HP ProLiant MicroServer

Currently have a core 2 duo pc that runs 24/7, handles all my downloads as well as streaming (Plex) for multiple devices through out our house. Want something that will use less power and be less noisy, but worried that I will be sacrificing alot of horse power by going to the micro server. Any recommendations?
 
How much power do you need to save to justify a R1.2k microserver?

I reckon keep the C2D until it blows. Use a smaller, quieter PSU if you need to...

No idea how much a rig costs to run, I've had my microserver running 24/7 for ages, never really considered cost (nzb savings offset that anyway ;))

Running it headless, I don't notice any problems with the processing power. It can max the GB network no problem.
 
Budza said:
How much power do you need to save to justify a R1.2k microserver?

I reckon keep the C2D until it blows. Use a smaller, quieter PSU if you need to...

No idea how much a rig costs to run, I've had my microserver running 24/7 for ages, never really considered cost (nzb savings offset that anyway ;))

Running it headless, I don't notice any problems with the processing power. It can max the GB network no problem.
Click to expand...

it is 2k now at HP and 1.6k at cyber. please let me know where it is R1.2!! on a side note, the biosonline remote has reached end of life apparently. has anybody been able to get an IR receiever cheaply recently? else i would have to get one of those mce remotes.
 
Budza said:
How much power do you need to save to justify a R1.2k microserver?
Click to expand...

Let's assume you run your server or microserver 24/7.

Then, let's assume your average wattage of your PSU in your Microserver is 40w (should be around there avg usage) and your PC 120w (even if you have a 400w / whatever PSU, this would be average usage, unless you're running high-end graphics etc.)

So this difference is 120 - 40 = 80w. For demonstration, let's use 60w to be safe. That's then 60 x 24 x 30 = 43.2kw a month that you're saving.

So, take R1250 / (you price per KWh - mine's around R1,20 at the monent) = 1041

Then take 1041 and divide by 43.2, and you get 24 months...
So after 24 months your microserver has paid for itself.

In actual fact, this could be a lot less since I used a very low consumption rate for normal PCs (100w)
 
Re83L said:
Let's assume you run your server or microserver 24/7.

Then, let's assume your average wattage of your PSU in your Microserver is 40w (should be around there avg usage) and your PC 120w (even if you have a 400w / whatever PSU, this would be average usage, unless you're running high-end graphics etc.)

So this difference is 120 - 40 = 80w. For demonstration, let's use 60w to be safe. That's then 60 x 24 x 30 = 43.2kw a month that you're saving.

So, take R1250 / (you price per KWh - mine's around R1,20 at the monent) = 1041

Then take 1041 and divide by 43.2, and you get 24 months...
So after 24 months your microserver has paid for itself.

In actual fact, this could be a lot less since I used a very low consumption rate for normal PCs (100w)
Click to expand...

Hey thanks for doing the maths for us. Thats very interesting. Especially if you're running an old ass machine like I am, which has higher power consumption than a c2d. Also, if you're prepared to tweak your Microserver to be even more energy efficient (powering off drives etc.), then that gap would be even more than 60W
 
nadimm said:
I'll try this.

I use the android remote, so too does my wife. Its MUCH better IMO then any remote, especially with allshare, and the youtube and call/sms features on the phone. :D
Click to expand...

hmm, fair point. I haven't played around with the Android remote much since my phone has a very small screen. Might be time to revisit it, although the main advantage for me with the Harmony is still input switching on all my devices.
 
K3NS31 said:
hmm, fair point. I haven't played around with the Android remote much since my phone has a very small screen. Might be time to revisit it, although the main advantage for me with the Harmony is still input switching on all my devices.
Click to expand...
Android remote is very nice, in some ways better than any remote control, only thing is that obviously with no physical buttons you can't really do anything without looking at the screen first, with remotes you can feel around once you're used to them
 
K3NS31 said:
Seriously? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of having a Harmony?
I don't want to program each button into anything (esp if you use most of the buttons on your remote, rather than just the cursor keys as in their demo).
Click to expand...
For using the Harmony with XBMC you still have to add the MCE keyboard as a device and customize each of the keys on the remote to correspond with the keyboard shortcuts for XBMC (e.g. stop button on remote = “x” button on keyboard). I found this to be a time consuming task, especially when I had to change the keys in the keyboard.xml file because the volume buttons didn’t work correctly (because of “+” and “-“).

The awesome thing about the Harmony is that you just tell it what device you're controlling and it works immediately. (also, macros, activities etc. etc. of course)
Click to expand...
Correct, when using a standard device such as a TV or DVD player. With XBMC certain buttons have to be changed (see my previous answer).
And at US$ 22, you could just as well get a cheap MCE remote and use it's USB receiver. That's what I did and it works great.
Click to expand...
Correct, but then how do you configure the extra keyboard shortcuts on XBMC such as changing the aspect ratio (“z”),opening the context menu (“c”), marking something as read (“w”) or enabling/disabling subtitles (“t”)?

Unless you're saying don't use a Harmony, just use some remote you have lying around. That would be cheaper. Insane though. You'd miss out on so much functionality and convenience. Personally, now that I've been spoiled, I despise having more than one remote in my lounge.
Click to expand...
See my previous answer regarding the extra buttons.

With Flirc, all I do is click (or SSH into the box and use the command line) on the button I want to record in the GUI (for e.g. “x” for stop in XBMC) and press the button on the remote I want Flirc to map to that key. I no longer have to change the keyboard.xml file and change the button mapped on the remote itself. I can configure any random remote (for e.g. Sony DVD player) and just have Flirc map the command from the remote to a button. It’s as simple as that. Just make sure that it’s not the same manufacturer as any of your actual devices to prevent controlling any of them.
I still have the Harmony controlling my TV, but now I have a device labelled “XBMC” for controlling my PC which is actually a Panasonic TV (I have a LG). You can also have Flirc map button combinations (e.g. “Windows” + “M” to minimize) to a single button on the remote.

