Looking to build my first server out, trying to figure out if there is a “better” platform for my needs. Right now I’m just planning a mix of machines and containers in Proxmox for running a NAS and Plex server, router of some sort (also, any preferences on wireless access points?), a pihole if that’s not just as easily done in whatever router OS I decide on, VPN, and 3-5 various machines/containers going in and out of service as I find what my needs else I want to play with and host continuously…
Basically just looking for bang for the buck CPU/chipsets people are getting for this use case. Any advantages of AMD vs Intel in mid-consumer level options? Is getting something similar with more efficiency cores worth worrying about in a hypervisor use case?
Only difference really between Intel vs AMD for self hosting is ECC compatibility. Personally, I tend to be picky about ECC for my server builds (all done on ATX systems thus far), so I go for AMD, but for smaller use case scenarios outside of ZFS pools it shouldn’t matter a ton. If you go the AMD ECC route you’ll have to set aside a spare GPU for local bios/terminal use (or go for the 4000 series pro version of Ryzen, can be had on ebay from resellers for decent prices). otherwise Intel and AMD don’t differ function wise outside of ECC concerns, just make sure to match it with a chipset that will give you the lanes you need to allow for future expandability pcie-wise. (the expandability wasn’t a concern when I first started, but as my self hosting needs expanded I had to replace a motherboard). can’t comment much to wifi APs (I run pfsense and wall off my wifi on it’s own vlan, I ran ethernet throughout the home and my wifi devices that need access to my main network tunnel through via wireguard)