Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - My plan to build a computer than can do virtualization

cmyden · 04-28-2014, 02:53 PM

For my next PC build, I want to try experimenting with OS virtualization.

The primary goals for this build are...

one computer with 4 operating systems installed. One OS that can act as the gaming & media center, one for a private workstation, one for adult guests, and a locked down OS for kids to use.
a computer that has a lot of horsepower when needed, but draws as little power as possible when sitting idle (will be on 24/7)
a computer that is quiet. Doesn't need to be dead silent, just silent enough that it can't really be heard from 10 feet away.

The plan for virtualization

Initially I wanted to try running Windows on top of KVM or VMware. But after looking into it, it really doesn't look too feasible to get full VGA passthrough with NVIDIA drivers. I did find a few threads where people have somehow managed to do it, but it looks really hardware specific, and seems like it can turn into a real nightmare quickly.

So instead, the plan is to go with Windows Server 2012 R2 (update: now going with Windows 8.1 Pro or Enterprise) and use the Hyper-V hypervisor. The operating systems would be structured like this...

The hardware

CPU - $240
Intel Xeon E3-1230 V2 Ivy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16819117286
4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache
LGA 1155
Quad-Core Server Processor BX80637E31230V2
draws 69W of power
supports virtualization

- There's also the E3-1230 V3 with Sandy Bridge for not much more money. Both seem to get great reviews. The V2 seems to draw less power than the V3 though?

Motherboard - $165
ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16813157293
HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard 4×240pin memory slots
2 - PCI Express 3.0 slots
4 x SATA 6GB/s

- Have always had ASUS motherboards. Have read great things about ASRock though. Seems to have the best BIOS at the moment?

SSD Drive (for all 4 OSes) - $300

SAMSUNG 840 EVO MZ-7TE500BW
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16820147249
2.5" 500GB SATA III TLC
Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

- Sounds like it's best to get whichever one is cheaper at the time (Pro vs EVO), as the real world speed is similar?
- Updated: Going for the 500GB now ($0.60/GB).

Memory - $330
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 32GB (4 x 8GB)
240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16820231569

1866 is available for $30 more. May not make a difference in real world speed?

Power Supply - $70

Rosewill CAPSTONE-450
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16817182066
450W Continuous @ 50°C, Intel Haswell Ready, 80 PLUS GOLD, ATX12V v2.31 & EPS12V v2.92, SLI/CrossFire Ready, Active PFC Power Supply
^^ Gold Certified, 92% efficient.

- Or is it worth paying $50 to $80 more for a 'Platinum Certified' power supply that is 94% efficient? Such as Rosewill Fortress or Seasonic SS-520FL. Not sure how much you'd save per year running Platinum vs Gold.

Hard Drive - $233 (Amazon)

HGST Deskstar NAS
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16822145912
H3IKNAS40003272SN(0S03664)
4TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s

Even though WD now owns HGST, I have read that the 4TB Hitachi Desktstars have a higher reliability rate than WD or Seagates. source: http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/1...le-hard-drives

Computer Case - $60 (Memory Express)

Cooler Master HAF 912
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16811119233

The other good one for the money seems to be the Rosewill Challenger ($55).

Case Fans - $20

Noctua NF-P12-1300 120mm Fan
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX34320

- Seemed to be hard to find quiet cheap case fans *without* annoying blue lights!

CPU Cooling Fan / Heatsink - $60 (NCIX)

Noctua NH-D14 120mm & 140mm SSO CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608018
http://www.ncix.com/detail/noctua-nh...47090-1070.htm

Gigabit network card - $30

Intel EXPI9301CTBLK Network Adapter
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16833106033
10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI-Express 1 x RJ45

Total Cost: Just under $1500 at the moment. Used Newegg.ca for price estimates. Will try to source out cheaper prices once I've settled on components.

Thoughts?

Anywhere that I'm overspending or underspending? Anyone out there experimented with OS virtualization?

Thanks for any critiques or suggestions that anyone can provide.

