Building a few server rooms/pc's

mckeder · 12-10-2007, 02:32 PM

Hello everyone. I am building roughly 5 new pc's to host gaming servers in a t1 maybe even a t3 environment. The hardware I have selected so far is pretty complex and very expensive. costing me about 2700-4500 per pc. I am looking for a cheaper/alternative way of building the pc's for a gaming server without spending that much money.

Any suggestions?

localzuk · 12-10-2007, 02:36 PM

What sort of gaming? How many players?

mckeder · 12-10-2007, 02:50 PM

Its roughly going to depend. I'm starting my own business for gamers. The server pc's will host Counterstrike and possibly other war type games (not sure yet if i am going to do any others) and the pc's are going to run about 25 different games ranging from World of Warcraft and Guildwars to simple games like poker and pitfall

localzuk · 12-10-2007, 03:01 PM

This is probably the wrong forum to ask this then really, but here's my advise:

1. Don't scrimp on your initial outlay, if your business takes off, it will cost you more to improve things than having a sustainable system in the first place.
2. Use well known brands of server - such as Dell or HP. This will allow you to have a good warranty, so things can be fixed in very quick time.

Now, onto specs...

Counterstrike is quite intensive. If you wish to host 32 slots on a box, you are looking at 2GB Ram, dual processors, SAS 10,000 RPM disks (or 15k disks if you can afford em). I would recommend something like this: http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en...-78128729.html with SAS disks.

Each game you wish to host will have its own requirements. Poker and things like that will probably be happy on a shared server, whereas Counterstrike and its ilk will need dedicated boxes.

mckeder · 12-10-2007, 03:16 PM

I dont mind spending the money on servers. Just trying to minimalize my cost as much as possible. I was looking at building most of the stuff myself just because its cheaper by about 1k dollars but the problem I run into is the warranty. Now dont get me wrong, warranties are nice, but I cant afford to have that 2 week downtime so they can work on the pc.

Just trying to get an idea of what it would cost me to build the entire thing myself. Not sure if I want to go rack mount 1u or 2u yet.

ChrisH · 12-10-2007, 03:57 PM

If you buy a branded server you will have an onsite warranty depending on your level of cover this might only be half a day to nextday service.

GrumbleDook · 12-10-2007, 04:12 PM

A number of local gaming zones I've been to have 4 hour response and a spare box in the back cupboard just in case. It seems to be a common practice.

mckeder · 12-10-2007, 04:13 PM

That is true. Never thought of that. Can anyone recommend a nice server that isn't dell? just not a big fan of dells

FN-GM · 12-10-2007, 04:31 PM

HP are pretty good

j17sparky · 12-10-2007, 04:34 PM

Im not a fan of dell workstations, but you really cant knock their servers bith on design/quality and price.

Joedetic · 12-10-2007, 04:36 PM

Dell servers are NOTHING like Dell desktops and laptops...just so you know

They are so much better.

If you can afford the cost, IBM are always good build quality, at least the ones i've had contact with in the past were. Most things produced by IBM are rugged and reliable but it comes at a greater cost than a dell obviously.

localzuk · 12-10-2007, 04:40 PM

Where I last worked, they spent about £2m on dell stuff a year, there servers were rock solid and the warranty is superb. That said, HP are just as good.

I would say go with HP - you can have 4 hour response time on their warranties.

CyberNerd · 12-10-2007, 04:41 PM

You'll need somewhere to put this new server, I'd suggest somewhere secure like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Titan-Missile-Ba...32455924QQrdZ1

mckeder · 12-10-2007, 05:23 PM

wow. I would love to have that base but just cant afford the 1.5 mil price tag on it. roflmao! but thanks for everyones response. I am checking into dell and ibm servers right now. I will let you all know which ones I choose.

Thanks,
Derek

tech_guy · 12-10-2007, 06:08 PM

Perhaps we could all club together (1500000 / 4177 = 359 each) and use it to take over the world - well schools in the uk at least ;-)

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12-10-2007, 02:32 PM	#1
mckeder Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 0	Building a few server rooms/pc's Hello everyone. I am building roughly 5 new pc's to host gaming servers in a t1 maybe even a t3 environment. The hardware I have selected so far is pretty complex and very expensive. costing me about 2700-4500 per pc. I am looking for a cheaper/alternative way of building the pc's for a gaming server without spending that much money. Any suggestions?

12-10-2007, 02:36 PM	#2
localzuk Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Minehead, Somerset Posts: 4,083 Thanks: 49 Thanked 111 Times in 99 Posts Blog Entries: 12 Rep Power: 33	Re: Building a few server rooms/pc's What sort of gaming? How many players?

