Server Build to Upgrade 2.4 P4 - Overclock.net

atvguy585 · 09-23-09

I've been looking around and seeing if I can build a server for under $200 or cheaper if possible. I have found stuff to make it for around $200 and just wanted to see if anyone had any other ideas to get something cheaper in price.

What I need it to do is serve over the network, (it will have windows xp), to serve our accounting software. It doesn't need to be super fast but I would like it to upgrade from the p4 (2.4ghz) to at least a dual core. It will be more like a regular computer build because I won't be raiding etc. I do however, need 2 network ports, (I can always use a network card if 2 are not built in).

I would need links to the parts. The parts I need are: mobo, cpu, memory. I have a 380 PSU and a case already.

Thanks for looking and for any help.

EDIT: Hard drive doesn't need to be included in the budget above but if you can find a decent price on an 80-500gb sata drive, please include!

DuckieHo · 09-23-09

Is power consumption a concern?

Is the accounting software multi-threaded? How much RAM does it use?

atvguy585 · 09-23-09

Power Consumption is not a concern. The accounting software is multi-threaded. The ram that it uses, 4gb will be enough.

Manyak · 09-23-09

Here's a question: have you checked how much the CPU is being used? I mean, is it running anywhere near 100% capacity? Or is there a bottleneck somewhere else?

the_beast · 09-24-09

Unless the software is pegging the cpu, this sounds like a job for a dual Intel Pro/1000 PT NIC (or 2 separate single port cards if you have the spare slots).

Is the P4 a s478 or s775 chip? And what expansion slots does it have? Keeping the current hardware sounds like the best option currently, providing it has at least 1 PCIe slot.

If you do need a bit more power, I'd look at an E5x00 or a Q8x00 chip, together with an Intel or Supermicro server mobo & 4GB ECC RAM.

Something like:
Supermicro Server Board (Sadly no 45nm at this price, so no E3XXX/E5XXX/Q8XXX cpus)
4GB ECC RAM Recommended for servers, especially dealing with financial stuff
Celeron E1500 Much faster than your P4, and all you afford on your tight budget

Total ~$210+shipping, for a decent-ish server build that should be rock-solid reliable. Crap onboard NICs though, but $200 is really tight for anything decent...

EDIT: dammit, that board won't go above 2GB RAM. I give up.

CravinR1 · 09-24-09

I'm going to see if I can build base on your request

Here <$200 Including Shipping
E1500 (based on C2d and for $50 you can't beat it)
4 gigs memory (budget ram since I doubt you'll be overclocking)
G31 mb (has onboard video)
320 gig wd sata blue hd

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136074
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820161183
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813186167
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116075

atvguy585 · 09-24-09

Like I said, it doesn't really have to be a server board, I just need something basically with on-board video. My current sever has a socket 478 P4 with like 533 FSB. It is kind of slow and is at 100% cpu usage most of the time when the client is doing something. I would like to upgrade to socket 775 with a dual core. I'm just seeing if anyone else can suggest new ideas for this budget. It can be a little over $200 and that doesn't include shipping or a HD. Thanks CravinR1 for the list, that is the kind of thing im looking for. The memory would be better if I was using ECC but I'm sure I can do without it, it will just mean I have to do a little more maintenance.

CravinR1 · 09-24-09

I don't see why you would do more maintenance. I took my son's old desktop build and used it as a HTPC/server for over a year and never had any issues with standard DDR2 ram

His box was:

AMD X2 3600+ Brisbane (OC'd to 2633 mhz 24/7)
Biostar TForce 550 SE
2 x 1 gig G.Skill HK
320 gig Seagate 7200.10
7600 GT 256mb

He used it for almost a year as his primary "gaming" rig until I built him the E2180 in my sig. Then I hooked it to my 37" LCD 720P HDTV and used it to surf/game/watch video for over a year until I sold it to a friend.

Since my above build was < $200 including shipping, if you have a little head room you may want to spend $12 more and get a allendale processor and/or spend $19 more and get a WD 640 gig blue aaks (double room and better speed)

the_beast · 09-25-09

ECC RAM won't help with maintenance, but it will help to ensure that all your financial details get properly recorded by the server. I wouldn't run a production machine, especially one dealing with finance, on anything without ECC RAM.

Sadly nowadays that practically enforces the need for a server board - modern chipsets don't support ECC (the last mainstream chipset to do so was the 975 IIRC).

If your current server manages ok but is pegged at 100% during calcs, it would appear you need a bit more speed but nothing too special. I would get the cheapest server board that will support 4GB ECC RAM, and the newest base-model cpu that will fit (E3XXX 45nm Celerons would be ideal if supported). You might have to stretch the budget to $300-350, but IMO that would be money well spent in the long run.

atvguy585 · 09-25-09

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_beast

ECC RAM won't help with maintenance, but it will help to ensure that all your financial details get properly recorded by the server. I wouldn't run a production machine, especially one dealing with finance, on anything without ECC RAM.

Sadly nowadays that practically enforces the need for a server board - modern chipsets don't support ECC (the last mainstream chipset to do so was the 975 IIRC).

If your current server manages ok but is pegged at 100% during calcs, it would appear you need a bit more speed but nothing too special. I would get the cheapest server board that will support 4GB ECC RAM, and the newest base-model cpu that will fit (E3XXX 45nm Celerons would be ideal if supported). You might have to stretch the budget to $300-350, but IMO that would be money well spent in the long run.

Okay cool thanks for the info.

09-24-09	#5 (permalink)
the_beast Mobo Master Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,048 Rep: 145 Unique Rep: 100 Trader Rating: 0	Unless the software is pegging the cpu, this sounds like a job for a dual Intel Pro/1000 PT NIC (or 2 separate single port cards if you have the spare slots). Is the P4 a s478 or s775 chip? And what expansion slots does it have? Keeping the current hardware sounds like the best option currently, providing it has at least 1 PCIe slot. If you do need a bit more power, I'd look at an E5x00 or a Q8x00 chip, together with an Intel or Supermicro server mobo & 4GB ECC RAM. Something like: Supermicro Server Board (Sadly no 45nm at this price, so no E3XXX/E5XXX/Q8XXX cpus) 4GB ECC RAM Recommended for servers, especially dealing with financial stuff Celeron E1500 Much faster than your P4, and all you afford on your tight budget Total ~$210+shipping, for a decent-ish server build that should be rock-solid reliable. Crap onboard NICs though, but $200 is really tight for anything decent... EDIT: dammit, that board won't go above 2GB RAM. I give up. Last edited by the_beast : 09-24-09 at 11:02 AM

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Server Build to Upgrade 2.4 P4

09-25-09	#9 (permalink)
the_beast Mobo Master Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,048 Rep: 145 Unique Rep: 100 Trader Rating: 0	ECC RAM won't help with maintenance, but it will help to ensure that all your financial details get properly recorded by the server. I wouldn't run a production machine, especially one dealing with finance, on anything without ECC RAM. Sadly nowadays that practically enforces the need for a server board - modern chipsets don't support ECC (the last mainstream chipset to do so was the 975 IIRC). If your current server manages ok but is pegged at 100% during calcs, it would appear you need a bit more speed but nothing too special. I would get the cheapest server board that will support 4GB ECC RAM, and the newest base-model cpu that will fit (E3XXX 45nm Celerons would be ideal if supported). You might have to stretch the budget to $300-350, but IMO that would be money well spent in the long run.

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