So, this open computer has been my homelab for a good while now, but I desperately want to upgrade it, so please recommend any hardware/upgrades.
Edit: I will use this server primarily as a media server! (shock) Edit2: I’m based in Norther Europe, so Amazon is not an option for me.
Current hardware: /What you see on the picture
- Motherboard: B250M Performance
- GPU: Nvidia GTX 1080 (defect, runs like an airport as soon as it needs to do ‘a heavier task’)
- CPU: Intel® Core™ i5-7500 CPU @ 3.40GHz
- CPU Cooler: Some cheap XILENCE fan
- RAM: 16 GB
- PSU: WPM600 Bronze
- Case: Custom company (defo want to replace)
- Storage: 1TB HDD + (2TB HDD but dead)
What I have to spare from previous build;
- GPU: Nvidia GTX 1060
- CPU Cooler: AMD Stock fan (doesn’t fit this motherboard)
So for a media server, and for power management, I’d ditch the discrete GPU and buy an Intel Core processor 10th gen or newer. Intel Quicksync does well with transcoding media and doesn’t cost you any additional power draw.
Mobo: buy whatever is cheap and compatible with the processor you choose. The more SATA ports the better.
RAM: 16GB should be plenty
Case: depending on what type of form factor you want, you might check out the Node 302 or the Define R7 cases from Fractal Design. These are both designed to hold a ton of HDDs so you can build up a media collection over time and just add a drive or two as needed.
If you don’t plan on growing a collection and prefer to just delete stuff after watching, then you can ignore this and buy whatever case you like.
SSD: 256GB to 500GB is good but more doesn’t hurt.
Suuuper!! Thanks for this, now I have a bit to chew on forwards :)
I just reread your OP and noticed you don’t currently have an SSD. You may consider swapping one in as the boot drive and running the rest of your current hardware (and possibly buying a new case for that “new PC” feeling) since they’re so cheap. This will, hands down, give you the biggest performance boost out of anything.
Realistically, the main benefit you’d get from buying all new hardware is better power efficiency as your current hardware is more than adequate for a media server, but it would possibly take years to ‘break even’ on operating costs depending on how much electricity costs where you live.
Yeah definitely a good point, black Friday sales are not too far off. So will probably write a wishlist now and then go full ham when sales hit🙌