I've got about $1200 to spend on an unraid system and I need help figuring out which processor and things to get.  I will have plex in a docker container and at most it will only ever have 1x1080p transcode/stream going on.  I will also be working on my Microsoft MCSA certification and plan on having about 2 to 3 windows server 2012/2016 and Windows 10 vms installed and maybe running at the same time  with like 2 cores each and 2Gig of ram. I will be connecting to them via RDP and only testing work will be done. All VM's will be running off a SSD with plenty of space, so thoughts?  I'm sure I need a Xeon but for the life of me I don't want to blow half my budget on two processors.  I know zero to nothing about xeon procs so any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

 

So I guess I will need - 6 cores for the vms, 2 for unraid? and I guess 2 for when I want to watch a movie with Plex..  So would a 6 core with hyperthreading work?

 

Thanks for any help!

 

I've got about $1200 to spend on an unraid system and I need help figuring out which processor and things to get.  I will have plex in a docker container and at most it will only ever have 1x1080p transcode/stream going on.  I will also be working on my Microsoft MCSA certification and plan on having about 2 to 3 windows server 2012/2016 and Windows 10 vms installed and maybe running at the same time  with like 2 cores each and 2Gig of ram. I will be connecting to them via RDP and only testing work will be done. All VM's will be running off a SSD with plenty of space, so thoughts?  I'm sure I need a Xeon but for the life of me I don't want to blow half my budget on two processors.  I know zero to nothing about xeon procs so any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

 

So I guess I will need - 6 cores for the vms, 2 for unraid? and I guess 2 for when I want to watch a movie with Plex..  So would a 6 core with hyperthreading work?

 

Thanks for any help!

 

Do you plan to use for a file server?

 

VMs typically require CPU pinning for good performance, so you'd like a real core for each one that will be running in parallel, plus at least one more for unRAID and dockers. Maybe when your transcoding the VM would be down. Each VM will need memory - and that memory is not shared. So think about how much RAM your VMs will need as you estimate the RAM needs. I'm guessing 16G min. Probably 24G or 32G.

 

Depending on your media needs - I'd suggest drive cages if you're going over 3 drives.

 

SSD size - given your use case but assuming you might actually use it for media applications as well, I'd recommend 500G minimum. Maybe 750G.

 

Good luck!

are you trying to build something or buy a used server?

 

because you could buy a used server for a couple hundred, maybe another couple hundred on upgrades depending on what you initially buy, meet your goals with 16-24 cores and 24+GB ram, and have about 5-700 left for beer money.

I didn't think I could buy a server with what I would need for under 800 without using eBay.  I got burned twice on eBay and I will never go back.  So if anybody has suggestions on where I can get a pre-built server I would jump on that.

 

And to clear up what I plan to do with it....

CPU(s) - no idea.  Was thinking a new i7-7700K 65watt Kaby Lake but open to suggestions. I need to be able to cool it and keep it quite.

RAM - 32Gig at least would love to have 64Gig.

Plex - Run in a Docker container and will transcode 1x1080p stream at a time and when it is sending out a movie to me I may not have any VM's running at all.

VM's - max of 4 running at any time more close to 3vms.  each one a single virtual proc maybe two and 2gig of ram each should be fine for just testing and learning for my cert.

File Server - I do plan on having shares on unraid to use for storage for the household ( only me and my wife ) to backup or systems to once a day and general storage of isos, software, pictures, etc..

Storage - I'm using 5tb of storage now but want room to grow so about  9 or 10TB of storage and at least 1 parity drive.

SSD - I plan to have a 500Gig SSD for cache, 1 x 240gig for just my plex data folder ( thumbnail art stuff ) and 1 x 240gig for the VM's to live on.  Maybe in the future add a second 500Gig SSD to the cache to have a cache pool backup?

 

Also, I'm not opposed to have a short rackmount case that I can sit next to my stuff but I would prefer it as small as possible.  Also, it can't be loud.. I need to be able to run 120mm fans from Noctua or something to keep it cool or the wife will have my sack.  Noise is not good for her.    So as you can see I'm in a bit of a stickler.

 

So for what I want to do I'm not sure I can do this for $1200

 

 

pm me if you want the email of a guy in az who ships good servers. I've bought 4 from him and will probably do so again. I don't know if he has any towers, mainly rack mount.

 

The quiet portion is what is going to be your limitation with a server....