Question Small office server CPU i5 or E-3?

[monste4321]

Im looking at building a small office server computer for an office with 8 user stations.
There server is there to run dental software and store data, not much else.

I am trying to figure out what would be a better setup, an i5 8400 are an E-3 1220?

The E-3 is a bit more expensive and harder to find motherboards for, what advantages/disadvantages would I see from using an i5?

Are there any other CPU's recommended besides these two?

 

[feelinfroggy777]

I would go with the Ryzen 2600 over the 8400 or the 1220. It has twice the threads of the 8400 which is what you want for a server.

 

[kanewolf]

This isn't the question you asked, but I will recommend to buy a prebuilt from a large supplier like HP or Dell. That way when it breaks they don't call you. Unless, you want them to call you.

For a business office with medical data, you need to be sure you meet all the privacy requirements, which might include encrypted disks for data at rest. The other thing I will say is to be sure you have an automated backup system implemented.

 

[monste4321]

I would go with the Ryzen 2600 over the 8400 or the 1220. It has twice the threads of the 8400 which is what you want for a server.

Can you send me a link? What motherboard would you pair it with?

 

[monste4321]

This isn't the question you asked, but I will recommend to buy a prebuilt from a large supplier like HP or Dell. That way when it breaks they don't call you. Unless, you want them to call you.

For a business office with medical data, you need to be sure you meet all the privacy requirements, which might include encrypted disks for data at rest. The other thing I will say is to be sure you have an automated backup system implemented.

Automated backup system will definitely be in place. The officealready has a local off-site IT guy to maintain the rest of the office equipment so its not worth going with a prebuilt at this time, as it doesn't really save the office from downtime.

 

[kanewolf]

Automated backup system will definitely be in place. The officealready has a local off-site IT guy to maintain the rest of the office equipment so its not worth going with a prebuilt at this time, as it doesn't really save the office from downtime.

Ask their IT guy for any specific requirements about HIPPA / privacy. Like I said, you might have to have data-at-rest encryption or other features to meet privacy requirements.

 

[monste4321]

Ask their IT guy for any specific requirements about HIPPA / privacy. Like I said, you might have to have data-at-rest encryption or other features to meet privacy requirements.

Would this change the hardware requirements or is that software protection?

 

[kanewolf]

Would this change the hardware requirements or is that software protection?

Could change hardware. If you have to have TPM or similar trusted hardware

 

[monste4321]

Could change hardware. If you have to have TPM or similar trusted hardware

I do want a TPM, but this can be bought on amazon and added to any board cant it?

 

[feelinfroggy777]

Can you send me a link? What motherboard would you pair it with?

This is what I would go with for a light office server:

PCPartPicker part list: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/KHHw7W
Price breakdown by merchant: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/KHHw7W/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 2600 3.4 GHz 6-Core Processor ($164.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock - B450 Pro4 ATX AM4 Motherboard ($84.56 @ OutletPC)
Total: $249.45
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-04-18 09:39 EDT-0400

 

[monste4321]

This is what I would go with for a light office server:

PCPartPicker part list: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/KHHw7W
Price breakdown by merchant: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/KHHw7W/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD - Ryzen 5 2600 3.4 GHz 6-Core Processor ($164.89 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: ASRock - B450 Pro4 ATX AM4 Motherboard ($84.56 @ OutletPC)
Total: $249.45
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2019-04-18 09:39 EDT-0400

Does the motherboard have a TPM chip?