Barebones PC for Cortex

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  • drod
    Automated Home Jr Member
    • Nov 2008
    • 30

    Barebones PC for Cortex

    Hi All,

    I'm in the process of looking around for a new server. I currently have a mini-itx server (with fan) and was looking to move to a fanless unit - maybe moving my existing unit to be a slave or cold stand-by. The main reason being that my node-0 is located in the cellar and whilst it's clean and dry it still gets an amount of dust in there, so fans tend to fail after a while.

    I was looking at some of the 'Barebone PCs' that are around, instead of building one myself, and wondered if anyone has used something like the small Intel or Gigabyte servers that are available; for example, so of these at eBuyer.

    Discover the full range of barebones computers from Asus, Intel and Gigabyte all at great prices with fast delivery


    Thanks, Dave
  • Karam
    Automated Home Legend
    • Mar 2005
    • 863

    #2
    Could have sworn that someone reported using an Intel NUC not so long ago. Must admit they look nice but I personally have tended to use notebooks in the past because they offered a reasonably priced package with all the user interfaces and a backup battery included. However physically a bit awkward, so a neat little box with a SSD is tempting. You can remote access for setup and I suppose battery backup can be in the form of a UPS.

    Comment

    • chris_j_hunter
      Automated Home Legend
      • Dec 2007
      • 1713

      #3
      We went Gigabyte - pretty good so far ... beware power consumption - ie: running costs & back-up power supply ... also be sure to match future demand as you expand your HA, especially if with video etc, including digitisation etc if not using IP cameras !
      Our self-build - going further with HA...

      Comment

      • Paul_B
        Automated Home Legend
        • Jul 2006
        • 608

        #4
        I've been running Cortex on a FitPC for a few years now without problem (it also runs as a mail server and DNS server). Device is in the garage and has lasted hot summers only shutting down once or twice. They are quite expensive but well engineered and constructed, additional benefit they use very little power (mine is around 11W) - http://www.tinygreenpc.com/fit-pc4-value-barebone.html

        I was wondering if some of the compute USB stick PC running Windows 10 might be a great way to go in the future. They come with USB for IdraNet connectivity and some have RJ45 connection as well

        Paul

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        • chris_j_hunter
          Automated Home Legend
          • Dec 2007
          • 1713

          #5
          just had time to have a look at various barebone options, so a few thoughts ... our original PC was also a mini-ITX and, while it was quiet & low-power etc, have to say we were shocked by how expensive it turned out to be to buy, by the time we'd added all the essentials to the motherboard, and also by the CPU loading it operated at - second-time round, we bought a ZooStorm (uses a GigaByte motherboard) that cost quite a lot less, performs way way better, but uses more juice ...
          Last edited by chris_j_hunter; 28 November 2015, 11:32 AM.
          Our self-build - going further with HA...

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          • drod
            Automated Home Jr Member
            • Nov 2008
            • 30

            #6
            Thanks for that guys. I had been playing with the idea of a laptop too - it's suprising what you can get campared to the mini-itx prices. However; I still prefer the idea of the server out of the way. I've not come across the FitPC before so will take a look at those too. Thanks

            Comment

            • Nad
              Automated Home Guru
              • Jul 2008
              • 145

              #7
              I've been running my cortex on a old Revo for the past couple of years with no issues at all. It sat under the sofa all that time and just did it's thing
              I did switch the HDD out for a spare 60GB SSD I had kicking around which makes using the system a bit nicer. I also picked up a spare PSU for a few quid too so I had a spare on hand.

              Comment

              • chris_j_hunter
                Automated Home Legend
                • Dec 2007
                • 1713

                #8
                the Revo range looks interesting ...

                wish it was possible to assess which one could cope with our Cortex+DataBase with room for AUI + CCTV cameras ...

                without the cameras, our miniITX (VIA 1GHz) ran at 95% CPU, and our GigaByte (i7 4770 3.5GHz 16GB) runs at 3%, with occasional excursions to three or four times that (*) ... the optimum is somewhere between, but where, and what ? ?

                (*) our DataBase & Cortex both evolved, so strictly not comparing like with like ...
                Last edited by chris_j_hunter; 30 November 2015, 02:26 PM.
                Our self-build - going further with HA...

                Comment

                • Nad
                  Automated Home Guru
                  • Jul 2008
                  • 145

                  #9
                  Interesting you should mention the i7 4770 as I was thinking along the same lines. I've got a gaming rig that's running that and was thinking about using it to run Cortex and take the opportunity to upgrade my gamin rig, however I've now started to look at this ... Lenevo TS140

                  Around £216 after chasback for a server isn't bad going at all. The CPU is no slough either (admittedly missing hyper threading but I don't think cortex cares too much about that), doesn't score as high as the 4770 but the whole system including ECC RAM and a Lenovo warranty for 1/2 the price of a 4770 is very tempting.
                  Last edited by Nad; 30 November 2015, 05:36 PM.

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                  • chris_j_hunter
                    Automated Home Legend
                    • Dec 2007
                    • 1713

                    #10
                    we had intended buying a Lenovo, can't recall which, but noticed (as a brand) they weren't rated well for reliability ... by Which? - albeit how reliable are they ?

                    pitching at the i5 appeared optimum, but there was an offer on the one we bought ...

                    so far as we could work-out, fourth generation seemed best, much better than third, in terms of design philosophy & consequent running temperatures ...

                    not sure how one tells how much use of its features is being taken, such as of hyperthreading ...

                    hopefully, the low CPU usage will help keep running temperatures down, to the benefit of reliability ...
                    Last edited by chris_j_hunter; 30 November 2015, 03:37 PM.
                    Our self-build - going further with HA...

                    Comment

                    • drod
                      Automated Home Jr Member
                      • Nov 2008
                      • 30

                      #11
                      Just as an update. I ended up purchasing an Acer Aspire laptop - with 4GB RAM - over the weekend. It cost just over £250 and whilst I would prefer the idea of the minITX, it does provide a few benefits as Karam alluded to; battery to allow for (short) power cuts, screen/keyboard attached so I can remove those from the rack!

                      I'm in the process of installing eberything I need on it so not sure how it will cope yet, but should be adequate for my needs. Thanks for the help and info!

                      Comment

                      • chris_j_hunter
                        Automated Home Legend
                        • Dec 2007
                        • 1713

                        #12
                        just a thought ... when we ran our set-up for a while on a laptop (*) we found it ran a bit warm (not good for the laptop, even worse for the battery) - we had space in our Node0 for it, and we found it sat well on a filing tray, borrowed from my desk - with the laptop bridging across it, the shape of the tray was good at encouraging an effective flow of cooling air, under & up ...

                        (*) after our miniITX failed, and many thanks for the loan ... !
                        Last edited by chris_j_hunter; 7 December 2015, 12:50 PM.
                        Our self-build - going further with HA...

                        Comment

                        • drod
                          Automated Home Jr Member
                          • Nov 2008
                          • 30

                          #13
                          Originally posted by chris_j_hunter View Post
                          just a thought ... when we ran our set-up for a while on a laptop (*) we found it ran a bit warm (not good for the laptop, even worse for the battery) - we had space in our Node0 for it, and we found it sat well on a filing tray, borrowed from my desk - with the laptop bridging across it, the shape of the tray was good at encouraging an effective flow of cooling air, under & up ... !
                          Good point Chris; thanks for the heads-up. The rack I have has shelfs with slots in but they may not be big enough to feed the laptop. I'll check that out. Cheers!

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