Is it worth building a server?

macfanuk · 9 Feb 2011 at 22:49

I'm currently looking at setting up a server in our home office. It's main purpose will be file sharing and backing up our web server via FTP.

I have been looking around and on auction sites I could pick up an older xeon server for not very much but these have scsi hard drives, whereas SATA capable ones are a bit more expensive.

However, I'm wondering whether it'd be better building up a cheap C2D system instead. Presumably, this option would be quieter and cheaper to run.

Which option would you guys go for?

Berwhale · 9 Feb 2011 at 23:00

And old server with SCSI disks will be ugly, noisy and power hungry. Better to go for a new HP Proliant Microserver running something like FreeNAS.

See the HP Proliant Microserver thread here: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18216324

macfanuk · 9 Feb 2011 at 23:10

Berwhale said:
And old server with SCSI disks will be ugly, noisy and power hungry. Better to got for a new HP Proliant Microserver running something like FreeNAS.

See the HP Proliant Microserver thread here: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18216324

Thanks, it looks good. Is the 1.3GHz AMD CPU any good? Shame the cashback offer's ended

MikeHiow · 10 Feb 2011 at 00:05

I'd grab an ML110 if the cashback offer has gone, unless power consumption is a big concern.

A G6 with the G6950 CPU can be had for a little over £200.

If you're willing to go second hand, even a G3 would do the job and you can pick them up for under £100. I bought mine for £100 with a Win2k3 licence (used elsewhere).

bremen1874 · 10 Feb 2011 at 00:10

Thanks, it looks good. Is the 1.3GHz AMD CPU any good? Shame the cashback offer's ended

Cashback is available on the Microserver until the end of the month.

ThorpedoUK · 10 Feb 2011 at 00:32

You don't need Xeons for backing up and file sharing, any NAS box will do or the microserver above which I'd agree would be ideal, the load is on the disks not the CPU.