Need Help with a Pantry Server Build

Void on 18/05/2022 - 11:52
Last edited 18/05/2022 - 11:53

Hi all, I'm planning on upgrading from my Optiplex 9020 USFF + Unbranded SATA Enclosure to a proper cube case server build. I use it for Plex, OpenVPN, file storage, and torrents. I may use it for more down the line. My ISP has stupidly installed the modem at the top of the pantry in my apartment, so I can't really have a case more than ~25cm deep because that would already overhang a little on the top shelf. It also shouldn't be too heavy or else it might fall down.

I have a budget of about $400 excluding storage. I will probably be able to get about $250 from the current server, as it is already upgraded to 16GB DDR3 and a Xeon 1265L V3 which I purchased from AliExpress.

I have noticed Xeon E5s are wicked cheap on AliExpress. I found this E5-2650L V3 for $40, which is $20 cheaper than my Xeon E3 was. I don't know how that makes sense, nor how the store could possibly be able to sell them at these prices. But the stores have been around for quite some time so there seems to be little chance they are scam artists. I don't mind that these are used, since CPUs last pretty much forever when treated decently. I'm just a little worried about getting an engineering sample.

I have also found this Machinist motherboard which should be fine for my needs as I don't want to overclock nor undervolt stability is relatively important to me.

Lastly this Kolink Satellite seems to fit the bill in terms of size and HDD space. I don't specifically need a case with 3.5" bays as I can buy an eSATA card and an eSATA enclosure, but this seems to be able to save me that trouble.

Does this plan seem good? I will sort out coolers, RAM, a basic video card, and the power supply later as those are all fairly simple.

Computing Server

Comments

  • Hybroid on 18/05/2022 - 11:58
    +5

    I thought by "pantry server" title you were building a robotic butler or something. Disappointing post.

    On topic, I would not consider buying parts off Aliexpress to be a "good plan" but you might get lucky.

    • spackbace on 18/05/2022 - 12:25

      I don't know how that makes sense, nor how the store could possibly be able to sell them at these prices.

      Lol…

    • [Deactivated] on 18/05/2022 - 12:34

      I thought by "pantry server" title you were building a robotic butler or something. Disappointing post.

      I misread it as "panty server" and awaited details of some fancy underpants storage and retrieval device.

      I was equally disappointed.

    • Chandler on 18/05/2022 - 13:01
      +2

      I got it topically correct, but incorrect in that I thought they were considering putting a 19" rack in their pantry…

  • apple2016 on 18/05/2022 - 12:04
    +6

    My ISP has stupidly installed the modem at the top of the pantry in my apartment

    Why does the server need to be next to the modem?

    • syba on 18/05/2022 - 12:16
      +1

      Agree. Wifi is usually pretty good in a small apartment, or use something like a powerline adapter. Lots of options you could do…

      • Switchblade88 on 18/05/2022 - 12:48
        +1

        An ethernet cable to the floor mitigates most (but not all) issues of the server falling

    • Void on 18/05/2022 - 13:49

      I want full throughput for local files and stability, which Wi-Fi does not give. Powerline adapters top out around 100Mbps.

      Since I can still fit mATX in the pantry I don't see Wi-Fi to be a compromise worth making.

  • stumo on 18/05/2022 - 14:22
    +1

    Your going to want a UPS as well if its for file storage?

    I'm still using my OG HP Microserver from 2011 https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/44381

    But I'm not doing Plex on it, just the other stuff plus FTA TV PVR. You still can't beat 18W idle power consumption over a decade later.

  • jorf on 18/05/2022 - 16:13

    I have noticed Xeon E5s are wicked cheap on AliExpress. I found this(aliexpress.com) E5-2650L V3 for $40, which is $20 cheaper than my Xeon E3 was. I don't know how that makes sense, nor how the store could possibly be able to sell them at these prices

    It's because they're old AF. I threw a few in the bin when I decommissioned some servers because I would have been lucky to get $20 for them.

    • Void on 18/05/2022 - 16:24

      You mean they're not any good or they just don't have any resale value? They seem to do well in multithreaded benchmarks which is generally indicative of performance in tasks that a server would be performing.

      • jorf on 18/05/2022 - 18:09

        No resale value. They're ok, but I doubt you'd get any real benefit out an old Xeon vs a newish i7 or something in an average home setup, plus having to use server motherboards.

        • Void on 18/05/2022 - 18:15

          What's wrong with server boards if they're not overly expensive?

          • jorf on 19/05/2022 - 08:16

            @Void: If you can get it all cheap, that's fine, but you have things like noisier stock fans (and lack of aftermarket alternatives) and RAM incompatibility - ECC DDR3 wasn't particularly cheap last time I looked. Just extra effort to source that stuff for probably no particular benefit.

            • stumo on 19/05/2022 - 14:26

              @jorf: Thats why you use workstations, not servers. Same hardware but much much quieter. Not to mention cheap AF after a few years.

              For my main work PC I'm still using Lenovo C20x's with dual X5690 which I got for $50 (thats the whole PC with x5690 for $50 ea). Add a metric crapton of cheap server RDIMMS and never look back (currently running 96GB in each workstation). I run a lot of VMs and despite how old these CPUs are they still kick newer CPU butts on multithread.

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