i7 or Xeon for Plex server?


Huy

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I'm planning to build a dedicated Plex server running on unRAID. It will feature no more than 8x 4TB HDDs including parity drive/s (but I will start with less) and 2x SSDs as cache drives. I have two almost final builds (I think), but I am not sure which one would offer more advantages.

 

This is the first build - http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Huy/saved/xGd8TW - featuring an i7 6700 on a GA-Z170M-D3H. Is that motherboard even compatible with unRAID? According to wiki, some Gigabyte ones aren't. This - http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Huy/saved/rDjj4D - is the second build, with an E3-1245v5 on an MBD-X11SSM. Also, it features ECC RAM which I read is better for critical applications (but not necessary for a media server).

 

Note that the Xeon build is actually ~$100 more expensive than the first one where I'm located. Is spending extra $100 worth it? What advantages would I have with the Xeon build, what disadvantages? I've only built gaming PCs up to now so I have no experience with Xeon CPUs at all.

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I think ECC Ram is a great idea in an always-on server and is worth the extra $100.  That said, unRAID will certainly work fine with regular RAM - it isn't a requirement.

 

The E3 Xeon and Core i7 CPUs are *very* similar, aside from the ECC support on the Xeons.  Just compare cores, hyperthreading, onboard GPU, clock speed, Passmarks and price.

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This is the first build - http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Huy/saved/xGd8TW - featuring an i7 6700 on a GA-Z170M-D3H. Is that motherboard even compatible with unRAID? According to wiki, some Gigabyte ones aren't. This - http://pcpartpicker.com/user/Huy/saved/rDjj4D - is the second build, with an E3-1245v5 on an MBD-X11SSM. Also, it features ECC RAM which I read is better for critical applications (but not necessary for a media server).

 

The Gigabyte board issue is (i think) related to the way they can back up the bios of the MB to the hdd. If it does this, you'll end up with a few 4TB hdds, and one of them will be slightly smaller, since it'll be missing some space for the backup copy of the MB's bios. Simply turn that feature off, and no worries. I had a GB mb used in my unraid for years, until I upgraded to an asrock and haswell pentium cpu recently.

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Xeon 100%  I literally just built a nearly identical machine (same motherboard even; X11SSM-F) and was looking at either the i7 vs the Xeon.

 

The 1245 v5 is unnecessary because the only difference between it and the 1240 v5 is the built in CPU graphics, which you won't be using for unRAID.  The 1240 v5 is actually cheaper than the 6700, and has a better passmark score.

 

http://pcpartpicker.com/product/zDcMnQ/intel-cpu-bx80662e31240v5

 

Also, I would not buy Kingston "Value RAM".  This Crucial RAM is tested and compatible with the X11SSM-F and of much higher quality (I have it in my system right now).  It's only a few about $9 more per stick.  Considering the Xeon is actually $20 cheaper, even with the Crucial RAM the Xeon build is actually cheaper than the i7 build.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=1A0-00CZ-000C5

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