Optimising a PC for 24/7 Minecraft Server

[HedgieMatty]

I have an 'old' PC that I recently replaced with a custom built hackintosh. I use both PC's, but i use my 'old' one less and less and only really use it for playing GTA V or playing games when a friend is round (who would use my hackintosh as it is dual booted with windows too).

The Question:
I'd like to run a 24/7 Minecraft server and rather than building another system, I thought i could just change around my 'old' PC to make it work as a 24/7 server. My understanding on Minecraft servers is that (forgetting about network connection) the main thing to think about is amounts of RAM. I have 16Gb of RAM and could upgrade to 32Gb easily, but is there anything else I should be considering? I am aware that i should migrate to an SSD at least for the OS and the server because standard HDD's don't like 24/7 running, and i am also aware that I should probably upgrade my cooling (I currently just have a large heatsink on my CPU because the stock ones are pathetic! But i could look at one of those self contained water cooling loops if its recommended?)

I don't know a number of how many people i want on the server, 100 players is often a number that people throw out there... 100 would be nice, but Im not sure/don't mind. Id just like whatever i can get with 16/32gb of RAM

The Specs of the PC in question:
Intel I7 3770 @ 3.4Ghz
16Gb of DDR3 1600Mhz RAM
2TB HDD (I'd plan to migrate the OS and run the server from an SSD though!)
Mobo: Asus P8H61-MX R2.0
Nvidia GeForce GT 630

My Internet is a 100Mbps connection from Virgin Media, I just took a speed test on http://www.speedtest.net/ and got 60Mbps Down and 6Mbps Up

Thanks for your time! Sorry if I forgot any information/categorised this post incorrectly

 

[kanewolf]

You may violate your ISP user agreement by hosting a server. Just something to be careful about....

 

[HedgieMatty]

You may violate your ISP user agreement by hosting a server. Just something to be careful about....

Thanks for bringing that up... To be honest I hadn't thought of that and that could've lead to some awkward situations!
I just quickly read Virgin Media's policy on internet use and it seems to be that they will simply have a go at me if what I'm doing impacts their systems, so I'll contact them to get a definite answer, but I don't think running a Minecraft server will be a problem as long as it not a huge server. I've run servers for long periods of time before and they haven't said anything!
Thanks for warning me though!