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Hardware Support Discussions related to using various hardware setups with SageTV products. Anything relating to capture cards, remotes, infrared receivers/transmitters, system compatibility or other hardware related problems or suggestions should be posted here. |
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#1
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Need Help Deciding New Hardware
You may have heard of the recent demise of my crusty/trusty file server. I've been trying to decide whether to buy a refurb unit or go with a new mobo and keep the case I have. The unit will act primarily to serve up my video library. For years it was an XP box with a single core Athlon processor, which worked just fine for that one and only purpose(No Sage software involved).
Most of the refurb units I see are typical business desktop systems. Great if you don't need a lot of drive storage. But then I found a (probably more than)slightly used server with the capacity I need and a case to drool over. And with a nifty Xeon cpu to boot. The price is definitely in my range. https://www.newegg.com/hp-z-series-z...9SIAC0F8X67635 On the other hand, I also like the case I already have; plenty of drive slots (up to 8), a working PSU, and well it looks darn sexy, especially with a potted plant on it. Looking at a motherboard replacement would also require a new processor and memory, at minimum, coming in a good $100+ more; stretching my expand-o-matic budget. Some years ago I swore off building my own anymore; too much work and a headache to boot. But I have to admit the research part the past few days has been a bit of fun. https://www.newegg.com/p/1JW-00EE-00035 https://www.newegg.com/intel-core-i5...82E16819116992 Sooo, should I keep my case and build a new system, or toss the case into the boneyard and take my chances with a plug-n-play refurb server in a fancy chassis? Any and all ideas welcome. |
#2
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When I plan for a server, I go with what will get the job done and use the least amount of power when idle. I suspect the Xeon will not be a good pick in that regard as it has twice the TDP as your Haswell pick, but that's not definitive. I have 3 Haswell CPU's running in my server rack and they do a decent job at being low power at idle. My only complaint about them is a common one: this generation and Broadwell have all the power regulation on the CPU, so they do run a little hotter than the previous generation. This typically just means you will not get boost clock speeds for as long and in some cases (probably not this one), the stock heatsink isn't sufficient for some motherboards. Weird, I know, but it has something to do with the motherboard not implementing an Intel feature correctly.
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SageTV v9 Server: ASRock Z97 Extreme4, Intel i7-4790K @ 4.4Ghz, 32GB RAM, 6x 3TB 7200rpm HD, 2x 5TB 7200rpm HD, 2x 6TB 7200rpm HD, 4x 256GB SSD, 4x 500GB SSD, unRAID Pro 6.7.2 (Dual Parity + SSD Cache). Capture: 1x Ceton InfiniTV 4 (ClearQAM), 2x Ceton InfiniTV 6, 1x BM1000-HDMI, 1x BM3500-HDMI. Clients: 1x HD300 (Living Room), 1x HD200 (Master Bedroom). Software: OpenDCT :: WMC Live TV Tuner :: Schedules Direct EPG |
#3
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For similar reasons, I went with a chip with a 35W TDP. I calculated the electricity cost difference between using a 35W chip and a 65W chip, it's about $45/year for me. Granted, it's probably something less than that since those chips will not be run at full throttle all the time. Since I don't use comskip, and I don't transcode, I don't require an extremely powerful processor.
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Server: MSI Z270 SLI Plus ATX Motherboard, Intel i7-7700T CPU, 32GB Memory, Unraid 6.11.5, sagetvopen-sagetv-server-opendct-java11 Docker (version 2.0.7) Tuners: 2 x SiliconDust HDHomeRun Prime Cable TV Tuners, SiliconDust HDHomeRun CONNECT 4K OTA Tuner Clients: Multiple HD300 Extenders, Multiple Fire TV Stick 4K Max w/MiniClient Miscellaneous: Multiple Sony RM-VLZ620 Universal Remote Controls |
#4
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I kind of go the other direction on this, I throw a little money at it with the hopes that I won't have to touch it for 7 to 10 years. If you are using comskip or doing any transcoding, then it pays to have some horsepower, and with the newer processors they do throttle down nicely when not under a load.
Do have a Microcenter store anywhere near you? www.microcenter.com Sometimes you can find a package mobo/cpu combo for a great price. |
#5
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The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is priced at $155 at a lot of places. I recently purchased one with an inexpensive B450 motherboard and set up a new unRaid server with it. It's very fast and runs great. Lots of bang for the buck.
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#6
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Well so far it looks like it's 4-0 new mobo.