12-10-2007, 02:50 PM	#3
mckeder Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 0	Re: Building a few server rooms/pc's Its roughly going to depend. I'm starting my own business for gamers. The server pc's will host Counterstrike and possibly other war type games (not sure yet if i am going to do any others) and the pc's are going to run about 25 different games ranging from World of Warcraft and Guildwars to simple games like poker and pitfall

12-10-2007, 03:01 PM	#4
localzuk Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Minehead, Somerset Posts: 4,083 Thanks: 49 Thanked 111 Times in 99 Posts Blog Entries: 12 Rep Power: 33	Re: Building a few server rooms/pc's This is probably the wrong forum to ask this then really, but here's my advise: 1. Don't scrimp on your initial outlay, if your business takes off, it will cost you more to improve things than having a sustainable system in the first place. 2. Use well known brands of server - such as Dell or HP. This will allow you to have a good warranty, so things can be fixed in very quick time. Now, onto specs... Counterstrike is quite intensive. If you wish to host 32 slots on a box, you are looking at 2GB Ram, dual processors, SAS 10,000 RPM disks (or 15k disks if you can afford em). I would recommend something like this: http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en...-78128729.html with SAS disks. Each game you wish to host will have its own requirements. Poker and things like that will probably be happy on a shared server, whereas Counterstrike and its ilk will need dedicated boxes.

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Building a few server rooms/pc's

12-10-2007, 03:16 PM	#5
mckeder Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 0	Re: Building a few server rooms/pc's I dont mind spending the money on servers. Just trying to minimalize my cost as much as possible. I was looking at building most of the stuff myself just because its cheaper by about 1k dollars but the problem I run into is the warranty. Now dont get me wrong, warranties are nice, but I cant afford to have that 2 week downtime so they can work on the pc. Just trying to get an idea of what it would cost me to build the entire thing myself. Not sure if I want to go rack mount 1u or 2u yet.

12-10-2007, 03:57 PM	#6
ChrisH Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: East Lancs Posts: 3,988 Thanks: 3 Thanked 44 Times in 38 Posts Rep Power: 22	Re: Building a few server rooms/pc's If you buy a branded server you will have an onsite warranty depending on your level of cover this might only be half a day to nextday service.

12-10-2007, 04:12 PM	#7
GrumbleDook Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kettering, Northants Posts: 5,122 Thanks: 55 Thanked 206 Times in 110 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Rep Power: 55	Re: Building a few server rooms/pc's A number of local gaming zones I've been to have 4 hour response and a spare box in the back cupboard just in case. It seems to be a common practice.

12-10-2007, 04:13 PM	#8
mckeder Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 0	Re: Building a few server rooms/pc's That is true. Never thought of that. Can anyone recommend a nice server that isn't dell? just not a big fan of dells

12-10-2007, 04:31 PM	#9
FN-GM Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rochdale, Lancashire Posts: 5,124 Thanks: 168 Thanked 179 Times in 173 Posts Rep Power: 43	Re: Building a few server rooms/pc's HP are pretty good

12-10-2007, 04:34 PM	#10
j17sparky Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Teesside, England Posts: 1,238 Thanks: 12 Thanked 32 Times in 26 Posts Rep Power: 13	Re: Building a few server rooms/pc's Im not a fan of dell workstations, but you really cant knock their servers bith on design/quality and price.

12-10-2007, 04:36 PM	#11
Joedetic Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Walsall Posts: 1,274 Thanks: 4 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts Rep Power: 10	Re: Building a few server rooms/pc's Dell servers are NOTHING like Dell desktops and laptops...just so you know They are so much better. If you can afford the cost, IBM are always good build quality, at least the ones i've had contact with in the past were. Most things produced by IBM are rugged and reliable but it comes at a greater cost than a dell obviously.

12-10-2007, 04:40 PM	#12
localzuk Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Minehead, Somerset Posts: 4,083 Thanks: 49 Thanked 111 Times in 99 Posts Blog Entries: 12 Rep Power: 33	Re: Building a few server rooms/pc's Where I last worked, they spent about £2m on dell stuff a year, there servers were rock solid and the warranty is superb. That said, HP are just as good. I would say go with HP - you can have 4 hour response time on their warranties.

12-10-2007, 04:41 PM	#13
CyberNerd Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,451 Thanks: 49 Thanked 151 Times in 124 Posts Rep Power: 39	Re: Building a few server rooms/pc's You'll need somewhere to put this new server, I'd suggest somewhere secure like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Titan-Missile-Ba...32455924QQrdZ1

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12-10-2007, 05:23 PM	#14
mckeder Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 0	Re: Building a few server rooms/pc's wow. I would love to have that base but just cant afford the 1.5 mil price tag on it. roflmao! but thanks for everyones response. I am checking into dell and ibm servers right now. I will let you all know which ones I choose. Thanks, Derek

12-10-2007, 06:08 PM	#15
tech_guy Join Date: May 2007 Location: That bit in the middle of England Posts: 2,494 Thanks: 126 Thanked 78 Times in 35 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Rep Power: 28	Re: Building a few server rooms/pc's Perhaps we could all club together (1500000 / 4177 = 359 each) and use it to take over the world - well schools in the uk at least ;-)

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