Planning my new server, help me decide the parts!

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Hi All,

I’m currently running a Lenovo TS140 with 16GB RAM and 2 x 7200RPM 2TB HDDs in RAID 1. This is then connected to a QNAP NAS with 2 x 6TB WD Red HDDs in RAID 1. The NAS has space for 4 HDDs, however 2 of the bays are not working anymore. I am using ESXi 6.5 with PMS installed on a virtual Windows Server 2016 instance, issued with 3 of my 4 cores and 8GB RAM.

Given the increased adoption of 4k content, the server is beginning to struggle with transcoding this content. It manages fine with 4-5 1080p streams, but just 1 4k cripples it.

I also use this server for other things. I work in IT and generally like playing around with things. I have a SIEM running (OSSIM) and a few other bits which generally monitor my network.

As a result of all of this, I’ve thought enough is enough, and decided to upgrade. The question is, to what?

My requirements are:

  1. Tower server rather than rack mounted because a) I don’t have a rack yet, b) 1/2U rack servers are bloody noisy. Unfortunately, this limits my options and increases my costs somewhat.

  2. Be capable of streaming at least 4 x 4K instances AND 4 x 1080p instances simultaneously. I don’t think that this limit will be reached, however it’s all about future-proofing.

  3. PMS must only take up about 25% of the total performance capacity of the server, allowing me to tinker with the rest of it.

  4. Enough storage for films, provided in a capacity that is resilient and performant enough to meet points 2 and 3.

  5. Capacity for future growth when required.

Given the above, I think I’ve settled on a Dell T620 Server as my base because it’s got more than enough options for future expansion whilst simultaneously providing what I need right now. Although I’m happy for recommendations on this point.

Questions here are:

  • Which CPU? I’ve been thinking about a single 6-Core XEON at the moment, but trying to ensure that it is one which supports QuickSync.
  • How much memory? My current thought is start with 32GB and then just add as and when required?
  • Storage configuration. I’ve just ordered 2 new 500GB Samsung 860 EVOs (link is to draw attention to 50% off sale on Amazon!!) which will be configured in RAID 0. These will host my virtual machines Operating Systems as well as the Plex files for transcoding etc. But what about the other 6 drives? I’m thinking of getting 6 x 8TB Seagate Ironwolf drives, and configuring them into RAID 10 - although happy for recommendations here for both RAID config and HDD type.
  • Will definitely need to get a quad port intel NIC - although I think I actually have one somewhere.

I’ve been reading a lot on here about hardware acceleration and think that getting a GPU for it would definitely be one of the most beneficial upgrades possible, the question is, which GPU?

  • Which GPU?
  • Can you use multiple GPUs?
  • Can you use QuickSync AND dedicated GPUs?

Operating system is likely to be Windows Server 2016 as a VM again, I’ll just migrate it to a new ESX instance.

Anything else you think? Other recommendations?

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I rebuilt my Linux PMS server a few years ago, and I opted to get slightly older Xeons because you could get a great deal on them second-hand. I got 2 Xeons for ~$100 each and ended up with 32 threads for a real bargain. Parts list here.

I know I’m behind the times a bit, but just thought I’d throw it out there…

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Hey man, thanks for the reply and suggestion. Completely understand what you’re saying and where you’re coming from.

What would you suggest is more important to the performance of PMS? Number of cores of the speed of those cores?

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That is one of those $1M questions to which the only answer is “it depends”; main reason that comes to mind is that some codecs are multi-threaded, and some aren’t. In general, the more modern ones are, afaik, which makes number of threads a bit more important. And then there’s the GPU factor, which I’ve completely ignored…

Goes back to the eggnog.

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Haha. Yeah, it’s always the way in IT. I’m a security consultant and I think that “it depends” is one of my most used phrases simply because there are too many variables at play in any given scenario.

I think going for more cores is probably most beneficial on three counts:

  1. As you say, there are certain circumstances where more cores will be more efficient at transcoding.

  2. My GPU(s) will likely be bearing the majority of the transcoding brunt anyway.

  3. More CPUs will be more useful in more circumstances than faster CPUs, bearing in mind point 3 and point 5 of my requirements.

I can Google this answer, so please don’t feel obliged to provide one, but do all Xeons use the same sockets? I know that it changes with non-xeon CPUs, so my assumption is that it most likely does. In which case, it’s probably worth looking at an older CPU that fits the socket on my motherboard; what ever that ends up being.

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I can categorically say no just based on how much Intel likes changing ■■■■. It’s always a Google-palooza to try to figure out what MB and RAM is needed…

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Haha. Yeah, I thought as much!

Thanks for your input anyway. If you have any thoughts on the rest of my post, please feel free to provide input. Have a Merry Christmas regardless.

Best,

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