Looking for a low power server idea

[aarbee]

I did buy a Qnap 673 last year in the hope that this machine would be sufficient enough for a Plex server and 2 low-medium used virtual machines. And as file-serving nas offcourse.
Generally this nas is more then sufficient for me. Averaging 20 % CPU and idling around 50 watt.

Recently I did run into a bottleneck of Plex.
Generally plex says 2000 passmarks for 1 transcoding stream of 1080p.
I had one transcoding running last week, and the cpu was 80-95% full.
What is hard to find is why my nas was at 80%. Over at Plex somebody explained, that 2000 passmarks is for a 1080p @ 10mbits. So the movie I was looking at was 1080p @ 20mbits.
Which makes it logical that my nas is running at 80%.

Yet sometimes I am having 2 streams running. And with some hickups.
That makes wonder:
Buy a TX-877? Or ad another server for 24/7?

My requirements in dreamingmode:
5 watt per hour.
200.000 passmark.

But realistically, that is never going to happen.
If I can find/build a server with 10.000 passmark and using around 25 watt idle, I would go for it.
Investing in a new Qnap? That is a very expensive device.

10.000 passmarks is R7 or i7. But that low in energy?

I am not sure about the software part either.
Win 10, 2016, hyperV or ESXI.
And than move the 2 virtual machines to this server
Adding Plex.
And keeping the Qnap for fileserving only. Because that is really something, where Qnap is good at.

I am open for opinions.
And as far as money is not going beyond 1500 euro/dollar no issue.

Thanks ahead for your advice.

Rob B.

 

[Peanuthead]

I would get a small itx i3 or i5 for plex and point it back to the qnap for storage. Ram is unknown as the we don’t know what VMs you will be running. You can always check the forums here for for deals too.

 

[aarbee]

Thank you for your insight.

I was today reading in a Dutch computer magazine, in which they did setup 4 different pc's.
i5-8400, R3-1300X, R7-1700 and TR 1950X.
I was really puzzeled by the fact that the 8400 did do 18 watts at idle. No videocard in it, and only 1 SSD.
And if they did put in a 1060 or 1070 it would consume 26 watts at idle. I have never seen that low on energy.
I mostly see that around 50 watts.
The R3 was 33 watt idle, the 1700 37 idle and the Threadripper 70.

If these figures are normal then would a 8600 and 8700 not be much higher. Perhaps 35-40?

Regarding the RAM for VM's?
I am thinking about 1 machine running form backupping some MySQL databases from my websites to the NAS. And 1 virtual offfice pc. The third will be , maybe a windows server running.
And then some Linux distributions, just to test. So they will not be running constantly.

Rob B

 

[Peanuthead]

I would think at idle 40 sounds about right with a decent loaded pc. It all depends though. It sounds like you don't really need much RAM - maybe 16GB.

 

[shanehm2]

Thank you for your insight.

I was today reading in a Dutch computer magazine, in which they did setup 4 different pc's.
i5-8400, R3-1300X, R7-1700 and TR 1950X.
I was really puzzeled by the fact that the 8400 did do 18 watts at idle. No videocard in it, and only 1 SSD.
And if they did put in a 1060 or 1070 it would consume 26 watts at idle. I have never seen that low on energy.
I mostly see that around 50 watts.
The R3 was 33 watt idle, the 1700 37 idle and the Threadripper 70.

If these figures are normal then would a 8600 and 8700 not be much higher. Perhaps 35-40?

Regarding the RAM for VM's?
I am thinking about 1 machine running form backupping some MySQL databases from my websites to the NAS. And 1 virtual offfice pc. The third will be , maybe a windows server running.
And then some Linux distributions, just to test. So they will not be running constantly.

Rob B

Hi there is a new line of budget Ryzen cpus. I would like at the Ryzen 5 2400G it's I think $169 ???

You will have to wait for the date to be lifted before people can release benchmark scores which should be within the next few weeks

 

[Patrick]

You will have to wait for the date to be lifted before people can release benchmark scores which should be within the next few weeks

Not under embargo for that, but I assume it is sooner.

 

[pyro_]

I believe that tech report said that the release date was this week coming when they were showing that they had one in their lab

 

[Evan]

Intel has it for low power...
If I’d want to compare performance for $$ then AMD

 

[Rand__]

Thank you for your insight.

I was today reading in a Dutch computer magazine, ...
I was really puzzeled by the fact that the 8400 did do 18 watts at idle. No videocard in it, and only 1 SSD.
...
If these figures are normal then would a 8600 and 8700 not be much higher. Perhaps 35-40?

