TLDR: Need Advice on Components for a 24/7 Server to Stream 1080p to JTV/Games to Twitch new Server/Computer Build.
Hey guys,
I am building a new server to stream videos to things like JTV/Twitch and similar such.
I was using a mid grade performance machine with an i5 Intel Processor,.. Had 2 Cores, 2 threads. With 6GB of DDR3 RAM,.. and was running it off the Onboard Intel HD 3000 Graphics.
Since I stream 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.. This system died. (I am a network engineer, so building computers is nothing new.. just wanted some opinions of yours for this specific application.)
I stream using OBS of course,.. capturing the VLC output on a monitor of all different Video files. I stream mostly high resolution HD material. A lot of 1080p material between 2-3Mbps data rate.
IE: Some 45 minute files may be 1Gig in size.. *most* don't exceed that, and the average is probably 700-800Meg per 30-40minutes.
This is a system that needs to be hardy,.. be able to be on and running at load *all the time* --- and ideally be built not to crash and last years. Most peoples systems get some breaks of course due to use.. shutting them off,.. etc. This will not.
That said, I will also be running several other applications that I use for streaming along side OBS, and VLC -- A web server, 4 Irc Clients,.. Web Browser with tabs.. and due to coding I have written there is a high level of file read/write going on every second (besides the obvious Video being displayed.)
I don't know just how much power such a machine needs to be ideal.
Would an i7 Processor be warranted? Would an Nvidia mid to high end GPU/Video card be warranted (Ie: $300 price range). What about Running SSD's on this machine. Would running an SSD for the applications, Operating system, but NOT the video files due to their sheer size be beneficial for the purpose?
RAM? How much is too much? How much is not enough? I'm more of rather have too much than not enough when pursuing systems. The i7 utilizes 3 Memory chips in Tri-Channel specifically. So with that in mind, I see a lot of 2 chip set ups for 8GB and 16GB,.. be it 4GB x 2 chips, or 8GB x 2 chips. Would a good balance be using *three* chips at 4GB or 12GB of RAM.. to utilize the tri-channel setup for the i7?
What specific Video cards do you recommend.
What Motherboard and CPU combo's would you recommend?
I'm not asking about building a first computer -- I've done this more times than I can count,.. but never for this purpose.
The machine I was running on ran for 8 months before having issues.. It began to lock up and crash,.. and ultimately had multiple hardware failures... which I attribute to a little bit of bad luck,.. but also to using a system that COULD handle the duty, but was pushing it hard , without break,.. for nearly a year.
In my experience with building servers.. I've had the best luck building machines that are a few hundred percent more powerful than the tasks needed for it to perform, thus it runs at say 20 percent - 35% load instead of pushing a 60-90% load all the time.
You get the idea. Money is an object, but just trying to get opinions from those who know their components and are up on what's out there now. IE: Know why 10MB of Cache on a chip benefits over 6MB.. the true differences in i3, i5, and i7 processors.. How Tri channel memory actually works,.. Using Various clock speeds of RAM chipsets.
Speaking of RAM clockspeeds,.. is it worth it to go for the RAM at 1866-2400Mhz speeds, or no?
The two largest questions I have are the proper CPU for this and even more questionable what kind of dedicated Video card is needed. There is an off chance games would be cast on this machine at some point.
Thanks for any opinions you have for the build.
Take care,
Hey guys,
I am building a new server to stream videos to things like JTV/Twitch and similar such.
I was using a mid grade performance machine with an i5 Intel Processor,.. Had 2 Cores, 2 threads. With 6GB of DDR3 RAM,.. and was running it off the Onboard Intel HD 3000 Graphics.
Since I stream 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.. This system died. (I am a network engineer, so building computers is nothing new.. just wanted some opinions of yours for this specific application.)
I stream using OBS of course,.. capturing the VLC output on a monitor of all different Video files. I stream mostly high resolution HD material. A lot of 1080p material between 2-3Mbps data rate.
IE: Some 45 minute files may be 1Gig in size.. *most* don't exceed that, and the average is probably 700-800Meg per 30-40minutes.
This is a system that needs to be hardy,.. be able to be on and running at load *all the time* --- and ideally be built not to crash and last years. Most peoples systems get some breaks of course due to use.. shutting them off,.. etc. This will not.
That said, I will also be running several other applications that I use for streaming along side OBS, and VLC -- A web server, 4 Irc Clients,.. Web Browser with tabs.. and due to coding I have written there is a high level of file read/write going on every second (besides the obvious Video being displayed.)
I don't know just how much power such a machine needs to be ideal.
Would an i7 Processor be warranted? Would an Nvidia mid to high end GPU/Video card be warranted (Ie: $300 price range). What about Running SSD's on this machine. Would running an SSD for the applications, Operating system, but NOT the video files due to their sheer size be beneficial for the purpose?
RAM? How much is too much? How much is not enough? I'm more of rather have too much than not enough when pursuing systems. The i7 utilizes 3 Memory chips in Tri-Channel specifically. So with that in mind, I see a lot of 2 chip set ups for 8GB and 16GB,.. be it 4GB x 2 chips, or 8GB x 2 chips. Would a good balance be using *three* chips at 4GB or 12GB of RAM.. to utilize the tri-channel setup for the i7?
What specific Video cards do you recommend.
What Motherboard and CPU combo's would you recommend?
I'm not asking about building a first computer -- I've done this more times than I can count,.. but never for this purpose.
The machine I was running on ran for 8 months before having issues.. It began to lock up and crash,.. and ultimately had multiple hardware failures... which I attribute to a little bit of bad luck,.. but also to using a system that COULD handle the duty, but was pushing it hard , without break,.. for nearly a year.
In my experience with building servers.. I've had the best luck building machines that are a few hundred percent more powerful than the tasks needed for it to perform, thus it runs at say 20 percent - 35% load instead of pushing a 60-90% load all the time.
You get the idea. Money is an object, but just trying to get opinions from those who know their components and are up on what's out there now. IE: Know why 10MB of Cache on a chip benefits over 6MB.. the true differences in i3, i5, and i7 processors.. How Tri channel memory actually works,.. Using Various clock speeds of RAM chipsets.
Speaking of RAM clockspeeds,.. is it worth it to go for the RAM at 1866-2400Mhz speeds, or no?
The two largest questions I have are the proper CPU for this and even more questionable what kind of dedicated Video card is needed. There is an off chance games would be cast on this machine at some point.
Thanks for any opinions you have for the build.
Take care,
