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Processor: (3.40 GHz) 4-Core Intel Core i7-6700 Processor
Memory (RAM): 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 PC4 U Memory (for i-series/Core Processors)
Graphics Card: Integrated Graphics (with i series processors only) +$0.00
Drive 1: 3TB HDD SATA 7.2k 3.5" Hard Drive
Drive 2: 3TB HDD SATA 7.2k 3.5" Hard Drive
M.2 Storage: 512GB M.2 SSD NVMe Drive
Price: $291.95
My main concern with this option is energy usage. The CPU's TDP is 65W, the CPU in my current server's TDP is 35W.
It does have a few advantages over my current setup:
- More RAM 8 → 32
- Better CPU, passmark score 4766 → 8091, threads 4 → 8
- Ability to use RAID, current setup only has the capacity for 1 drive.
Is this a good option or is there a better option? I've also been considering using an external drive enclosure with software RAID, but I heard that could be unreliable.
EDIT: Is the price good? Shipping is quite expensive (about $100), so I'm only planning on buying it if the deal is good.
If you are planning to use it as a jellyfin or other media server, look for 8th Gen or later Intel. They have Intel quicksync that provide hardware decoding.
Why 8th gen? Wikipedia and Plex say quicksync was added in Sandy Bridge.
QuickSync is available on earlier gen machines. I have 7th gen with it.
Intel Quick Sync video saw a lot of improvements on 8th gen & since it's all so old the pricing differences between 7th & 8th gen are going to be negligible.
I don’t see as nearly as many used ThinkCentre Tinys for sale with post 7th gen chips. I wonder if this is why.
I think the fact that Windows 11 is only supported on 8th gen makes the previous generations quite cheap. Many companies are preparing the upgrade to windows 11 and start throwing the old stuff out.