Trying to build a server/computer

[mustard010]

Hey, I'm kind of a noob to knowing how to overclock and stuff, but I do have basic knowledge on how to install compters from scratch. The current problem I have right now is knowing which parts to buy, and the compatability of the parts

Right now I'm thinking of getting
DUAL AMD MP 2600 or 2400 or DUAL Xeon 2.4 GHZ

Which of the two is the 'ideal' proccessor to have a fast system + budget cut? I also have another question. Would it be worth it to upgrade to a MP 2800, or a DUAL XEON 3.0 GHZ ?

I'm currently wanting to build a server possibly less then 3 units, for game servers. Now, if anyone can point out some links to buying other parts(mobo, memory, and probably a NIC Card)

I was thinking of getting the following:

2 - 3 GB of DDR RAM
TYAN MOBO
Intel Gigabit Ethernet Card
4 18.4 GB SCSI 15K RPM HD

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[mechBgon]

Dual AMD Opteron (the processor formerly known as "Sledgehammer") would be a good pick for heavy server duties, with a Tyan Thunder K8. They scale well since each CPU has its own memory controller and its own bank of memory, and it has onboard gigabit Ethernet already. But are you sure you need this kind of horsepower in the first place? How many game servers do you plan to run at once? Does it need to be a rackmount system?

You could get a whole fleet of Asus A7N266-VM/AthlonXP 2400+ systems for the price of a dual-Opteron Thunder K8 setup. There's strength in numbers. Downside: you'll need more software licenses, unless you're going to run Linux.

If you want the hard drives to last a long time, SCSI drives are a good pick. But if I were you, I'd switch down to 10k drives... you'll get twice the capacity per dollar. Maxtor Atlas 10k IV or Seagate Cheetah 10k.6 are good ones that start at 36GB for $190. One or two of these should be comfortable with an LSI Logic U160 card ($42 at Newegg) if you go the A7N266-VM route.

 

[yruffostsif]

Skip the 2-3 GB of ram if your not going to run a database or web server. 1GB should be more than adaquate. You'll get better returns from RAID w/SCSI 320 15K drives. Personally, I would go for dual 3.06 512MB Cache 533FSB on a Tyan S2727GNN-533.

 

[mustard010]

Yeah, I plan to colocate my machine(s), currently I have a P4 2.4 GHZ, 512 DDR, 80 GB IDE HD

I'm planning to host atleast 7-10 servers per box. I'm probably going to run it on RH . . . only problem is for the CPU's. I have no idea how to launch a command on this CPU, and another on the other CPU with Linux. Would you recommend Windows 2000, or 2003 for this occasion? Or should I just buy single CPU's for the boxes? For the Athlon XP's how much machines can I build for the price of an opteron?

Also, what's the diffrence from 10k and 15k(but the number) ? I don't plan to keep too much space . . .I only plan to install RH Linux, and game servers(600 mb each)

Thanks for your help!

 

[mustard010]

I'd rather have a minimum of 1 GB DDR because when the maps change. . . it tends to 'timeout' then run again. So, I really like fast loads during maps

Hrmm, dual xeon 3.06 . . . yeah bang for your buck, but too expensive for me

I still haven't decided especially mechBgon's opinion on building multiple machines . . . .

 

[Necrolezbeast]

yeah, multiple machines is a good idea.....but you gotta remember you will then have to buy 1gb RAM for 5 machines....rather than 2gb for 1. More PSU's, HDD's...it will just give more chance of hardware failure and trouble shooting, but decrease the cost....your decision...I would go with multiple mediocre boxes rather than Mech's idea of a bunch of lower end....maybe a single 2.4c, 2.8c, or even a single Opteron...

 

[mechBgon]

Just for the record, the A7N266-VM's are nice and reliable I have 2 dozen of them at work. But if this is going to be colocated, then yeah, you'll want to cram as much power into as little space as practical, because space is money in a server room.

mustard010, 10k means 10000rpm and 15k means 15000rpm, on the hard drives. It seems strange that you want to blow very large amounts of money on a game server but don't know how to spec a computer or run software on them (sorry if that sounds derogatory). You might be a good candidate for a Dell PowerEdge 2600 2U rackmount server... go to Dell.com and have a look.

 

[mustard010]

Lol, sorry I wasn't clear enough.

Well, the Dell PowerEdge 2600 costs too much (6K) which I can get for 2-3K if I build it myself. I already built one of my PC's, and proud to announce that it worked fine(AMD 1800, 256 DDR, NVIDIA Geforce 4). Yeah, I kind of knew the RPM's on both, but I was asking is it a bigger difference to get 15K RPM ?

I'd appreciate it if you can just post some specs, and I'll buy it from(pricewatch.com).

Or if you have links to sites that provide compatability on parts, that would be great

Thanks for your help again!

 

[render]

You can build a nice xeon server for that money.

I sold my xeon for $1150.(dual 2.4ghz xeon, Tyan i7505 tiger MB, Ti4600 dual DVI, Fortron EPS 550W, 1GB Crucial PC2100, 100GB & 120GB WD SE Drives)

 

[mechBgon]

I wouldn't recommend Pricewatch. Some of those outfits are pretty scummy. Stick with a major vendor like Mwave, Newegg or Monarchcomputer, is my advice.

 

[mustard010]

Thanks for your help, I think I will go on Monarch Computers . . . (they have all the parts I need) and how could you afford to sell your Xeon for only 1 K !?

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
I wouldn't recommend Pricewatch. Some of those outfits are pretty scummy. Stick with a major vendor like Mwave, Newegg or Monarchcomputer, is my advice.

agreed

pricewatch + resellerratings will show you that by the time you find a vendor you _might_ rely on at pricewatch

newegg has them beat anyway

 

[INemtsev]

Opteron with 1gig sound good

 

[babiterbang]

why don't you try to dual xp not mp,
my friend try cut the bridge so they work like mp with dual xp !!!
of course you have to mod the processor !
and mod your vga so you can work with qudro gts !!:evil:

 

[beyoku]

i just built dual xp 1700's @ 2200ghz - rock solid, stable, fast....and quiet.