File Server Build

[cubsftw]

Long time reader of the forums, but new to actually posting here:

So I recently dug my old P3 Rig out my closet (1.2GHz Tualatin, 512MB RAM, Intel D815EPEA2 Mobo, 128MB ATI Radeon 8500LE, 80GB WD Caviar IDE HDD, Sony 48x CD-RW) added a 500GB Caviar to create a fileserver running Windows Server 2003 Standard. The old beast is stable as a rock, but I'm worried about the amount of power that it draws, especially since it's going on 6 years and was originally designed as a gaming PC.

So I'm looking for suggestions for a build that can run Windows Server 2003 24/7 while drawing as little power as possible- less power than my old P3 and perhaps a little better performing.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[tynopik]

maybe look at one of those cheap laptops from bestbuy or something?

 

[cubsftw]

I thought about that, but I was thinking about maybe doing RAID for data redundancy too (probably overkill for just storing digital pictures, videos, and old files, but I'm trying to centralize all the data I've accumulated over the years that are strewn across external HDDs, Zip disks, CDs, and floppies).

 

[cubby1223]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813153092

Just one option for low power.

 

[Knavish]

Would Windows Server 2003 need more than a Celeron 215 / 1.33Ghz + 1GB of ram? Intel makes a really low power mini-ITX board with those specs for about $65 with integrated video. It's the Intel D201GLY. It doesn't have SATA, gigabit ethernet, or any PCI / PCIe slots. It could work for a really simple & cheap single-PATA-drive server.

Beyond that you could go with a more traditional integrated-graphics motherboard and low power cpu -- something like a 35 Watt single-core Intel Celeron or 45 Watt single-core AMD. I'd also get a high-efficency low wattage PSU. With a low power CPU, integrated-graphics motherboard, and a couple of hard drives you should still be under 100 Watts I'd think.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: Knavish
... a low power CPU, integrated-graphics motherboard, and a couple of hard drives you should still be under 100 Watts I'd think.

This recent article found an average power consumption of 52 Watts for HP's MediaSmart Windows Home Server with 512MB and two 500GB SATA drives. So it should definitely be possible to stay well under 100 Watts with something similar.

 

[tynopik]

> I thought about that, but I was thinking about maybe doing RAID for data redundancy too

raid is not a backup

if you want redundancy, have an external harddrive that you mirror to once a week or so

 

[cubsftw]

Thanks for all the help guys- the D201GLY looks pretty attractive for low-power server duties.

 

[SpeedEng66]

Originally posted by: cubsftw
Thanks for all the help guys- the D201GLY looks pretty attractive for low-power server duties.

:thumbsup:

but if you look there's only one ide on there(2 devices)

you might want to look at this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813121334

it has 2 sata + it's a yohan (even less power consumption)

so you wont be so limited with hd's later down the road

215= 1.33 ghz dothan core
220 = 1.2 ghz yothan core

lower clock speed but better performer

but for some reason it's cheaper than the other one (by a few $)

the down side of using these boards
you can only hook up 4 devices
1slot/1 gb is the max memory (more than enough for a file server )
one pci slot
proc not upgradable (soldered on)
no speed step on celerons (for even more power savings)

 

[DerwenArtos12]

Like SpeedEng66 said, there is no speed step on these. You could actually get less power usage by properly building an inexpensive C2D computer. A 2160 undervolted and underclocked will outperform these many times over and should not use much more power depending on how far you can clock it down plus, it'll have speed step available so when it's not under load it can reel things back even further.

 

[JackMDS]

First get yourself a Kill A Watt (it is a good thing that every buddy should have).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16882715001

Measure how much the computer takes.

You can lower a little the consumption by replacing the Video with an old "junky" plain video and if you have a few $ Celeron of similar frequency it could reduce consumption too.

Why I am suggesting it?

Case if you find that the computer take about 60W at idles and you are going to spend hundreds of $$ to save 10Watt in idle you should think twice.