KamuiRSX

I'm looking to replace my Athlon XP as my file server so here's the proposed specs for now. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

CPU: AMD 7750 BE or 7850 BE - I really want to wait to see if the 7850 X2 Kuma will be a black edition CPU or not

HSF: Thermaltake MaxOrb - They are super quiet and cool very well IMO

MB: Not too sure off hand but it will be something with the 790GX chipset because of it's lower power consumption while still maintaining the OC potential

RAM: 4GB (2 x 2GB) Corsair DDR2 1066 - I bought this kit on eBay a few months ago and it's been sitting here on my table so I figure I might as well give it some use.

Optical: I'm pulling the 20x Super Multi Drive w/ Lightscribe out of my Athlon XP and putting it in this one

PSU: I have a Thermaltake Toughpower 650w (85+ efficiency yay) but I'm hoping to use less than 350w with this build....if not I might have to drop some components down.

GPU: I have a 4850 already but it might use too much power for this rig so I'm thinking about dropping that down and getting something like a 4670 or maybe even lower than that because I only need it to put out a display and that's it.

HDD: I'm salvaging from my old machine so it will have 2 x 250GB Western Digital SATAII and 2 1TB Western Digital SATAII drives inside.

GPU Cooling: I'm thinking about putting another DuOrb on it unless I get something with a decent passive heatsink and I can just use the fan on the side intake to cool it.

Case: I'll be using the Apevia X-Navigator that's collecting dust in my garage at the moment for the case.

So any thoughts on the build? Any thoughts on keeping the power consumption down? I know for a fact that the vid card can be lowered to save power but I just have to find one to use. I can also take out the 2 x 250GB drives and just partition off the 1TB drives but I don't like to do that so the HDD have to stay as they are. 1 x 250GB for the OS, 1 x 250GB for random backups, and 2 x 1TB for data storage.

Also, remember that I already have almost all the components except for the CPU and Motherboard...everything else is actually here.

Edit for responses:

Update:

I've bought my 7750 X2 Kuma today and was told that if the 7850 X2 Kuma is a Black Edition as well, I can get it at the same price of $45 + tax so hells yeah. Now I need some input for a good 790GX Chipset motherboard. Anyone have any suggestions?

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"I'm not going there to die. I'm going to see if I'm really alive."

Weedvender

That..... kinda..... Toooooo much for a file server.
Might I suggest a cheaper 45W processor?
1 Gb of Ram
antec basiq 350W
Integrated graphics... (file servers can run headless through VNC)
and any generic power saving motherboard. Like a Zotac 780G? You could try a Biostar 790GX if you ever want to use that motherboard for something else.

Save money and get a Perc raid card from the for sale forum...

Bloodfire

Just so you know, if you ran your PC at 1000W 24/7 it will cost you 70$/month in electricity. thus 500W is only 35$/month... Not too big a deal :P

Then again, it depends on what you're using it for? solely a file server, or media server as well? any other uses going to come out of it?

If only a file server, then you don't need much at all. Hell, may as well go onboard VGA xD

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pioneerisloud

I don't fully understand what's wrong with the Athlon XP rig as a file server honestly. I'm still happily chugging along on a Dual Pentium 3 server rig myself...works just fine.

To lower cost though (and power):
45w X2 CPU
2GB RAM instead of 4
780G Motherboard and use onboard GPU
Case...X-Navigator should be a good choice . I run an X-Pider on mine, and I believe its the same chassis, just a different front panel.

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Redmist

Agreed with everyone else, go with a much cheaper CPU. Integrated graphics, since you'll problably just use VNC or remote desktop to control it once you get it set up.

Also, make sure the motherboard you use has gigabit lan.

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KamuiRSX

Well I guess I should have stated this in the beginning...I'm not a big re-user of the same parts over and over in different rigs. So that being said...my next goal is to buy one of the EE AMD Quad Core and one of the Dual Core chips but they'll be for HTPC's for my 2 LCD TV's. For those, I'll be going as energy efficient as possible but for this, I want some bang in here as well. I mean my Athlon XP is the top of the line Athlon XP and all it does it act as my server and downloading machine. My Socket 754 is the top of the line and just collects dust. I've given up on the socket 939 build dream because the parts are too freaking hard to find and there's no way in hell I'm paying $100+ for an old 4200+ X2 939 chip. I've got the top AM2 X2 of the line, the top AM2+ Quad Core of the line, and now I need the top AM2+ X2 of the time. I mean if worse comes to worse, I can just downclock the crap out of the CPU.

Also, the 790GX mobo has an IGP built in as well which is also another option but if I need the rig to do something visual...I kinda want it to do it without a problem. I can cross that bridge when I come to it though.

According to a power supply calculator, at 100% load, my current set up should only use about 300w of power on the IGP and 415w with the 4850 which still isn't too bad. Now my server doesn't run 24/7. It runs when I'm home and can use it unless I've got some downloads going throughout the day. The longest it's stayed on is maybe 36 hours straight.

All the 790GX motherboards, if I'm not mistaken, have Gigabit LAN so I'm good there. Also, the 7750 BE is only about $45 for me right now which isn't too bad at all.

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"I'm not going there to die. I'm going to see if I'm really alive."

Redmist

True, still overkill for a fileserver, but I suppose it'll be good to have the ability to throw a videocard in it and have it be a decent gaming computer if you need it to be.

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KamuiRSX

Well I just really want something that will be able to multi function as well because if I need any DVD's ripped or burned, I can do them on that machine while I still have the freedom to play around on my main machines.

I know that I'll be making alot of movies here in a few so I kinda want to use this machine for that as well so it doesn't inhibit my main and Quad rigs.

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"I'm not going there to die. I'm going to see if I'm really alive."

KamuiRSX

Update:

I've bought my 7750 X2 Kuma today and was told that if the 7850 X2 Kuma is a Black Edition as well, I can get it at the same price of $45 + tax so hells yeah. Now I need some input for a good 790GX Chipset motherboard. Anyone have any suggestions? I would prefer some personal suggestions as well if you actually have this chipset.

I looked at the 2 BIOSTAR mobos but I dunno about this sideport memory thing. I've never even heard of it.

Here's all the ones on Newegg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...nd&Order=PRICE

This is the BioStar one that has my attention at the moment

The only thing I don't like about Biostar is they only offer a 1 year warranty.

This Foxconn board does have my attention though if I can get it for a good price

This DFI board looks nice but it's way way too overpriced for me.

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"I'm not going there to die. I'm going to see if I'm really alive."

Redmist

Don't go Biostar. I had one die on me. I got a Gigabyte board to replace it, but RMA'd it also, my Dad used the replacement, but it proved to be a horrible OCer.

Then again this was on the Intel side of things, but I'd still steer clear and go Gigabyte if possible.

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