Grid of OC'ed Intel Core 2 Duo E6600s -- Hardware Components Help

[intelcore2duogrid]

Hello All,

I'm building a computational grid (24 nodes to start) based around the Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 processors. The machines will run Linux and boot off the network so I have no need for a video card or any drives whatsoever. Would like some help picking the other components (at as low cost as possible!). Thinking about using the ASRock 775Dual-VSTA motherboard (cheap, overclocks well enough, and has onboard gigabit ethernet), and 2 cheap 512MB sticks of PC2 5400. Only need 1GB of RAM (applications are CPU bound and L2 cache of 4MB is very helpful) so was thinking 2x512 would be cheapest.

Any suggestions are welcome! At first I was thinking of putting everything into mini-tower cases, but these don't fit in racks/cabinets at a datacenter well. Will it be possible to cram motherboard, processor+heatsink/fan, and ram into a 2U case? Or do I have to use a mini-tower? Is a 300W power supply sufficient (minimal OC'ing, no video card or drives at all) or do I need 400W? Can I get away with stock Intel heatsink+fan or should I get something else, possibly lower profile, to put in the cases?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Kwint Sommer]

I can't comment on the height of the Intel Heatsink but it will do fine for minimal overclocking. The ASRock board is stable and has decent features from what I've heard and I've been pleased with their performance in the past. NewEgg has a 1GB kit of G. Skill PC2-5400 for $80, it even has decent timings although I think it's in limited quantity at the moment.

 

[intelcore2duogrid]

Have been considering using Woodcrest 5140s instead to get better density per server. Any idea on the overclocking capabilities of this chip? If so, which motherboard would you guyrs suggest?