HP Proliant Dual Opteron 248 Server - $104.95 after shipping

[jimbob200521]

http://www.pacificgeek.com/woot.asp

I ordered one about 10 minutes ago...I can't turn that down!

I know it's not top of the line everything, but for an entry level server running out of the box, I don't think you can really beat that deal.

Edit: Here is an even better deal:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=DL145-5R&cat=SYS

It's the next gen of the first link, includes two Opteron 248's, and has SATA as opposed to IDE. Plus the end cost is exactly the same as the first link. Enjoy!

 

[her209]

Awww... they aren't on the VMware ESXi list of compatible hardware.

Great price. How would they work as rendering machines for 3-D animation?

 

[her209]

CPU info:
http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SL6VP

 

[jimbob200521]

From what I've read on them so far, it's strengths lie in processing power, not video processing, i.e. it has integrated video w/8mb RAM. Since I don't need a server that can process endless hours of video with it's video card, this fit the bill perfectly.

 

[jimbob200521]

I'm also confused on whether or not is has any SATA ports. On that site, it lists adding a SATA HD as an option. Upon looking at HP's and other sites, there appears to be versions that have SATA and versions that don't. I guess I'm just assuming it has SATA ports since it listed a SATA drive as an option. Guess it's a crap shoot...

 

[kgokal]

So would this be usable as a desktop pc?
Just connect up power/vid/mouse and good to go?

Or am i missing something required?

Maybe a cheap way to get a PC?

 

[jimbob200521]

I guess it would work as a desktop PC, although if you wanted to do much gaming you would for sure need a new video card. Also, since it's a server, the fans may be quite loud. I've read they are when you first turn it on, but once it's start-up process is complete, it quiets down, although I don't know how much...

 

[kgokal]

Yeah, no gaming on it for me. Just simple setup to download/stream movies to other pcs.

 

[Absolution75]

This CPU is based on the P4 isn't it? It's .13u

 

[her209]

This CPU is based on the P4 isn't it? It's .13u

Around the same time. It uses DDR memory afterall.

 

[v8envy]

Total power of this thing is not comprable to the lowest end modern machine from 2007. A 3 ghz P4 is roughly equivalent to a singe 1.5 ghz core2 core. So overall you're getting less than a stock clocked E2140 worth of processing power out of this box.

Still, a great price for a blast from the past. Just don't expect an encoding/rendering powerhouse.

 

[jimbob200521]

My current server is merely a 3ghz Prescott, and it encodes video great on its own, so I'm hoping for some good things out of this box. It may be a few years old, but it doesn't seem like it will be a bad machine.

Edit: I run TVirsity on my server to live convert video for my 360 that isn't in a compatible format it, it runs it pretty decent. I'm hoping going to 2 server CPU's will be quite a bit better than 1 hyperthreaded CPU.

 

[Lean L]

okay deal. coming from someone with a server as a main computer, do not expect this thing to be quiet at all. You will not be able to sleep with this thing on. In terms of power consumption, space, proprietarity, processing power, age, and noise levels, you would be better off spending an extra $50 on new atom based soultion or spending $150 more for a core based server.

 

[Macgyversite]

^^^^^^^ Agreed ^^^^^^^

 

[rugby]

If you're curious as to how noisy this server is, turn on your vacuum cleaner and set it next to your desk all day long and see how long you last.

 

[NutBucket]

So that's what the computer sitting on my desk is worth (approx).

Its a HP xw8000 workstation. Had dual 2.8ghz zeons and SCSI drives though....

 

[jimbob200521]

So that's what the computer sitting on my desk is worth (approx).

Its a HP xw8000 workstation. Had dual 2.8ghz zeons and SCSI drives though....

Yea, it sucks how worthless things like that have become. They really aren't bad or slow computers, and I'm sure still have quite a bit of life left in them.

 

[Insomniator]

Looks like a big, old, slow, loud, power hungry server. Would definitely spend an extra 100 for an atom or core based server before jumping on this.

