what a deal!

[Jameson69]

Hey everyone. I've got a friend who works at Future Shop (big computer store in canada) and each year Intel offers the employees awesome packages. This year the package is:

An Intel P4 3.0C GHz cpu
An Intel motherboard (forget which one but i think it has the i865 chipset)
And a copy of Windows XP

Those 3 things for only $199 USD (probably about $300 CDN)
I did some research and found out that the processor alone is like $500+
so this is quite an awesome deal. The deal starts in october and i'm trying to get my friend to get a package for me.

If he does happen to get it for me i'd like to 1 or 2 things with it. Either make a new computer and use it as a dedicated gaming server or use it for things like ftp.
I've just got a few questions. First, my current computer has the asus p4p800deluxe Mobo,a 2.4C GHz cpu, and 2x256 OCZ pc3500 memory. What i would like to do is put the new cpu into my asus mobo and put the older cpu into the Intel Mobo and run that was as the server and use the better one for myself. I was just wondering if anyone here has run a gaming server (maybe CS) from another home computer. If so, what are the pings like? Also, is that a good setup? Or should i switch parts around? Thanks. :cool:

[saphalline]

That is a really good deal. Can your friend get one for me?? :D Wow, for that price, woah... the things I could do... :D

Anyway, I would suggest putting in 2 x 512MB sticks of RAM for a game server. Nothing special, just some basic brand name PC3200. Really, tho, the biggest thing that keeps most game servers back is the upload time. Download usually isn't a problem, but a typical multiplayer game sends less data to the server than it needs back (usually 24Kbps to the server and 40Kbps from the server) so you'll want a whopping amount of upload bandwidth in order to handle more than 8-10 players at once.

Getting back to the hardware, that P4 2.4C has plenty of processing power and a full Gigabyte of RAM will keep games running smoothly. Other than that, you'll want to make sure the mobo you get (just keep hoping if you can't choose it) has onboard LAN. Not many of Intel's own mobo's have onboard LAN. Also, let's hope it uses the i865G chipset since that has onboard video - a server doesn't run the game locally so need for major graphical power. You also won't need a huge hard drive, so I would suggest Western Digital's SATA Raptor hard drive, which spins at 10,000rpm and has 36GB of space. A hard drive like that will cut load times down to a minimum. Again, let's hope that mobo has SATA. Last but not least, make sure you get a high quality power supply. Enermax, Antec, and even Thermaltake make great power supplies at a reasonable price.

[Jameson69]

Thanks for the reply saphalline.

In order to get more upload bandwith what could i do? Right now i'm running DSL but my ISP also has a higher service which runs up to 3Mbps which they say would be 4x faster upload. I guess that sure would fix the upload. Not sure if the board has onboard vid. If not i have a voodoo3 i could slap in there. I'm fairly sure it has onboard lan.

As far as an HDD, i guess if i used my Maxtor 60GB which does not have the 8MB cache but runs at 7200RPM wouldn't be the greatest to use but if i don't have the money for the raptor then i guess i'll have to settle for this.

The case i was looking at was the Antec Sonata http://www.antec-inc.com/pro_details_enclosure.php?ProdID=15138 which has a 380W PSU. Would this do just fine?

I'll also get a small crappy monitor for the server comp. No point in buying a big 19" or LCD for the server comp.

So i guess my only problems would be forking out the extra money for a Raptor and faster net service. Also, would playing in the game on my other computer effect the servers speed by much? Thanks

[saphalline]

If you can't afford the Raptor, then forget it. That's just a dream part anyway, and if you've already got a hard drive for it... well, it would be silly to buy another one.

The Sonata is a good case for a nice silent machine. But be warned, the airflow isn't as good as other cases for the same money. Of course, a server isn't going to have a lot of high-heat parts anyway, just the CPU. Plus, if you don't overclock, it'll keep your server even cooler so I'm sure the Sonata will be fine. Just don't ever use that case for a gaming rig (that's a warning for others as well).

DSL is really the net connection of choice for home servers, so that's good. What's your upload speed right now? Do the math on those numbers if you know it. Also, what game(s) were you thinking of running on the server? Do you own them? Read up on the software end of the server before you put it online - there are many settings and neat things you can do by manually altering the game server's config file(s), such as limiting the amount of bandwidth any individual player gets, the server name, password options, number of players, map cycling, time limits, etc. Some of these things are untouchable on the game's dummied-down GUI for the server software.

I don't really know if you'd be cutting into the bandwidth by playing on your own server. That's a question for the networking guru's. I guess it would also depend on how you connected to it. If you set up your main PC with your server in a LAN, you might be able to join the server game thru the LAN while the others join thru the internet. That would only suck up LAN bandwidth, which is usually up to 100Mbps these days (considerably more than any net connection).

[Jameson69]

well i went to my ISP page and i think this is the correct info about uploading " up to 320 Kbps upload speed "
Hmmm i guess that's right. My maximum download speed is 1 Mbps if that helps. So would upping my net speed to a maximum of 3 Mbps/dl help a lot?

This might be a silly question but i've heard someone talk about running a server computer without a monitor, is this true? :confused:

[Jameson69]

I'm confused because now in the faq section on my ISP page it says this:

Q: What kind of speed can I expect?

A: The Internet Speed High>Internet service will provide you with up to 1 Mpbs downstream and up to 160 kbs upstream. Upstream refers to data from your computer. Downstream refers to data to your computer. For most Surfers, the amount of data upstrea...

Errr so now i don't know if the upload is 320Kbps or 160kbs.

[saphalline]

Hmmm... that's a significant difference in upload speed so I would call them tomorrow to make sure. It could be you've got a higher upload speed than most if you live close to the phone company (or whoever is your DSL provider). DSL flavors can vary greatly but it's still the best type of net connection you can get.

Anyway, running a game server is finicky on the net connection side of things because a standard internet provider will assume that you need more download speed than upload (which is true for anyone not running a game server :p) but a game server needs more upload speed than download. :rolleyes: That 40Kbps upstream is a generic recommendation for most multiplayer games, tho, and the lower the ping that others get, the more you can stretch that number. I think you'll be OK to at least try hosting an 8-player match.

As to upgrading your net connection, you might want to ask them if you can get a syncronous connection (equal down & up speeds). Don't be put off by the phone rep, either, ask for a manager. A DSL connection is point-to-point with your provider so they have control over everything. If they're willing to work with you, you might be able to get more upload speed for the same price (but your download speed might suffer).

[Jameson69]

Alright well thanks a lot saphalline! You've helped a lot. :)

[saphalline]

Oh yeah, I forgot the monitor thing. Doh!

Once a server is up and running, you'd only need a monitor to check up on it. I would save the money for its own peripherals and just hook up your main stuff to it (mouse, keyboard, monitor). Or, for a really nifty idea, get a KVM switch which will share your peripherals on a hot-swap type basis. Just hit a hot-key or two and you can switch between the PC's! :D

[Jameson69]

OH YEAH! I forgot about switches lol we used them in school and the thought had never hit me. Thanks again! You're full of great ideas :)

[Jameson69]

Do you know anything about the average lengths of the cables on the switch? I like this one but i dunno if the cables http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?prid=502&gridwould be long enough

The other computer wouldn't be too close to me (maybe a few feet away) because my bedroom is a little small and i have a pretty big corner desk right now for my other computer.

[saphalline]

I don't know about the cable lengths, but Newegg sells KVM extension cables, if you can believe that. All sorts of surprises out there in the computer world, eh?