2 Gaming VMs + Storage Server

[Alvaro]

Hi everybody, I have been researching about unRaid and I really like the capabilities and the options it offer.  Now I am planing to build my own PC for 2 gaming computers (my wife and mine) + storage server and I have some doubts about the hardware compatibility and also if is worth the extra amount of money to build what I want.

 

My hardware configuration that I need to buy almost entirely is:

 

• Motherboard: EVGA X99 FTW K - http://www.evga.com/articles/00998/evga-x99-ftw-k-motherboard/ - I had to research a lot because for this board it doesn't say anywhere about the virtualization option but I found it on the BIOS manual.
   
  
• CPU: Intel Core I7 6850K - http://ark.intel.com/products/94188/Intel-Core-i7-6850K-Processor-15M-Cache-up-to-3_80-GHz - This CPU is pretty good for what I need, also this one is with 40 PCI-E lines but also is pretty expensive, here is one question is it really worth to invest an extra usd$ 200 or the I7 6800K will be enough with only 28 PCI-E lines without affecting the video cards performance on games.
   
  
• Memory: Corsair 32 GB DDR4 PC2400 - http://www.corsair.com/en-us/vengeance-lpx-32gb-4x8gb-ddr4-dram-2400mhz-c14-memory-kit-black-cmk32gx4m4a2400c14 - Good memory, nothing fancy.
   
  
• PSU: 1000w Corsair Platinum - http://www.corsair.com/en-us/hxi-series-hx1000i-high-performance-atx-power-supply-1000-watt-80-plus-platinum-certified-psu - Enough power and I like the idea of monitoring the PSU using Corsair software.
   
  
• Chassis: Corsair Carbide Air 540 - http://www.corsair.com/en-us/carbide-series-air-540-high-airflow-atx-cube-case - Enough space to put everything.
   
  
• LCS: Corsair H115i - http://www.corsair.com/en-us/hydro-series-h115i-280mm-extreme-performance-liquid-cpu-cooler - Liquid Cooling System for the CPU.
   
  
• SSD HD: 2 x Corsair Force LE 240gb - http://www.corsair.com/en-us/force-series-le-240gb-sata-3-6gbs-ssd - Good SSD drivers, enough space for the OS (games and other stuff will be loaded from the mechanical HD), trying to reduce the cost.
   
  
• HD: 2 x WD Red 2TB - http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=810 - Standard HD there are better options but trying to reduce cost.
   
  
• VGA: 2 XFX R9 280x - http://xfxforce.com/en-us/products/amd-radeon-r9-200-series/amd-radeon-r9-280-black-double-dissipation-edition-r9-280a-tdbd - I already have this ones, the idea is to get new ones (GTX 1070) but that will be later (next year maybe).
   
  
• Extra accesories:
  ThermalTake PCI-E Riser 16x - 16x - This just to be able to put enough space between video cards so they get better air flow.
  Radeon 5450 as primary video card for unRaid.
   
  

 

Extra configurations:

The PCI-E on the motherboard Work as it follow,

 

1st PCI-E x16 (x8 if the 3rd is used) Radeon 5450

2nd PCI -E x1 (empty)

3rd PCI-E (x8) R9 280x

4th PCI-E (empty)

5th PCI-E x16 (x8 if the 4th is used) R9 280x

6th PCI-E x4 (empty)

 

This will be the configuration with my current setup and a 40 PCI-E lines CPU. for more info - http://www.evga.com/support/manuals/files/151-BE-E097.pdf - Pages 16 and 17.

 

Also, there is another issue, I am not sure if I can share the on board USB ports (at least 2 per computer in order to use flash drives or any other usb device) between the virtual computers, I will be using USB devices for audio (USB headset) I know this is easy because you can choose the device directly and assign to a computer, the same for the keyboards and mouses.

 

I know that many will say that the 3rd video card is no needed because I can use any ATI Vcard as main and pass through one of the VM, but I want to config this the first time then when I switch to the Nvidia cards the process will be easy.

 

Thanks ahead to every one for your help.

 

[jollymonsa]

Dont use the 5450. It will crap out your setup. Just use the igpu + PCIe. That way your install wont have a shit card driver issue. I tried to mix my 5450 with several setups in the past, all a huge waste of time. Also FTR, the integrated graphics will OWN that 5450 in every respect possible.

[Alvaro]

Neither the board nor the CPU have integrated graphics, that's why I need to use a 3rd Video Card.

[jollymonsa]

Neither the board nor the CPU have integrated graphics, that's why I need to use a 3rd Video Card.

 

Dont use that AMD cheap card then. Get a nvidia cheap card. You WILL have driver issues.