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Help to spec quiet, low power server

galvo_clare · 2012-02-12 10:50:12

Hi The purpose of this machine is to build a low power pc to go in my attic. I had a full size PC up there in the past, but my wife is very sensitive to noise and she could hear it. I have a NAS box up there now and it's fine. I'd be looking at a fanless design or very quiet fan. A compact case would be nice, but not…

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12-02-2012 11:50am

#1
galvo_clare

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Hi

The purpose of this machine is to build a low power pc to go in my attic. I had a full size PC up there in the past, but my wife is very sensitive to noise and she could hear it. I have a NAS box up there now and it's fine. I'd be looking at a fanless design or very quiet fan.
A compact case would be nice, but not necessarily mini itx, although if that's the best way to go, that's fine.
I'll be running Windows 7 Pro. I don't really mind if it's 32 or 64 bit. RAM, I'd imagine would range from 2-4GB.
The server will be used to backup accounts and other data from my office over DSL so it's not going to be taxed too much processor-wise.
Storage isn't a huge issue as I have the NAS but I have a few 1TB disks lying around so I'd throw one in I reckon.

1. What is your budget? Flexible, but not too expensive in case it doesn't work as well as I hoped.

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? Low powered server

3. Do you need a copy of Windows? [Yes] Win 7 Pro

4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? Yes, HD. Guess I'd need a CD/DVD drive for installation.

5. Do you need a monitor? [No]

6. Do you need any of these peripherals? No

7. Are you willing to try overclocking? No. reliability/low heat is more important.

8. How can you pay? Any method

9. When are you purchasing? Hope to order this week.

10. If you need help building it, where are you based? Clare

Thanks

Tagged:

server

power

low

quiet

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#2 12-02-2012 1:58pm
Serephucus

Registered Users Posts: 7,179 ✭✭✭

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Posts: 7102

How's this?

Item|Price
Total build cost: €445.24 + €30 shipping
ASRock H61M-S (B3), Sockel 1155, mATX|€43.85
Intel Core i3-2120T Box, LGA1155|€116.71
NZXT SOURCE 210 Midi-Tower - white, ATX, ohne Netzteil|€30.49
8GB-Kit A-Data Value PC3-1333 CL9|€33.20
Xigmatek Loki SD963 Heatpipe Cooler 92mm|€14.63
OCZ Vertex Plus 30GB SSD SATA 6,4cm (2,5")|€42.25
MS Windows 7 Pro 64bit SB-Version Englisch|€124.00
Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 450W|€40.11

35W processor (vs. the regular 65W), cheap-ish motherboard, 8GB of RAM, and an mATX case. I've also added a quiet PSU. From reviews, it idles at about 18dB(A). There's also a 3rd party CPU cooler in there to help with noise (stock fan isn't great), as well as a 30GB SSD as a boot drive.

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#3 12-02-2012 2:31pm
galvo_clare

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That's a very good start, thanks. Any chance of getting a slightly smaller case. Will have a look on the site and I'd also have to add a DVD drive.

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#4 12-02-2012 2:41pm
Serephucus

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That's about as small as you can get away with, unless you want to go with an mITX board, but that will probably limit the amount of hard drives you can use, as well as be more expensive.

How many HDDs are you planning to run in this?

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#5 12-02-2012 4:35pm
galvo_clare

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Posts: 595

Serephucus wrote: »

That's about as small as you can get away with, unless you want to go with an mITX board, but that will probably limit the amount of hard drives you can use, as well as be more expensive.

How many HDDs are you planning to run in this?

Looking at it again, it's not so big. Going with a smaller motherboard would, as you say restrict me and probably push the price up. Once this yoke is fairly quiet I'll be happy.
I reckon I'll be putting a boot drive and a storage drive into it and an optical drive.
Going with a standard type of case would probably give me more options in future.

Regards

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#6 12-02-2012 4:48pm
deconduo

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You could grab this case instead:
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=49193&agid=635

Its about half the size and will still fit everything.

Also if you are a student (or you know anyone with a college email address) you can get Windows 7 Pro for €45, allowing you to spend that €80 somewhere else.

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#7 12-02-2012 7:45pm
galvo_clare

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deconduo wrote: »

You could grab this case instead:
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=49193&agid=635

Its about half the size and will still fit everything.

Also if you are a student (or you know anyone with a college email address) you can get Windows 7 Pro for €45, allowing you to spend that €80 somewhere else.

I think that's the job right enough. Like the antivibration mounts and the mesh panel. Could be made for what I want.
Not a student but I don't mind paying. I'll have exactly what I want for a good price.

Thanks to all for all the help.

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#8 13-02-2012 10:39pm
Cuddlesworth

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Posts: 13698

I know this is the Building and Upgrading forum but

http://www.elara.ie/productdetail.aspx?productcode=MME94350WV

223 after cashback. Low power, quiet as a fox and a neatly laid out case. I've used three as ESX hosts. Worked really well. Huge thread on them here.

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