Help me decide on a new server this tax season!

C

ChRoNo16

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Feb 3, 2011
Messages
1,577
So as tax season is here. I am looking at options for a new server to replace my HP.

a little info on my current vm server.

HP DL380 G6
2x Xeon X5650 cpus (Six cores each/12 w/ HT) (24 cores total)
32gb of ram
this is the 8x 2.5" drive version

In all, this is an OK server. it runs what I need, but my biggest mistake was not looking at how much 2.5" SAS drives cost.
I want bigger drives (Most of mine currently are 146gb 10k drives, I want 1-2TB drives.

I just am generally not super stoked about this machine anymore, but one of the things I like is its quiet. I hear my network switch more than I hear this server running.

So heres what Im needing guidance on. I want to beef up what Im doing. Im hoping to do a single server replacement that covers what im doing now, and has some expandability in the future.

Thinking at least as many CPu cores as I have now (Maybe more)
64gb of ram minimum
I want a server that can use 3.5" drives, at least 8 or more
Hopefully a 2-3U server at least (!u servers even when quiet those fans have a whine to them that is just annoying.)

I was kind of hoping to jump to Dell servers. Im just not sure what model is best for me. Someplace between R510 and R720

Saw a youtube video on an R510 that was a 12bay 3.5" version, I just cant find one for less than 1500. and honestly Id like that to be most of my budget for this, im ok spending a little more later to add drives.

I forgot to mention I would like to not be crazy power hungry, but Im realistic and I know im looking at enterprise gear here
 
Also if anyone wants to throw in pictures, videos or information on what they use, that would be cool too.
 
Cisco UCS C240 M3s are really cheap right now on ebay. Will get you up to Sandy/Ivy Bridge chips. The LFF drive variants are pricey though, but the SFF variant has 24 2.5" bays. If you're sticking to small 10K SAS drives, it may be better to get SSDs instead.

I have a DL380 G7 and have been dancing around the idea of getting two of the Ciscos to build a small storage spaces direct cluster.
 
I dont want to keep doing 2.5" drives if I can help it, even SSD's get expensive when you need any real sizeable storage.
 
Yeah id say 1500 is the most I want to be into this. but ifg Im going to hit that price right away I hope its full of drives already
 
R730 all the way. One of the quietest, power efficient servers and now is just about the time companies are replacing them to pick up cheap :)
 
ChRoNo16 said:
So as tax season is here. I am looking at options for a new server to replace my HP.

a little info on my current vm server.

HP DL380 G6
2x Xeon X5650 cpus (Six cores each/12 w/ HT) (24 cores total)
32gb of ram
this is the 8x 2.5" drive version

In all, this is an OK server. it runs what I need, but my biggest mistake was not looking at how much 2.5" SAS drives cost.
I want bigger drives (Most of mine currently are 146gb 10k drives, I want 1-2TB drives.

I just am generally not super stoked about this machine anymore, but one of the things I like is its quiet. I hear my network switch more than I hear this server running.

So heres what Im needing guidance on. I want to beef up what Im doing. Im hoping to do a single server replacement that covers what im doing now, and has some expandability in the future.

Thinking at least as many CPu cores as I have now (Maybe more)
64gb of ram minimum
I want a server that can use 3.5" drives, at least 8 or more
Hopefully a 2-3U server at least (!u servers even when quiet those fans have a whine to them that is just annoying.)

I was kind of hoping to jump to Dell servers. Im just not sure what model is best for me. Someplace between R510 and R720

Saw a youtube video on an R510 that was a 12bay 3.5" version, I just cant find one for less than 1500. and honestly Id like that to be most of my budget for this, im ok spending a little more later to add drives.

I forgot to mention I would like to not be crazy power hungry, but Im realistic and I know im looking at enterprise gear here
Click to expand...

If it's still doing what you need, why not upgrade the ram and drives? When you talk about cost of them, what do are you referring to? When you say you aren't stoked about it, does that mean it's lacking in performance? Or just time for a refresh?

I have the same model DL380g6. The 1tb Seagate constellation drives (SAS) can be had for ~$60 or less. I run mine with 3 of these drives L5638 cpus and 72gb ram. I don't remember the max supported memory but ECC DDR3 cost isn't horrible and I've used 8GB DIMMs in mine. The only "problem" I have right now is support for SSDs but it's due to age and not an actual issue with the hardware.

https://h20195.www2.hpe.com/V2/Getdocument.aspx?docname=c04282582

Just used quantity 4, not sure what you are actually looking for.
4x 1tb constellation from Amazon (claims new)- $240
vs
4x 1tb constellation from eBay (misc use)- $120

12x16GB (128GB) DDR3 ECC from eBay (claims new)- $200

Just to give some perspective vs a complete replacement.


Also, going off the r730 tporter said- this looks like a decent starter ($950 shipped)- https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-R730x...619065?hash=item2d15d219f9:g:1KsAAOSwTe5fSJk0
12 cores / 64GBs /needs drives and looks like a few caddies.

or here (same seller) ($1350 shipped)- https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-R730x...sh=item2f49bea1d3:g:gAQAAOSwHlFfSJsQ&LH_BIN=1
12 cores / 96GBs / 8x 3TB SAS drives
 
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