Ark server specs requirement + NAS while also low powered?

[JoeDurtTay]

Can someone recommend a decent dedicated server build that is also relatively low powered since it will be on 24/7. Could I run the ARK server in virtual environment (windows 2012) with another virtual environment for NAS? Is that a bad idea to have both on the same machine in terms of security/use? They would be separated since it is a virtual environment

Thinking something like 16GB of RAM DDR4 (maybe not ECC RAM, I can deal with the occasional restarts, plus server motherboards/cpus are pricey), i7-6700 quad core + HT (maybe wait for AMD zen 6 core?), 120GB 7200rpm HDD for ark, NAS, 2 1GB Ethernet ports (one for ark and one for NAS).

I will have access to google fiber in about 6 months if that matters, 1GB/s up/down, currently on a 100mb/s down / 25mb/s up.

Thoughts?

[SideShowBob]

Server requirements are pretty mild at this point.
I'm running mine on a Dell T5500-Xeon X5677 quad @ 3.46 and 12GB ram.
Processor usage runs around 10% starting and around 1-2% after a couple of minutes.
Total RAM is around 5.9GB at start (including OS-Win10 Pro) and 3-5 GB once it settles down-this is with 5 people on.
This machine is 2010 vintage-first gen i7, so newer stuff would be even better.

[8015]

Maybe a intel nuc with a quadcore? They are pretty lowpowered and might just be able to handle a dedicated server.

[JoeDurtTay]

Ok thanks, i was under the impression ARK servers required fast processors, do you think 4 cores + 4 HT is enough for ARK + NAS?

I don't like nuc due to lack of expand-ability at least as a server. Also i thought you had to run windows server or linux, windows 10 works?

[BlackHC666]

i am curently running 2 server 24/7 on a amd zambazi 6 core with 24gig ddr3 ram
and i can easaly play the game (ark ) and just about every other without ever hitting the 75% mark so you wont need the best of the best hardware to make this work with an lower comp

few tips
preferbly dont use win 10 home (auto updates when it wants)
and use an ssd drive for the server (speeds loading times by about 50%)

as for my connexxion i am using a 200mb/s down - 20mb/s up

2 server with a total players count of 110 people and havent maxt it out yet

hope this helps good luck

[JoeDurtTay]

Are you running a raid system for the servers, or just separate HD for both? Do you know anything about a good NAS software that would work well also on the same ark server machine? I read about freenas but it seems their file system ZFS is dependent on ecc memory which is a system build I don't want to pay for.

My NAS requirements are file storage/backup/transcoding.

[BlackHC666]

i have been messing around with nas4free but thats a linux build distro and while i am proficiant with it i cant say i liked it for my self and with the current build of windows 10 it wont do normal network sharing need programs as (windows commander or sftp )

as for the drive setup i have multiple ssd's
but ark server runs from 1 ssd (both servers) and i dont use raid ( dont need it)

[JoeDurtTay]

Originally posted by HyperBlader:

i have been messing around with nas4free but thats a linux build distro and while i am proficiant with it i cant say i liked it for my self and with the current build of windows 10 it wont do normal network sharing need programs as (windows commander or sftp )

as for the drive setup i have multiple ssd's
but ark server runs from 1 ssd (both servers) and i dont use raid ( dont need it)

Guess I don't need dedicated NAS software if I just use a backup program, mapped network drives, and plex server. Would also eliminate virtual machine overhead need.

I have an amd 1090T desktop that works but that processor is little too power hungry (120 watts at idle, 200watts load, looking for something around <100 watts load) for my taste to run 24/7.

[BlackHC666]

Originally posted by Mr Joeggernaut:

Originally posted by HyperBlader:

i have been messing around with nas4free but thats a linux build distro and while i am proficiant with it i cant say i liked it for my self and with the current build of windows 10 it wont do normal network sharing need programs as (windows commander or sftp )

as for the drive setup i have multiple ssd's
but ark server runs from 1 ssd (both servers) and i dont use raid ( dont need it)

Guess I don't need dedicated NAS software if I just use a backup program, mapped network drives, and plex server. Would also eliminate virtual machine overhead need.

I have an amd 1090T desktop that works but that processor is little too power hungry (120 watts at idle, 200watts load, looking for something around <100 watts load) for my taste to run 24/7.

you might take a look at second hand amd's for server and low power usage i know my power plant isent a problem for me but thats not the case for you

[JoeDurtTay]

I will look at some the refurb systems and amd things. Probably find something decent under for like $300 + $200 in hard drives.

My gaming rig is i7-4790k but way to power hungry with a gpu to run 24.7, that is why I want a separate machine. One could argue the cost of a separate system would negate any power savings but I prefer to keep the machines separate, one for personal use and the other being bombarded with traffic and doing nas things.

[BlackHC666]

Originally posted by Mr Joeggernaut:

I will look at some the refurb systems and amd things. Probably find something decent under for like $300 + $200 in hard drives.

My gaming rig is i7-4790k but way to power hungry with a gpu to run 24.7, that is why I want a separate machine. One could argue the cost of a separate system would negate any power savings but I prefer to keep the machines separate, one for personal use and the other being bombarded with traffic and doing nas things.

indeed i would love to separate the systems but i blew out my old i7 2600k and i cant afford a new gaming rig atm so for now it wil have to do