The Flirc is so much easier to use and you don’t have to worry about the IR receiver you want to buy working with your OS and being compatible with your Harmony. I have a HP IR receiver, but it now lives in the drawer until I find an owner for it.

K3NS31 said:
Put "flirc.tv" in your address bar. :erm:
Click to expand...
Yep. http://www.flirc.tv

nadimm said:
Didn't think they would deliver here.
Click to expand...
Me neither, but I went through the checkout process to find out.
nadimm said:
So say I want to use my TV remote just to switch the TV on, and maybe change the source (hdmi1, hdmi2) and volume. Would it be possible to use the same remote then for the XBMC and use every other button to control XBMC.
Click to expand...
No, because your PC and TV are probably in close proximity to one another so the TV will still receive the command from the remote and take the appropriate action.
 
Swift-wp said:
For using the Harmony with XBMC you still have to add the MCE keyboard as a device and customize each of the keys on the remote to correspond with the keyboard shortcuts for XBMC (e.g. stop button on remote = “x” button on keyboard). I found this to be a time consuming task, especially when I had to change the keys in the keyboard.xml file because the volume buttons didn’t work correctly (because of “+” and “-“).


Correct, when using a standard device such as a TV or DVD player. With XBMC certain buttons have to be changed (see my previous answer).

Correct, but then how do you configure the extra keyboard shortcuts on XBMC such as changing the aspect ratio (“z”),opening the context menu (“c”), marking something as read (“w”) or enabling/disabling subtitles (“t”)?


snip....
Click to expand...

NO, no and no.
I never had to do any of those things - see, the MCE remote is the old Xbox 1 remote which the original Xbox Media Centre was made to use. All those functions are ALREADY in there, you just have to know which buttons they use. (I had an actual MCE remote initially, which helped me work out what was what).
You definitely DO NOT have to add the MCE (Harmony) as a keyboard device to get these functions (and that's not just me, I have 3 friends using Harmonys and theirs all work out of the box too).
I have context, I have vol up and down, I have "option" to see the codec/cpu info etc., I have "Now Playing" I have shortcuts to "Movies, pics, music" mode etc. all on my remote without having to program in keyboard buttons or use keymap.xml files.
All you need to do is say "for this MCE button, if it's not already on the remote, use extra menu button 1, etc in the remote's setup util. BUT, this is only if you want advanced functionality - all the normal stuff's already on there. The only thing I can think of that's missing that 90% of ppl would actually want is "Context", which is child's play to add as I've pointed out.

Sorry, never answered your original Q:
Changing aspect ratio is "OK" on the Harmony / MCE by default. (or you could bring up "DVD menu" too)
Context and subtitles also have specific buttons on an MCE, which I've then added as extra menu buttons on my Harmony (Activities - XBMC - add buttons from the device MCE - add to extra menu 1 = whatever the button is on an MCE.) etc.
(I also used this method to add "DVD Menu", "Now Playing", and the modes etc. mentioned above)
I don't use the "mark as read" button, I use "context", then choose "mark as read" from the quick menu.
 
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I still can't get my XBMC microserver and my Harmony 700 working properly together. I've tried everything under the sun and have come to the conclusion that my receiver is the problem. I had to teach my Harmony every button on the el-cheapo MCE remote I bought to get it to work, but half of the buttons don't exist on that cheap thing and I can't use the activities function. I guess I'll be looking for a new receiver soon...
 
hey guys...
my HP microserver PSU packed in and im looking for a replacement ; the HP part is R1539 incl vat. Thats same price as a new server. Im sure a small form psu will fit; but were can i find one at a reasonable price?

Any ideas?
 
dasdk said:
hey guys...
my HP microserver PSU packed in and im looking for a replacement ; the HP part is R1539 incl vat. Thats same price as a new server. Im sure a small form psu will fit; but were can i find one at a reasonable price?

Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Buy a new one :) Get another hard drive in the deal
 
dasdk said:
hey guys...
my HP microserver PSU packed in and im looking for a replacement ; the HP part is R1539 incl vat. Thats same price as a new server. Im sure a small form psu will fit; but were can i find one at a reasonable price?

Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Try Micro Channel or Frontosa or Axiz

Also, those previous commenters are crazy. The RAM and HDD that come with the server are very cheap. Definitely not worth buying a new server just to get RAM, HDD and a PSU. Micro Channel's probably your best bet.
 
dasdk said:
hey guys...
my HP microserver PSU packed in and im looking for a replacement ; the HP part is R1539 incl vat. Thats same price as a new server. Im sure a small form psu will fit; but were can i find one at a reasonable price?

Any ideas?
Click to expand...

What are the dimensions of the current PSU? If it's a standard SFX ATX PSU (125X100X63mm) then you can find these quite easily from most of the online places like Sybaritic etc. Look at the Antec and CFi units (~R320). Have you opened it up to see whether it can be easily repaired?

Some SFX supplies ...
http://www.sybaritic.co.za/store/ad...cription=0&keywords=SFX+power+supply&x=4&y=18
http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=30&products_id=6778
http://www.starsun.co.za/starsun/product/view.php?id=62&mainId=4&secId=12&page=1
http://www.ikonicit.co.za/?subcats=...Y&q=SFX+power+supply&dispatch=products.search
PicoPSU – also requires 12V power brick
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=150W
 
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