I have plenty of spare parts laying around and was wondering how to go about building a game server PC. I want to host games like Counter Strike, Arma 2, Garry's Mod with player bases of about 10 people.
Now, here's what I have for spare parts:
Pentium D @3.0GHz
Random Dell mobo for it
2 or 4 GBs of DDR2 RAM
A 300 watt PSU out of a 2011 Gateway prebuilt
80GB 7200RPM drive
and I'll buy a new case
For the OS, I'm deciding on either Windows 7 or a Linux Distro
Any suggestions?
All the games you mention have Linux dedicated servers, so I would highly recommend using a Linux distribution for your server handling.
As for the PC, you should be able to host a smaller CS or GMod server, but I'm not sure it'll handle 10 players.
What's the best distro for game hosting?
I'm looking for ease of use, lightweight and nice features.
You can pretty much chose anything you like. Something like CentOS works if you're a fan of RedHat or Fedora, but if you're gonna stick with what most people use and know (pretty much a de facto), then Ubuntu and Debian are easily the ones you should probably use.
try using [URL="http://www.lubuntu.net/"]lubuntu[/URL], it's a lightweight derivative of ubuntu
[QUOTE=based;44498116]try using [URL="http://www.lubuntu.net/"]lubuntu[/URL], it's a lightweight derivative of ubuntu[/QUOTE]
For a server? Are you for real?
[QUOTE=Original User;44497704]What's the best distro for game hosting?
I'm looking for ease of use, lightweight and nice features.[/QUOTE]
If you have to ask, you should probably just go with Windows.
[QUOTE=DrTaxi;44498621]If you have to ask, you should probably just go with Windows.[/QUOTE]
Why is this? So you proprose the only way to learn is by failing a million times and then trying something else? There's nothing wrong in asking about something, that doesn't mean you're not competent to do it.
Any CPU based on the Netburst architecture (ie. Pentium D) are [I]horrible[/I] for hosting any type of Source engine server. They're extremely computationally inefficient and you'll notice pretty much immediately srcds.exe will eat up all of the available CPU time and lag to hell with even relatively small loads.
You can buy old Core 2 Duo processors for really cheap (like an E8400 for $40) and some old G31 motherboard and 4 GB of RAM to have a decent server.
[QUOTE=mastersrp;44498648]Why is this? So you proprose the only way to learn is by failing a million times and then trying something else? There's nothing wrong in asking about something, that doesn't mean you're not competent to do it.[/QUOTE]
Why learn to use Linux if all you want to do is host a gameserver for a couple of friends?
Because if you want to run a game server, chances are you like IT. If you want a job in IT then having some skill on the Linux command line is a very desirable asset.
Can't harm to learn a new skill, I changed an iPhone screen yesterday... I'll never own an iPhone but you never know when that may come in handy. I'd say it'd be a good learning experience even if you do give up and put windows on it.
To OP, I'm sure you can find a low end core2duo system dirt cheap right now. The e6300 is a bit rough with Windows 7 or 8 so there should be many out there with xp on them right now for dirt cheap. It was an extremely popular processor in the beginning of the core era.
[QUOTE=Levelog;44509299]To OP, I'm sure you can find a low end core2duo system dirt cheap right now. The e6300 is a bit rough with Windows 7 or 8 so there should be many out there with xp on them right now for dirt cheap. It was an extremely popular processor in the beginning of the core era.[/QUOTE]
There were two E6xxx lines. The first was based on the Conroe core, and the second was based on the Wolfdale core. The Wolfdale E6xxx processors are basically E8xxx parts with 2M of cache instead of 6M and run on a 1066 bus instead of 1333. There's no point in getting the older Conroe part.
You can get an E6300 Wolfdale for $13 on Ebay:
[url]http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Pentium-Dual-Core-2-8-GHz-SLGU9-E6300-LGA775-CPU-Processor-1-YEAR-WARRANTY-/261413957458?pt=CPUs&hash=item3cdd7c6f52[/url]
And a cheap MSI motherboard:
[url]http://www.ebay.com/itm/MSI-G41M-P33-Combo-LGA-775-Socket-T-Intel-Motherboard-/351016750288?pt=Motherboards&hash=item51ba3a8cd0[/url]
There are a lot out there atm. I just ordered 7 e2140's for under $15.
[QUOTE=Levelog;44514877]There are a lot out there atm. I just ordered 7 e2140's for under $15.[/QUOTE]
The only thing an E2140 is good for is an office workstation, it's a very weak CPU.
[QUOTE=GiGaBiTe;44515167]The only thing an E2140 is good for is an office workstation, it's a very weak CPU.[/QUOTE]
Not even in a server farm?
I wonder how 6 of them would operate with one, probably still won't be good enough. Who knows.
And to practice delidding. Which is my purpose for them.
[QUOTE=Yuzing0;44515827]Not even in a server farm?
I wonder how 6 of them would operate with one, probably still won't be good enough. Who knows.[/QUOTE]
Six of what operate with what?
About the only server thing you could do with an E2140 is host a low traffic web server with a small SQL database. You don't want to use an E2140 for a Source server.
[editline]11th April 2014[/editline]
[QUOTE=Levelog;44516978]And to practice delidding. Which is my purpose for them.[/QUOTE]
Most LGA775 parts have the IHS soldered onto the core. You'd have to de-lid it first and use a heat gun to melt the solder and make the IHS fall off. Though I don't know if the core would survive the heatgun.
[QUOTE=GiGaBiTe;44520759]Six of what operate with what?
About the only server thing you could do with an E2140 is host a low traffic web server with a small SQL database. You don't want to use an E2140 for a Source server.
[editline]11th April 2014[/editline]
Most LGA775 parts have the IHS soldered onto the core. You'd have to de-lid it first and use a heat gun to melt the solder and make the IHS fall off. Though I don't know if the core would survive the heatgun.[/QUOTE]
Most, but not all. The e2140 is one without it soldered, which is why I chose it.
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