Looks like the Xeon tdp stat is 130w to the 4590's 84. I hadn't given too much thought to that. One thing I've not been able to decipher is a processor's 'non-load' frequency. Nothing in the specs seems to note this. Is that pretty much assumed these days on both Core and Xeon cpu's? I'm definitely sensitive to the cooling capabilities of a case, which is why I'm so impressed with the Z420's cooling conduits. I can't match that with my case. I do use Handbrake a lot and been using it on my new-to-me Sage server (gen 3 Core). Compared to my old file server, it's like getting running water in the house after hauling it from the well for years. But I would like to off-load that to my file server again. The Xeon and Core 4590 chips are comparable in that regard. I'll take a look at Microcenter. They have a shop down in Denver. It'd be nice to actually walk into a computer store again (remember CompUSA?). I'm still mad at AMD for playing musical sockets years ago. I should probably let them out of the dog house, as I'm no fan of Intel, either. It's just where the dart landed. Well, keep those cards and letters comin'. I need to hear some pro/con refurb thoughts. Thanks much. |
#7
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That what I build not to long ago a big upgrade
Windows 10 Pro Harddrive Pooling Software = Drive Bender Antec Performance Series P101 Silent Black/0.8 mm SPCC ATX Mid Tower Case with 8 x 3.5" HDD / 2 x 2.5" SSD Removable Trays (I chose this case because it has 8 3.5 bay) Corsair CX Series CX750 (New) CP-9020123-NA 750W ATX12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Non-Modular Active PFC Power Supply Intel Core i3-9100 Coffee Lake 4-Core 3.6 GHz(4.2 GHz Turbo) LGA 1151 (300 Series) 65W BX80684I39100 Desktop Processor MSI B360 GAMING PLUS LGA 1151 (300 Series) Intel B360 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.1 ATX Intel Motherboard G.SKILL Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 2666 (PC4 21300) Desktop Memory Model F4-2666C15D-16GVR Corsair Hydro Series, H60 2018 (CW-9060036-WW), 120mm Radiator, Single 120mm PWM Fan, Liquid CPU Cooler LG Black Blu-ray Burner SATA WH16NS40 Seagate BarraCuda 2.5" 250GB SATA III 3D TLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) ZA250CM1A002 (Bootdrive) Used LSI SAS 9211-8i 8-port 6Gb/s Internal IT-MODE and Cables (NOTE: Buy the right cable you need forward cable) 2x Supermicro CBL-0097L-03 51/51cm SFF-8087 To 4x Sata Forward Breakout + Sideband 4x Seagate IronWolf ST8000VN004 8TB 7200 RPM 256MB Cache SATA (With plans to add 4 more over course of this year) USB 2.0 4 Ports PCI Slot Bracket Molex to SATA Power Y Splitter Adaptor Cable Lead 2 Way 4 Pin To 2 x 15 Pin Re-used Hauppauge WinTV quad-HD Re-used other Hauppauge device Re-used Hauppauge USB HD-PVR 2 and PCIe Colossus 2 Re-used 128GB SSD for Caching Transcoding temporary path |
#8
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The biggest factors for me right now in a system is how well does it do hardware transcoding and will h/w transcoding easily work in docker on linux in the future. Handbrake as a tool and you might consider if migrations to Plex, Emby, jellyfin, Channels DVR or NextPVR are in your future. I expect OpenDCT will also use this with the correct knowledge of how to set it up.
The only caveat is I have idea if dav1d is going to make many systems obsolete or not. Martin |
#9
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#10
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Oh yeah, I remember CompUSA. It is nice to walk into a store where they still sell real computer hardware. At this point, it's nice to walk into any retail store.
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#11
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Transcoding is not only input. Flexbility is also about streaming to compatible devices, streaming to remote clients with low bandwidth and who really knows how someone will use a PVR in the coming years. h264 is still a challenge for many refurbished business PC's even with earlier versions of QuickSync.
Martin |
#12
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An impressive setup. I started looking at current case offerings and seeing how much has changed since I last built a system. Looks like a lot more modularity and an increase focus on cooling (guessing that gaming is the biggest market for cases anymore, larger ones anyway). Makes me realize I'm just being sentimental about saving what I have. I think being practical, and what I want to spend, trying my luck with another refurb system(have 2 already) is the way to go.
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#13
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#14
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How ever the best for now is QuickSync as better support across more OS platform then Nvidia and AMD Last edited by SHS; 08-06-2020 at 07:34 AM. |
#15
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One of the other reasons to get a new case is to have newer types of USB ports on the case like USB 3 and USB C. Those can be useful for external hard drives, USB memory sticks, etc.
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New Server - Sage9 on unRAID 2xHD-PVR, HDHR for OTA Old Server - Sage7 on Win7Pro-i660CPU with 4.6TB, HD-PVR, HDHR OTA, HVR-1850 OTA Clients - 2xHD-300, 8xHD-200 Extenders, Client+2xPlaceshifter and a WHS which acts as a backup Sage server |
#16
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I'm really happy with the Ryzen 5 2600. AMDs give you great bang for the buck and low power consumption.
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ASRock B450M Pro4 AM4 MB, Ryzen 5 2600 3.4ghz, Crucial Ballistix Gaming 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3200, EVGA GT 1030SC, WD Black NVMe SSD 250GB, 1x WD120EFAX 12TB, 1x WD80EFAX 8TB, 1x WDBH2D0040HNC 4TB, USB-UIRT, Colossus 2, WinTV-DualHD USB, Windows 11 64bit |
#17
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Sage 9 server = Gigabyte AMD quad-core - 4 gigs - integrated ATI HD4200 chipset - SSD boot, Hitachi Deskstar show drives. HD-PVR - Colossus - Win7 32 bit. HD200/300’s networked. HDHomerun tuner. "If you've given up on Weird Al, you've given up on life" - Homer Simpson |
#18
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__________________
Sage 9 server = Gigabyte AMD quad-core - 4 gigs - integrated ATI HD4200 chipset - SSD boot, Hitachi Deskstar show drives. HD-PVR - Colossus - Win7 32 bit. HD200/300’s networked. HDHomerun tuner. "If you've given up on Weird Al, you've given up on life" - Homer Simpson |
#19
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No and also have other apps run along side of SageTV like NextPVR and Emby going to and from time to retest Plex new update
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#20
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I switched from using Handbrake to VideoProc because Handbrake always took my I7 4 core processor to 100%. VideoProc uses much less CPU.
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Hardware: Intel Core i5-3330 CPU; 8GB (2 x 4GB); 2-4TB WD Blue SATA 6.0Gb/s HDD; Windows 7 Servers: ChannelsDVR, Plex, AnyStream, PlayOn, Tuner: HDHomeRun Connect Quatro Tuner: HDHomeRun Connect Duo Sources: OTA, Sling Blue, Prime, Disney+, Clients: ShieldTV (2), Fire TV Stick 4K (4) |
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