what do i need for a good gaming server

[Adam Pintar]

I was just wondering what would be a goo processor for a gaming server and if the celerons are good enough because of budget reason.

currently looking at a celeron 800 to 850

or a pentium III 733

and any other tips for designing a gaming server.

I also want to use this server for ftp and practicing mail servers, print servers and web servers but im not sure how much power is needed for these.

its going for the beginning have 256 mb ram

thanks

Adam http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[AwARe]

Hello Adam, http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Gaming servers don't require as much "Power" as you may think.....
If they are run as a "dedicated server", they don't actually have to process the Video and etc like the clients connected to it do.....
This makes the requirements much lower......

(Im not recommending this setup by any means! but.......)
For example, I have been running a game server for both Q3 and UT on a k6-166 OC'd to 208mhz with 64MB of 66mhz Ram (I found a k6-2/450 for $25 and its going to be installed in about a week)
This server also has running on it, an email server, an ftp server, and an http server......(It is however under "very" light usage)

Due to bandwidth limitations, the Game server I limited to 5 users, and I shut the FTP down during game play..........(I doubt the machine could handle both either way)

What Im getting at I guess is, its going to depend on the "Exact" usage load you want to put on this machine, and the bandwidth you have available to you.......(If you dont have the bandwidth, the CPU isnt going to matter much at all)

Point being, that if I had the cash, Id probably get at least a Dual PIII system for my server, or maybe an XEON who knows, but wouldnt really do me much good, because I dont have anywhere near the bandwidth for it......

It would also help (if you are going to run an FTP and Game server simultaniously, and even have the bandwidth to do it) that you use some manner to limit the amount of bandwidth used by the FTP, so it doesnt lag the Game server.......

What you really need to do is find out exactly how much bandwidth you have available to you, and then construct your server and software running on it, to fit the bandwidth limitations and your available cash....

I guess I could go on for 100 pages worth, but I think this should give you the idea?................

Hope you found this helpful!

[hiredgoonz]

I would go with the p3 over the celeron...the extra full speed cache of the p3 will be a slight bonus in server type applications...but the extra clock speed won't really matter...look at the XEON cpus...not that fast, but loads of cache memory (and they cost loads of cash too)

I used to run an ftp server on a P2 350 and I could still use it at the same time, aware is right, you don't really need that much power...so if you can save some money on the cpu and go with more ram or a faster hard drive, you might get more benefit from that...

[Adam Pintar]

ok thanks for your help guys.

here is the conclusion that i have come too and what im going to use to build the system.


Dsl Modem ( not quite sure about bandwidth but I took this off my internet providers page "range from 1.544 Mbps to 512 Kbps downstream and around 128 Kbps upstream." )

router/gateway (since I want to internet share to 2 computers, 1 a server and 1 for gaming)


PIII 733mhz
256 mb ram pc133
basic motherboard
ati xpert 98 ( going to have a tv tuner card installed vor video capture)
7200 rpm 20 gig ata 100 hard drive
cdrom
floppy
cd-writer
nic

I want a counter strike server for the game.

I want to be able to use cd writer and do video capture with ati tv tuner.

I have nt server, windows 2000 pro, red hat linux ver 6.0


Which would be the better operating system?
Any other sugestions?
What about the amd duron 900 it seemed to have a higher benchmark is it good for servers?


http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Adam Pintar (edited 05-18-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Adam Pintar (edited 05-18-2001).]

[hiredgoonz]

The Duron is the best performance for the price EVER in the cpu market...as far as its server performance...I don't have any numbers, but my guess is it would do just fine...

Unless you're going to use the OS to provide the server application, I would go with win2k pro and look into more RAM...

More ram will be a big help for the video capture\editing and I don't know what you're going to be doing, but you could use up 20gb pretty fast...

[Adam Pintar]

I will have 512 dsl bandwidth with a duron 900mhz and 512 ram what would I be able to do.

The setup I had in mind is a gaming system which I already have and the server internet shared through a dsl router gateway.

I am not sure if I will lose any bandwidth from this. I want this so I can join my game on a limited amount of cash.

Also on the server side my options for os is win2000 pro, winnt, or linux redhat what ever the latest version is.

I want to be able to have 1 game dedicated server with 16 people for counter strike.

Have an ftp so people can download maps.

If I can have a place where people can access my webpage and im not sure if this is an webserver since i am just learning this stuff. Do I still have to put my webpage on my internet server provider(which is not that bad since it saves me resources).

I will also be sharing out my printer through the server.
Have a cd-writer on it.
and im going to have a tv-wonder on it depending if the operating system will allow me too.

So an overall is that the server will have a partitioned drive 1 section for staorage the other for my ftp, web, and 1 dedicated game.


Will this work and if you have any ideas or I am mistaken in my setup please tell me.

thanks

adam http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif