WHS / webserver / desktop combination/hybrid server with vmware

I’m about to build a combination server to use as a WHS (Windows Home Server) for files and backup/redundancy, a webserver for hosting websites (probably Ubuntu LAMP and mostly running Drupal CMS) and an ordinary desktop computer. To be able to do that I will use virualization by VMware/Virutal Box, probalby VMware Workstation.

Here you can follow my building/components plans as I update it regularly.

Comments and suggestions are most welcome.

Questions:

1. AMD vs Intel Quad core – Probably AMD Athlon II 605e due to low power consumption but still quad core.
2. VMware vs VirtualBox – Right now leaning towards VMware Workstation but not obvious.

CPU Comparison

Comparison (last number = benchmark number):

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/low_end_cpus.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_CPU_power_dissipation
(Old CPU for comparison Intel Pentium 4 3,06GHz = 391 benchmark = 26.73 Watts/GHz)

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/midlow_range_cpus.html
Intel atom 330 @ 1,60 GHz = 630 benchmark = 26.73 Watts/GHz

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html

AMD Athlon X4 II 600e = 2799

AMD Athlon X4 II 630 = 3378

AMD Phenon II X4 965 = 4223

http://www.vmware.com/download/eula/multicore.html

Get AMD Athlon X4 II 605e!!

Power consumption:

http://en.inpai.com.cn/doc/enshowcont.asp?id=7052&pageid=5792

Open questions:

• Can you use graphic card/circuit through wmware?
• what motherboard?
• Check hardware acceleration in wmware
• check that 905e can run 64 bit os
• difference between VMware server and VMware workstation: http://vmfaq.com/entry/5/
• SATA 3.0
• VMware vs Virtualbox (Google)
• HDMI and DVI cables where connectors are mounted seperately
• Memory speed for AMD Athlon II X4
• SSD disk speed and power consumption? for speed of system disc?
• Speed and power consumption of WD velocityraptor for system disc?
• Difference 10600 / 10666 memory
• What HDD. WD green quite bad reviews on newegg.com. Check samsung green or ordinary!
• Long HDMI and DVI cables where connectors are mounted seperately
• Check how long it is between under the stairs and livingroom for HMDI-cable
• Check power consumption for the discs I have now
• Build it on Win7 and VMWare on that to use also as HTPC
• Svn-server also as VM.
• Check if memory is overclockable. Check Tom’s motherboard test for ther test environment. What memory did they use?
• Check best power supply. Cougar S? Cougar S 550W Modular 80+ Silver
• hdd passthru in vmware server – http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1452489
  • Add for instance 2 HDD to the server (win 7)
  • Open disk management and make these HDDs go offline
  • Add the 2 new drives exclusively to the VM running WHS
• Access vmware .vmdk-file from other computer: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2016
• Check Samsung HDD
• Alignment/jumper problem with WD EARS
• Check info about WD and RAID
• Check if sound chip matters if optical/hdmi output.
  • Might be able to convert stereo to 5.1 in chip for example using Dolby digital live.

785G chipset:

http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2009/08/amd-785g-780g-with-am3-ddr3-nothing-to-see.ars

http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/chipsets/7-series-integrated/Pages/amd-785G-chipset.aspx

http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/chipsets/7-series-integrated/Pages/amd-785G-chipset.aspx

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-785g-chipset,2381-16.html

Motherboards

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-785g-motherboard,2441.html

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-785g-motherboard,2441-23.html

Energy efficient: http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/motherboards/2010/01/19/msi-785gm-e65/9

http://www.prisjakt.nu/kategori.php?l=s48709924&o=lokal_rank

ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO AMD 785G Motherboard Review

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131398&nm_mc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r&cm_mmc=OTC-pr1c3grabb3r-_-Motherboards+-+AMD-_-ASUS-_-13131398

sound chip

http://www.overclock.net/sound-cards-computer-audio/504897-onboard-vs-dedicated-recent-hardware.html

http://techreport.com/articles.x/16702/10

http://www.sweclockers.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=835158

LINKS:

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/video_how_build_pc_ever_step_explained

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/master_your_digital_domain?page=0%2C1

http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/

 

Components

• CPU – AMD Athlon II X4 605E 2,3GHz Socket AM3
• Case – Antec Three Hundred
• Memory – Corsair Dominator DDR3 PC10600/1333MHz CL7 4x2GB
• Power supply – Cougar S550 550W
• Motherboard – MSI 785GM-E65
• HDD – 2 * Samsung EcoGreen F2 HD154UI 32MB 1.5TB

Components (OLD)

• CPU – AMD Athlon II 605e
• Motherboard – GIGABYTE GA-MA785GT-UD3H = pros: nice audio chip, overclockable, ATX, 6 SATA
  Gigabyte MA785GPMT-UD2H pros = nice audio chip, 128 Mb Sideport mermory, overclockable. cons: sata could be covered by PCIe port, power consumption at load at least. Not for sale in EU.
• Case – http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146061
  or Antec Two Hundred ATX Mid-tower $49.95
• Power supply:Cougar 700CM/R 700W efficiency = bronze @ www.80plus.org
  Corsair CMPSU-450HX 450W efficiency = bronze @ www.80plus.org
• RAM – At lest 4Gb but up to 8Gb
• Storage – 1*500Gb for WHS system. 1*1000Gb for all other VMs, 2*1 or 1,5Gb for data. Green disks.
  (in near future SSD disc for system and VMs but too expensive now).
• OS – Windows Home Server

Read

http://forum.wegotserved.com/index.php?/forum/17-self-build-and-components/?s=7ce370fd70e77b7e9d74b36e726e2680