People forget how slow P4's really are compared to whats out and cheap now. I mean for regular office stuff they are fine, but still noticeably slower than any current Celeron once a few programs are open at once.

 

[v8envy]

So that's what the computer sitting on my desk is worth (approx).

Its a HP xw8000 workstation. Had dual 2.8ghz zeons and SCSI drives though....

To a retro computing enthusiast probably a couple hundred bucks.

Small-ish 10-15k RPM scsi drives on a PCI SCSI card are not going to be faster than new 1.5-2G SATA drives. And if they're just 7200 rpm drives the new tech will leave them in the dust.

As far as comparing to modern machines -- the cheapest $300 desktop you find at Costco will have more CPU firepower, run cooler and quieter. And probably come with more and faster RAM (not ECC though).

 

[jimbob200521]

To a retro computing enthusiast probably a couple hundred bucks.

Small-ish 10-15k RPM scsi drives on a PCI SCSI card are not going to be faster than new 1.5-2G SATA drives. And if they're just 7200 rpm drives the new tech will leave them in the dust.

As far as comparing to modern machines -- the cheapest $300 desktop you find at Costco will have more CPU firepower, run cooler and quieter. And probably come with more and faster RAM (not ECC though).

I kind of agree and kind of disagree. Two dedicated, independent top none-dual core CPU's from a few years ago, I would venture, would beat today's budget CPU's, although it's probably closer than I think. I'm not sure though...I'm about to hop over to google and check for some benchmarks lol

 

[jimbob200521]

Guess I was pretty much wrong. While a current cheap-o dual core system may be a bit faster than previous dual-processor systems, I still hold to the belief that there is a reason, aside from redundancy, that people and companies buy server systems as opposed to nearly equal-powered cheap-o systems from Costco. Either way, this will be an upgrade for me from my current Prescott server so I'm still happy

 

[Lean L]

Guess I was pretty much wrong. While a current cheap-o dual core system may be a bit faster than previous dual-processor systems, I still hold to the belief that there is a reason, aside from redundancy, that people and companies buy server systems as opposed to nearly equal-powered cheap-o systems from Costco. Either way, this will be an upgrade for me from my current Prescott server so I'm still happy

They buy these expensive servers because it comes with support so they don't have to spend more money on repairs and such. This is very much useless to a normal user especially in that 1u form factor. those 40mm fans scream like banshees.

Loud is better than quiet and hot for servers. This also has features that no home user will ever use nor have the means to use. For instance ECC, support for fiber, hot swappable processor, memory, and hard drives, redundant power supplies, memory and hard drives, ability to remotely diagnose the server even if it is off, and massive airflow. These features make sure that crutial information doesn't go offline ever.

The average home user can afford to go for a while without a functional pc.

 

[jimbob200521]

They buy these expensive servers because it comes with support so they don't have to spend more money on repairs and such. This is very much useless to a normal user especially in that 1u form factor. those 40mm fans scream like banshees.

Loud is better than quiet and hot for servers. This also has features that no home user will ever use nor have the means to use. For instance ECC, support for fiber, hot swappable processor, memory, and hard drives, redundant power supplies, memory and hard drives, ability to remotely diagnose the server even if it is off, and massive airflow. These features make sure that crutial information doesn't go offline ever.

The average home user can afford to go for a while without a functional pc.

Hey, I said hot swappable aside

 

[Lean L]

Hey, I said hot swappable aside

That's a main selling point. There is not much difference in terms of parts that will benefit an average user. Older processors might have better bins for servers vs desktops but not anymore. There are higher quality capacitors in a lot of cases but that's the difference between 20 and 40 years... you will never make it past 20 years.

So at this point, pretty much support. Who will companies hire to fix their servers? That's why servers can be sold for 2x their desktop equivalents.

 

[Wandering]

DL140 G1 1U rack server

Here are the specs.

http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/11821_na/11821_na.html