Question CPU for Fileserver- AMD or Intel

[JD007]

Hi Guys,

Need to build a new fileserver for 5 people. Quickbooks will be mostly used and stored on the server and other than that MS applications. Need your opinion between AMD ryzen 3 a2200, ryzen 5 2400, and Intel core i3.

Thanks

 

[mdd1963]

it does not take a lot of CPU power to store/retrieve/dispense files over a 1 GbE/ 10 GbE network, so I'm sure any of the above choices would work fine...as would the newer low-cost socket 1151 Xeons that support ECC (if you need/want more than the i3, which also supports ECC RAM)

More important than it's speed is it's reliability, data integrity, and to some, ease of repair/user serviceability/warranty (Make sure there are backups!)

Many of the 2,4, and 5 disk NAS units by Synology and QNAP are semi-reasonably priced....

 

[jojesa]

Hi Guys,

Need to build a new fileserver for 5 people. Quickbooks will be mostly used and stored on the server and other than that MS applications. Need your opinion between AMD ryzen 3 a2200, ryzen 5 2400, and Intel core i3.

Thanks

Since a fileserver main purpose is file storage and access, there is not need for computational power.
I would go with a CPU with the less power requirements like a Quad-Core Pentium or even a Celeron embedded into a motherboard (e.g. ASRock J4205-ITX).
I will be more concerned about how much storage space I need and how fast I could get access to it.
Also been able to recover files in case of hardware failure.

 

[kanewolf]

I will recommend a commercial NAS. Synology, Thecus, QNAP. Much simpler to admin and setup than any homemade device. A commercial NAS has tools for automatic backups to USB and cloud storage built-in. Data security is the most important part of shared storage. Automated backups are a must-have.

 

[USAFRet]

Hi Guys,

Need to build a new fileserver for 5 people. Quickbooks will be mostly used and stored on the server and other than that MS applications. Need your opinion between AMD ryzen 3 a2200, ryzen 5 2400, and Intel core i3.

Thanks

If your primary job is not IT, farm this out. Don't 'build' one.
A prebuilt NAS box has all the horsepower you need for this, runs quieter, uses less power, and will be more stable.

They come with all the functionality you need, including the required regularly scheduled backups.
Easy setup of multiple user accounts, to even have a home folder for each user.

 

[JD007]

Thanks guys for your feedback. Unfortunately, can't use any of NAS. My friend looked into it Freenas and other QNAP/Synology etc. QB database (Canadian version) only support Windows OS no other operating system at this time, discussed with Intuit Canadian division and they confirmed it. It must be a window machine. We have four backup system everyday, including BackBlaze remotely.

Thanks

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks guys for your feedback. Unfortunately, can't use any of NAS. My friend looked into it Freenas and other QNAP/Synology etc. QB database (Canadian version) only support Windows OS no other operating system at this time, discussed with Intuit Canadian division and they confirmed it. It must be a window machine. We have four backup system everyday, including BackBlaze remotely.

Thanks

The volume in the NAS box can be formatted NTFS.
A mapped drive letter from a Windows PC is indistinguishable from any other internal drive in the WIndows PC.

Even though my QNAP is Linux based (as most of them are), I have literally installed and ran Windows based Steam games from it.
It will work.

Quickbooks application living on the client systems, accessing the QB data file that lives on the NAS.

Additionally, you could run a Windows OS in a VM on that NAS box.
I've done this as well.

If you were to go with a Windows box you build, what OS were you thinking of?
What, exactly, has to live on this box? I know you said QB, but is that the application, or the data files?

 

[USAFRet]

Similarly, most of my MS Office files live on that NAS.
Access, Publisher, Excel, etc, etc.

MS Office on the PC, files on the NAS. Seamless.