New Server Setup - Intel P4000

[OneNOnly]

While shopping around for a new server to run run HexOS, I came across a local listing for a used P4000 for about USD$230 with the following specs:

MOBO: S2600IP4

CPU: 2x E5-2670

RAM: 128GB (1333)

1x 8 Slot 2.5” Hotswap bay

1 x 4 Slot 3.5” Hotswap bay

IPMI LAN port

2x Intel RAID card 

2x 1200W redundant PSU

Is this overkill for a HexOS setup to run a file storage, media hosting and maybe Home Assistant + local video recoding thru Frigate? 

My concerns would be that this is a PCIe gen 3 system and also the memory is running slower. 

[Mobius]

I've read many anecdotes online of ppl saying you won't notice RAM speed unless you are using a 10gb+ nic

Server PSU tend to be LOUD so it's only worth it if you have a sound isolated location with Ethernet access available to you. 

The 2.5" bays are more annoying to use. Majority 2.5" hdds are smr drives that don't play nice with the zfs that hexos/truenas uses. There are some 1tb or smaller hdds that are cmr but they are harder to find. 

The easiest use for those bays are for 2.5" sata ssds but those are expensive. 

For the price it'll be hard to better but you'll likely pay for it In the long run with electricity costs.

[HiTekRedneck]

I am looking at setting up a new system like you are.  That is a pretty old and inefficient system at this point IMO.  I am currently looking into the Lenovo P520 which you can get with a more modern Skylake Xeon Workstation CPUs. 

Not sure if you are looking specifically for a server rack setup but this could be an option to look into.   My head is still spinning looking at hardware on a budget.

[OneNOnly]

2 hours ago, Mobius said:

I've read many anecdotes online of ppl saying you won't notice RAM speed unless you are using a 10gb+ nic

Server PSU tend to be LOUD so it's only worth it if you have a sound isolated location with Ethernet access available to you. 

The 2.5" bays are more annoying to use. Majority 2.5" hdds are smr drives that don't play nice with the zfs that hexos/truenas uses. There are some 1tb or smaller hdds that are cmr but they are harder to find. 

The easiest use for those bays are for 2.5" sata ssds but those are expensive. 

For the price it'll be hard to better but you'll likely pay for it In the long run with electricity costs.

Thanks. I’m not actually planning to use the 2.5” bays as like you mentioned, there’s not much comparable drives out there. 
 

The buyer also mentioned that there’s a workaround to get the PSU in ‘slient’ mode by editing the SDR (https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/sdr-editing-for-a-quiet-intel-s2600ip4-in-a-p4000-chassis.15521/) but I have no idea how effective that would be.

1 hour ago, HiTekRedneck said:

I am looking at setting up a new system like you are.  That is a pretty old and inefficient system at this point IMO.  I am currently looking into the Lenovo P520 which you can get with a more modern Skylake Xeon Workstation CPUs. 

Not sure if you are looking specifically for a server rack setup but this could be an option to look into.   My head is still spinning looking at hardware on a budget.

I guess that’s the dilemma if new vs existing old. My original plan was to build a NAS using the Jonsbo N3 case and probably an older gen Ryzen. But just the case itself will cost about half of what this old server costs.

[HiTekRedneck]

I guess I was looking at it as a good starting platform, comes barebones in a case with plenty of room for expansion, more power efficient than the old 32nm chip you originally looked at being a more modern 14nm chip.  They can be had barebones for $150 on ebay with a W-2135 CPU or you could step up and spend more to get more cores.  

 

I am still hashing out if I want to go this route or stick with a consumer i5/i7 system.  Lots to learn.