Hey everyone! I'm looking to build a home server to stream media on Plex, manage my own cloud storage, and eventually integrate a home assistant along with some local AI work when I get a GPU like the 3060 12GB. I found a deal on AliExpress for a dual Xeon E5 2680v4 setup with an X99 motherboard and 32GB of RAM for about $128. Do you think this is a good plan, or is there something better out there? Will this setup be sufficient for what I intend to do?
2 Answers
Honestly, aside from the local AI stuff, your desired tasks are pretty light. A mini-PC could work well for you! If you plan to do a lot of media transcoding, I’d recommend sticking with Intel. It might be pricier at the start, but that dual Xeon setup will run up your monthly power costs more than you'd expect.
Those dual E5-2680v4s are a solid choice for the price, but just keep in mind they can be pretty power-hungry. For what you're planning, a newer single CPU setup might be more efficient. Something like a 12th gen Intel chip or even an AM4 Ryzen would handle Plex transcoding much better and save you on electricity. The dual Xeons can manage your tasks, but your power bill might surprise you!
Lol, I didn't think about the electricity cost! Thanks for pointing that out.
I actually have a Ryzen 3 3200G lying around. I might just use that instead!
Thanks! I’ll go for that Ryzen 3 3200G I have!