuz]

Oh i get it now thanks. Anything special about the sempron 140? Everyone keeps recommending it rather than the atom. Its wattage is higher isn't it, so why then?

[Johnm]

Oh i get it now thanks. Anything special about the sempron 140? Everyone keeps recommending it rather than the atom. Its wattage is higher isn't it, so why then?

 

the sempron is a socket chip.

because the AMD sockets tend to be backwards compatible. AKA, you can put an older socket chip on a new mobo.

You can buy a new AMD AM3 board with the modern features and still use the old AM2 sempron140 Single core chip for "cheap".

 

unRAID runs perfectly fine on old and cheap when it come to CPU. not because it uses less power. because it costs less..

you can also upgrade it later if you need to run add-ons or re-purpose the board.

I am sure if it was possible to put a Socket 370 celeron on a modern intel 1155 mobo, people would for cheap nas builds.

where as an atom board, the CPU and MB are matched chipset and cant be split.

 

 

 

 

on the other side of the fence;

Plenty of people use atom builds for unraid. they just have limited expandability with 2-6 sata and only one expansion slot in 99% of the boards.

If you plan to expand, they are not a great option. for a small or low power build. I love them.

 

The Atom was designed for low power mobile computing. power efficiency was its purpose.

 

Now AMD has the Hudson to compare to the ATOM. in a way they are better for desktop, netbook and HTPC use, but i don't think they work in unRAID with much success.

 

 

[Ford Prefect]

Atom is the absolute lowest power usage CPU available today that I would recommend for unRAID.  Here's a nice cheap option:

 

Supermicro X7SLA-H-B - note that it takes DDR2-533/400 RAM

 

I use this one, but it is a bit more expensive:

 

Supermicro X7SPA-H-O - (I found it for $100 on eBay)

 

Those are the same board, the top is just the bulk version and the bottom is the retail version (meaning it will come with more accessories).

 

These are not the same boards you are referencing to.

The X7SLA has only 4 SATA ports on-board, comes with the "old" Atom 330 and Intel 945GC chipset...this is NOT a low kw/h solution.

This chipset uses more power than the CPU itself 

 

The X7SPA features a more modern Atom (D510 and chipset ICH9R) and comes with 6x SATA on-board.

[Ford Prefect]

Any recommendations? Atoms,sempron 140, athlon 3250e are really scarce at the moment.

 

Driving just 3x2tbs of data. CPU power not needed at all. So what do you recommend these days?

 

I like the HP Microserver builds that are showing up in the forums...a real server with low power consumption.

It is even below the range of the Atom builds around, I'd say.

[neilt0]

Any recommendations? Atoms,sempron 140, athlon 3250e are really scarce at the moment.

 

Driving just 3x2tbs of data. CPU power not needed at all. So what do you recommend these days?

 

I like the HP Microserver builds that are showing up in the forums...a real server with low power consumption.

It is even below the range of the Atom builds around, I'd say.

 

Mine runs at 29W with 6 drives (spun down) and 5GB RAM installed -- 2x 7200rpm, 2x 5900rpm, 2x 5400rpm.

[gokuz]

5gb ram? lol

 

Anyways, have anyone tried brazos for unraid in these forums?

 

Its power consumption is comparable to atoms, maybe lower, just that its a lil bit ex.

 

I know i know its a wasted htpc but still, its kw/h is good?

Haven't seen any using raid on it so far.

[neilt0]

5gb ram? lol

 

Anyways, have anyone tried brazos for unraid in these forums?

 

Its power consumption is comparable to atoms, maybe lower, just that its a lil bit ex.

 

I know i know its a wasted htpc but still, its kw/h is good?

Haven't seen any using raid on it so far.

 

It comes with 1GB. Add 4GB = 5GB.

 

What's "ex"? expensive? Not in the UK. £121 with the current rebate. It's a steal. Some have bought 2, some 4, some 6. One has 64 of them...

[prostuff1]

Anyways, have anyone tried brazos for unraid in these forums?

I think some have tried some fusion boards, but they almost all use a Realtek NIC that is causing problems right now.

 

Haven't seen any using raid on it so far.

Just in case you did not know, unRAID is NOT raid so if you are going to try and create a RAID5 and then install unRAID it will not work.

[gokuz]

Yea mistyped its unraid all the way

 

Damn, brazos a no go? what if i add gigabit pci card. Will it automatically work (plug & play) or do i need to set some mumbo jumbo in unraid to work?

