HP ProLiant MicroServer

[Dolby]

Thanks guys

@xrapidx - The Gen8 needs ECC RAM. I'm not sure whether this is a recommendation or a requirement though. I've just put in a fanless GT610 which fits, although right. A GT210 should be no issue.

It is actually more open and easier to use than the old ones.

 

[LazyLion]

Guys I am looking to buy another one of these since my last one packed up. Which model is the best value for money? Will be used for media only. Also where is the best place to get one? (In SA)

The HP Gen8 servers. Esquire just had a special on them this week...
Read one or two pages back.

 

[xrapidx]

Thanks guys

@xrapidx - The Gen8 needs ECC RAM. I'm not sure whether this is a recommendation or a requirement though. I've just put in a fanless GT610 which fits, although right. A GT210 should be no issue.

It is actually more open and easier to use than the old ones.

Thanks - wondering if its worth spending all that extra for 2GB if its only used as a media server.... probably put a small SSD in it.

 

[Dolby]

That's kinda what I had in my N40L.

2GB + 2GB
60GB SSD with Windows 10
GT210 (fan)
The other drives were standard 2TB for media

So the Gen 8

4GB RAM (single chip)
60GB SSD with Windows 10
GT610 (passive cooled)

 

[K3NS31]

Question - I've heard the Gen8 is quite noisy and the fan can't be swapped like the old one. Anybody had issues with noise?

 

[Genisys]

Question - I've heard the Gen8 is quite noisy and the fan can't be swapped like the old one. Anybody had issues with noise?

No. My Gen8 is silent. I barely hear it. On boot it turns up the fan to full speed, then dips it down again.

 

[xrapidx]

Question - I've heard the Gen8 is quite noisy and the fan can't be swapped like the old one. Anybody had issues with noise?

All my N series were load enough to hear... its why I took the one out of my "cinema" room and replaced it with a Pi

That's kinda what I had in my N40L.

2GB + 2GB
60GB SSD with Windows 10
GT210 (fan)
The other drives were standard 2TB for media

So the Gen 8

4GB RAM (single chip)
60GB SSD with Windows 10
GT610 (passive cooled)

I've moved my storage to a expensive NAS system... so this is pure media player/server, and downloading at 12:00-06:00.

Think I should go for it - it looks prettier. Going to see if 2GB will cut it.

 

[Dolby]

It's actually a decent machine - build quality is great ; 2 x gigabit LAN ; MicroSD ; USB2.0 / 3.0 etc

I was looking at a Lenovo i3 the other day which scored lower than the Celeron in this HP

Gen 8 - 2351 score http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Celeron+G1610T+@+2.30GHz
N54L - 1395 score http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Turion+II+Neo+N54L+Dual-Core
N40L - 924 score http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Turion+II+Neo+N40L+Dual-Core
N36L - 813 score http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Athlon+II+Neo+N36L+Dual-Core

 

[Dolby]

No. My Gen8 is silent. I barely hear it. On boot it turns up the fan to full speed, then dips it down again.

+1

Yea that boot up fan at 100% scared me in the beginning and I though 'I can't use THIS for home theater!'

 

[Hamish McPanji]

Am looking to upgrade memory for my N54L . Suggestion on what to buy? And where?

 

[rrh]

I've moved my storage to a expensive NAS system... so this is pure media player/server, and downloading at 12:00-06:00.

I've switched to an always-on Pi 2 for downloading, thereby solving all of my wake-computer-at-midnight-to-download problems.

Best plan that I've ever made !

 

[xrapidx]

Almost forgot - ordering now.

 

[crawler]

So my Gen8 is up & running for HTPC - is it just me or does booting take forever, my N40l was much quicker through bios

anything I can disable or change to speed things up?

 

[Hamish McPanji]

So my Gen8 is up & running for HTPC - is it just me or does booting take forever, my N40l was much quicker through bios

anything I can disable or change to speed things up?

Disable network booting (bootp) ? Just a guess, but generally that's what takes a lot of time searching.

 

[Quey_Quick]

What OS are you running?

 

[crawler]

Openelec

 

[¯\_(ツ)_/¯]

Am looking to upgrade memory for my N54L . Suggestion on what to buy? And where?

The Gen7 can use normal desktop memory. I use DDR3 1333 Kingston desktop sticks in mine. Not sure if you can mix with the original EEC memory though as I have not tried it.

 

[Genisys]

So my Gen8 is up & running for HTPC - is it just me or does booting take forever, my N40l was much quicker through bios

anything I can disable or change to speed things up?

This is a proper server. There is a reason it takes long to boot.

 

[¯\_(ツ)_/¯]

This is a proper server. There is a reason it takes long to boot.

Yes, I know. The old Sun 25k's were a proper server if fully configured. Over 40 mins proper
(But they ran like clappers)

 

[morkhans]

The Gen7 can use normal desktop memory. I use DDR3 1333 Kingston desktop sticks in mine. Not sure if you can mix with the original EEC memory though as I have not tried it.

You can mix ECC RAM makes but you can't mix non-ECC with ECC. Gen7 could take non-ECC RAM. You'll have to check the tech specs for gen8.