Spec me a server

PoliticallyCorrect · 23 Mar 2007 at 09:03

Ok, here is what i'm after

a ver very tiny base unit (no monitor, keyboard, mouse) that consumes as little energy as possible.

Must be 64bit and have gigabit ethernet capabilities, it's only going to be a 8 user domain controller running as a file server, xchange server and a proxy, but might be a game server at times too.

I've bought Windows 2003 Server, think it's 5 concurent connections by default, might need to purchase 3 more, but was after some advice with the hardware, thanks.

-Jonny

Slinwagh · 23 Mar 2007 at 09:08

Is this for business or pleasure?

PoliticallyCorrect · 23 Mar 2007 at 09:11

not business but i would avoid using the word pleasure lol. the idea is to replace my router, external hard drives and use as a print server rather than having a printer plugged into a client computer sharing it out and be a central point to store user profiles or favourites, desktop icons, etc... I also want to setup xchange server with my domain, and use logon scripts etc... - home use so small amount of users/computers will be managed.

i want it to be as cheap as possible, don't mind buying second hand, but i want to see all the options first.

-Jonny

Slinwagh · 23 Mar 2007 at 09:18

Of the top of my head I would say base it around a Pentium D805 CPU which are around the £55 mark now. this gives you a good cheap dual core solution for a very reasonable price.

Obvioulsy I don't know if you have any parts available to you so that might not be a practical solution.

If you are running Exchange on it too then i wouls suggest as much RAM as you can afford.

Do you have a budget?

PoliticallyCorrect · 23 Mar 2007 at 09:20

budget humm, i rekon it's possible at about £130-£150.

i will take note of the PentiumD's just notised they're a bargain for what they are. i was pretty much settled on 512 ram as i'm only xchanging with 8 accounts. however, i notised it's hard to find DDR2 512 memory, i doubt i will need 2 do any overclocking, but is this following memory addiquate for a PentiumD 820:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-030-GL&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=144

Slinwagh · 23 Mar 2007 at 09:24

Slenpree said:
budget humm, i reckon it's possible at about £130-£150.

i will take note of the Pentium D's just noticed they're a bargain for what they are.

I think you are going to struggle getting new components with that budget assuming you need a complete tower.

PoliticallyCorrect · 23 Mar 2007 at 09:26

Slinwagh said:
I think you are going to struggle getting new components with that budget assuming you need a complete tower.

yeh just notised i'm already @ £109.25 inc VAT with the CPU and Memory, in all honesty i don't have an exact budget, but for what it's going to be used for:i want to be convinced it's value for money.

Slinwagh · 23 Mar 2007 at 09:27

Running your server as a DC with AD, Exchange, F and P and a game server will be pushing 1 gig of RAM. I would say you need to look at 2 gig as the minimum.

PoliticallyCorrect · 23 Mar 2007 at 09:29

Slinwagh said:
Running your server as a DC with AD, Exchange, F and P and a game server will be pushing 1 gig of RAM. i would say you need to look at 2 gig as the minimum.

possibly, but with the amount of users, i'm not sure if it will be pushed, and game servers will be like CS 1.6 for amatur matches. i'm more convinced the energy effeciency and size is more important, because any new technology is faster an more up2date than digging the old P2 out the loft.

Slinwagh · 23 Mar 2007 at 09:31

Its not so much the amount of users but the amount of resource that running all of that will leave free.

The Pentium D 805 will cope no problem but the RAM is going to be heavily utilised.

Next to me now I have the following a Windows 2000 server running on a Pentium D 805 with 1 Gig OCZ RAM.

It is only running as a DC, DHCP and DNS sever and it is using just short of 200 meg of RAM and 0% CPU utilisation.

Stick Exchange on that and I'm pretty sure it is going to be close to Meg of RAM in use.

PoliticallyCorrect · 23 Mar 2007 at 09:33

Slinwagh said:
Its not so much the amount of users but the amount of resource that running all of that will leave free.

ok i'll take your word there lol

so how much do u think i should be looking to spend.

Nikumba · 23 Mar 2007 at 09:36

For what you are wanting to run 512Mb is the utter bare minimum really just to run the OS, by the time you add in Exchange, proxy software, login scripts etc you will need at least 2Gb to run those services at an acceptable level.

Also unless you are going to be running Exchnage 2007 there is no point in going 64bit unless you are going to use more than 3Gb of RAM

Kimbie

Slinwagh · 23 Mar 2007 at 09:37

Slenpree said:
ok i'll take your word there lol

so how much do u think i should be looking to spend.

Plucking a figure out of the air I would say £300 to £350

PoliticallyCorrect · 23 Mar 2007 at 09:40

Slinwagh said:
Plucking a figure out of the air I would say £275 to £300

ah, that's still a happy price, what memory speed 'n' latencies should i be looking for, as this is a budget server. just read somewhere else too that memory is the most important part to a server

For what you are wanting to run 512Mb is the utter bare minimum really just to run the OS, by the time you add in Exchange, proxy software, login scripts etc you will need at least 2Gb to run those services at an acceptable level.

ok, 32bit it is

BigDom · 23 Mar 2007 at 09:41

Slenpree said:
ok i'll take your word there lol

so how much do u think i should be looking to spend.

I'd say you can put something together for 250-300 possibly less.

PoliticallyCorrect · 23 Mar 2007 at 09:43

BigDom said:
I'd say you can put something together for 250-300 possibly less.

ok cool cool, i've been recomeneded a Pentium D 820 and 2GB of ram, can anyone suggest some particular memory and a mobo/case/psu (looking for really small and energy effecient)

Slinwagh · 23 Mar 2007 at 09:45

Slenpree said:
ok cool cool, i've been recomeneded a Pentium D 820 and 2GB of ram, can anyone suggest some particular memory and a mobo/case/psu (looking for really small and energy effecient)

Save a few quid and get the Pentium D 805 not the 820 I would say.

PoliticallyCorrect · 23 Mar 2007 at 09:46

Slinwagh said:
Save a few quid and get the Pentium D 805 not the 820 I would say.

yeh thats what i was hoping to do but the prices seem the wrong way round:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=6&subid=570

lol

EDIT: just found the 805 for 51.78 inc VAT on the other website..

i asume MicroATX is the smallest i can go practically, is there anything wrong with these 2 mainboards:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-120-AB&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=326

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-163-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=326

Both the same price, which one is better

-Jonny

steve258 · 23 Mar 2007 at 10:47

For the same price as the 805 why not go for the AM2 X2 3800+ for just £52 in clearance section? Plus a cheap ASUS M2VMX for £30 and a 2Gb OCZ kit for £80 from clearance and you have a pretty decent server for less and consumes less power as well. Only other thing you'll need is a CPU cooler; go for the freezer 64 pro for just £16 and you're sorted.

Unless of course you want to upgrade to a C2D later on.

BigDom · 23 Mar 2007 at 18:40

steve258 said:
For the same price as the 805 why not go for the AM2 X2 3800+ for just £52 in clearance section? Plus a cheap ASUS M2VMX for £30 and a 2Gb OCZ kit for £80 from clearance and you have a pretty decent server for less and consumes less power as well. Only other thing you'll need is a CPU cooler; go for the freezer 64 pro for just £16 and you're sorted.

Unless of course you want to upgrade to a C2D later on.

Good choice.