 

I'm down to either dual core atom or G620 (Not G620T). As their prices don't differ much.

 

Another thing, is i've read around the net G620 has mixed results some as low as 15w idle, some as high as 35 idle.

I know theres a lot of factors like psu efficiency, hdd, ssd, rams etc, but whats with the big difference?

 

Maybe a g620 user might wanna shine a light on this subject.

[Johnm]

G620 chip itself might be low power consumption.

 

But since it is a socketed chip, what mobo you put it on will make a huge difference.

 

you could get a mITX board with only one PCIe channel or a full atx with gobs of extra junk on it like  7 USB controllers, 8 sata ports across 3 controllers, Firewire, HD graphics, 9 expansion slots, bells, whistles, 40.1 sound.... it all uses more power.

 

plus different chipsets, 43,45,51,55,61,67...

 

also since we don't know where you referenced those numbers from, that could include lots of hard drives...

 

A supermicro atom D525 based serverboard will give you the best bang for the buck and lowest wattage use in the atom field.

 

 

everyone keeps pointing out the HP Microserver. that will be your best answer... the entire overall package is made for low energy and is inexpensive and might outperform the Atom.

[gokuz]

ok but the only 525 available for me is this http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3549#ov

 

Which is sadly 8111e, aw damn.

 

Btw is USD 126 for mobo and cpu. bang for buck?

[neilt0]

everyone keeps pointing out the HP Microserver. that will be your best answer... the entire overall package is made for low energy and is inexpensive and might outperform the Atom.

 

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/midlow_range_cpus.html

Even though the HP Microserver's AMD CPU clocks at 1.3GHz, it's faster than the Intel Atom D525 @ 1.80GHz (also dual core), which has a score of 711.

[Rajahal]

Atom is the absolute lowest power usage CPU available today that I would recommend for unRAID.  Here's a nice cheap option:

 

Supermicro X7SLA-H-B - note that it takes DDR2-533/400 RAM

 

I use this one, but it is a bit more expensive:

 

Supermicro X7SPA-H-O - (I found it for $100 on eBay)

 

Those are the same board, the top is just the bulk version and the bottom is the retail version (meaning it will come with more accessories).

 

These are not the same boards you are referencing to.

The X7SLA has only 4 SATA ports on-board, comes with the "old" Atom 330 and Intel 945GC chipset...this is NOT a low kw/h solution.

This chipset uses more power than the CPU itself 

 

The X7SPA features a more modern Atom (D510 and chipset ICH9R) and comes with 6x SATA on-board.

 

Good catch, you are right!

[bcbgboy13]

They are plenty of used AMD 2650e CPUs on Ebay for $20-25. This is a 15W TDP part and can run with passive heatsink if you have a larger case (one fan less).

However this is only usable on motherboards using DDR2 memories which are now extremely rare.

 

For the AM3 socket they are also very low power CPUs available but they are hard to find (as they were released only as OEM tray devices) and more expensive.

There is the 20W TDP AMD 170u (and 160u if you can find them). And if you need a little extra horsepower then you can get the 25W TDP AMD 270u (and the similar 250u, 260u). These will work in an AM2+ socket too.

The other beauty of all these is the ECC support (if one choose to care about this and picks a motherboard that will support it) - The Atoms and the low power lower priced Intel offering as of now do not have ECC. However Intel is playing a catch-up and will release new server grade 15W Sandy Bridge chip later this year and sub-10W ATOM chips in 2012.

 

Then you will need to carefully choose the MB (even by examining the picture on the MFR web site) - general rule to avoid anything that will support the 100+W CPUs.

Ideally if you can get the 2 phase MB (not sure if there are any for sale) or 2+1 or 3 phase designs.

 

Care must be taken to select the proper case and the cooling - for example the loved Centurion has a 6 120mm fans which when fully loaded will draw 2-3W each.

 

And the biggest problem to meet the lowest kWh is to find a suitable PSU (one must select a model that ideally will run in 20% or more load when idle to be in the optimum power efficiency zone and then be able to handle the start-up current). This means that the cheap Corsair 430 W is not a good choice for a system idling at 40W or less.

Unfortunately the choice of good lower powered PSU is extremely limited and they are usually priced higher. Possible alternative are custom PSUs made for DELL (some of them, just some of them are very efficient but it is hard to find which ones and then to find them at reasonable price.)