You can expect all CPUs of the same line (i.e. with same #of cores/cache etc) to have near identical idle numbers regardless of their base clock or turbo clock.
O/c maximum load numbers will be different but that will only be used if you need it. Nowadays even cores can be turned on and off dynamically so even more cores does not lead to automatic idle usage any more.

In the end the efficiency of the CPU (for your specific workload & in general) is the key to get the least power consumption in total. O/c if you factor price in it then the result might be different, most performance/dollar depends heavily on availability/opportunities etc.

Just for illustration here is a matrix for Xeon level CPUs (from https://forums.servethehome.com/ind...e-new-e5-2600-v4-benchmarks-from-patrick.9284) which shows clocks per price and clocks per TDP.

https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?attachments/e5-2500-chart4-png.2516/

 

[casperghst42]

I have migrated away from Plex, but for years I was using an I3 2100T, which was enough for me ... and that was even streaming BD 1080P. I then moved to Emby which is a bit different, and need more horsepower to deliver, but it support HW decoding, so no I'm using an G4600, which is sufficient for most formats - some formats can be a challenge.

There has been discussion about the different HW decoding options, and it looks like the normal prices video cards can't handle more than 2 streams, where as Intel Quick Sync can handle more ... I don't know, I only got one user; me.

 

[aarbee]

@Evan It is my impression that AMD generally is using more watts than Intel.
That is experiencewise and from what I read in tests.

@Rand__ Considering your statement: If they have the same core count, expect somewhat the same idle watts.
So a 8400, 8600 and 8700 use the same.

My distributor only has the 8100, 8700k and 7700T on stock.

But if I understand you all correctly, including the magazine, then a Ryzen 3 or 5 is also within the same margin.
But not as low as the i3/i5?

Thanks for your time.

Rob B.

 

[Rand__]

Yes I'd expect all 8xxx's CPUs to have same/similar idle values.
No idea re Ryzen tbh

 

[IamSpartacus]

Check the for sale section tonight. There should be a few SuperMicro Xeon D-1537's up there .

 

[aarbee]

I had been looking for this systeem of Supermicro: Supermicro | Products | SuperServers | Mini-ATX | 5028D-TN4T
But over at Plex they say that the Xeo-D is not good for Plex.
Yet if I look at Passmark than that should be a very capable machine.
I am not sure if Plex depends on 1 core, yes than they are correct. But if Plex looks at the total it might be a super machine.

Rob B.

 

[IamSpartacus]

I had been looking for this systeem of Supermicro: Supermicro | Products | SuperServers | Mini-ATX | 5028D-TN4T
But over at Plex they say that the Xeo-D is not good for Plex.
Yet if I look at Passmark than that should be a very capable machine.
I am not sure if Plex depends on 1 core, yes than they are correct. But if Plex looks at the total it might be a super machine.

Rob B.

I've been using Xeon-D 1537s for the past 2 years for Plex. They are excellent. Plex uses ffmpeg which is multithreaded so it will make use of the threads. I often have 6-10 simultaneous transcodes of various degrees going each night.

 

[nitrobass24]

I recently built an E3-1265 v6 box. Silent small and plex barely pushes it, even when running simultaneous 4K transcodes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[aarbee]

Suppose I'd go for this https://www.supermicro.com/products/system/midtower/5028/SYS-5028D-TN4T.cfm.
And I would like to put that machine in auto sleep mode and auto wake up.

What is the advice on the software?
I only have experience with Windows (Server until 2008/SBS) and VMware running on it.
And a bit trial with HyperV. But I am not sure I like the tool.

Thanks so far.

Rob B

 

[aarbee]

@IamSpartacus
What is that 37 system idle about? And how many disks do you have in that system?
@nitro
Ssounds like a nice cpu. What is that is that idle at? And how many disks are in that system?
When I look in a pricelist I consider myself living in the jungle, as I only fond v3 and v4 in it. Eventhough I am living a crowded country.
;-)

Thanks.
Rob B.

 

[IamSpartacus]

@IamSpartacus
What is that 37 system idle about? And how many disks do you have in that system?
@nitro
Ssounds like a nice cpu. What is that is that idle at? And how many disks are in that system?
When I look in a pricelist I consider myself living in the jungle, as I only fond v3 and v4 in it. Eventhough I am living a crowded country.
;-)

Thanks.
Rob B.

I can test this for you tonight. I have 11 disks in the system currently (8 x 3.5" WD Golds, a Samsung NVMe, and 2 Intel 730 SSDs). This board I have also has onboad dual SFP+ ports (both of which I'm using) and an LSI2116 controller which all my disks are connected to.

 

[aarbee]

If you have time and want to spend. Then thank you very much.
I expect 120 watt.

Rob B.