04-28-2014, 02:53 PM	#1
cmyden Powerplay Quarterback Join Date: Nov 2007 Exp:	My plan to build a computer than can do virtualization - critiques welcome! For my next PC build, I want to try experimenting with OS virtualization. The primary goals for this build are... one computer with 4 operating systems installed. One OS that can act as the gaming & media center, one for a private workstation, one for adult guests, and a locked down OS for kids to use. a computer that has a lot of horsepower when needed, but draws as little power as possible when sitting idle (will be on 24/7) a computer that is quiet. Doesn't need to be dead silent, just silent enough that it can't really be heard from 10 feet away. The plan for virtualization Initially I wanted to try running Windows on top of KVM or VMware. But after looking into it, it really doesn't look too feasible to get full VGA passthrough with NVIDIA drivers. I did find a few threads where people have somehow managed to do it, but it looks really hardware specific, and seems like it can turn into a real nightmare quickly. So instead, the plan is to go with Windows Server 2012 R2 (update: now going with Windows 8.1 Pro or Enterprise) and use the Hyper-V hypervisor. The operating systems would be structured like this... The hardware CPU - $240 Intel Xeon E3-1230 V2 Ivy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo) http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16819117286 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 Quad-Core Server Processor BX80637E31230V2 draws 69W of power supports virtualization - There's also the E3-1230 V3 with Sandy Bridge for not much more money. Both seem to get great reviews. The V2 seems to draw less power than the V3 though? Motherboard - $165 ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16813157293 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard 4×240pin memory slots 2 - PCI Express 3.0 slots 4 x SATA 6GB/s - Have always had ASUS motherboards. Have read great things about ASRock though. Seems to have the best BIOS at the moment? SSD Drive (for all 4 OSes) - $300 SAMSUNG 840 EVO MZ-7TE500BW http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16820147249 2.5" 500GB SATA III TLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - Sounds like it's best to get whichever one is cheaper at the time (Pro vs EVO), as the real world speed is similar? - Updated: Going for the 500GB now ($0.60/GB). Memory - $330 G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16820231569 1866 is available for $30 more. May not make a difference in real world speed? Power Supply - $70 Rosewill CAPSTONE-450 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16817182066 450W Continuous @ 50°C, Intel Haswell Ready, 80 PLUS GOLD, ATX12V v2.31 & EPS12V v2.92, SLI/CrossFire Ready, Active PFC Power Supply ^^ Gold Certified, 92% efficient. - Or is it worth paying $50 to $80 more for a 'Platinum Certified' power supply that is 94% efficient? Such as Rosewill Fortress or Seasonic SS-520FL. Not sure how much you'd save per year running Platinum vs Gold. Hard Drive - $233 (Amazon) HGST Deskstar NAS http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16822145912 H3IKNAS40003272SN(0S03664) 4TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s Even though WD now owns HGST, I have read that the 4TB Hitachi Desktstars have a higher reliability rate than WD or Seagates. source: http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/1...le-hard-drives Computer Case - $60 (Memory Express) Cooler Master HAF 912 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16811119233 The other good one for the money seems to be the Rosewill Challenger ($55). Case Fans - $20 Noctua NF-P12-1300 120mm Fan http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX34320 - Seemed to be hard to find quiet cheap case fans without annoying blue lights! CPU Cooling Fan / Heatsink - $60 (NCIX) Noctua NH-D14 120mm & 140mm SSO CPU Cooler http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608018 http://www.ncix.com/detail/noctua-nh...47090-1070.htm Gigabit network card - $30 Intel EXPI9301CTBLK Network Adapter http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product...82E16833106033 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI-Express 1 x RJ45 Total Cost: Just under $1500 at the moment. Used Newegg.ca for price estimates. Will try to source out cheaper prices once I've settled on components. Thoughts? Anywhere that I'm overspending or underspending? Anyone out there experimented with OS virtualization? Thanks for any critiques or suggestions that anyone can provide. __________________ Sign up for YYC Deals alerts if you want to be the first to know when I post a deal! Flight deals from other cities: Vancouver - Edmonton - Saskatoon - Regina - Winnipeg - Toronto - Montreal - Ottawa - Halifax Last edited by cmyden; 04-30-2014 at 04:49 PM.