Used server off ebay

[F1Fish]

I?m looking at used Dell servers on eBay. I?ve listed three below with different hardware configurations. All systems are low budget.

The first seems like a desktop, except it has a third IDE cannel.

1. PowerEdge 600SC
P4 2.4 GHz Processor
256 MB Memory
36 GB Hard Drive
Floppy Drive
CD Rom Drive

2 PowerEdge 2600
Xeon 1.8 GHz
Ram 4x 128
HARD DRIVE, 36G, S, U320, 10K, 80, MAXTOR
128MB, 100MHZ, RAID ON MOTHER BOARD
integrated 10/100/1000 NIC
POWER SUPPLY, 730W, REDUNDANT

3 PowerEdge 2500
Dual Pentium III 1GHZ Processors
2GB Memory
6 X 18GB Hot Swap SCA SCSI hard Drives
CD ROM and Floppy Drive
Tower configuration
Perc 3 Raid Controller


Would you please give your input for better or worst?


1. Network drives for windows PC
2. Storage of PC images
3. Backup from PC?s
4. Burn backup discs

OS
Debian

The unit will be for home and club use. The load will be no more than three to five systems at a time.

 

[DaveSimmons]

You don't need a box sold as a server to run a server OS or to use as a server, especially for a small number of users. Also, you can set up network shared drives with just Windows XP, no server OS needed.

Are there any features of those systems that would make them better for your use than a modern Dell minitower or a self-built PC?

FYI, even a Sempron 3000+ would be faster than all 3 systems. A Core 2 desktop would be faster than all 3 combined

 

[pkme2]

My choice would be this.

PowerEdge 2600
Xeon 1.8 GHz
Ram 4x 128
HARD DRIVE, 36G, S, U320, 10K, 80, MAXTOR
128MB, 100MHZ, RAID ON MOTHER BOARD
integrated 10/100/1000 NIC
POWER SUPPLY, 730W, REDUNDANT

The CPU and PSU is what I expect in a server.
You can always buy more RAM.
This might be more in your budget area.

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Are there any features of those systems that would make them better for your use than a modern Dell minitower or a self-built PC?

I don't know about his particular case, but those boxes have a lot of redundancy and high speed IO features. Real hardware SCSI RAID with lots of drives, ECC, redundant power supplies...

I'd get #3 for the RAM and the hard drives probably, although I've never heard of a 'Perc 3'. The redundant PSUs on #2 are temping but it has only 512MB of RAM.

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: pkme2
You can always buy more RAM.

It'll be ECC reg... expensive...

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Atheus

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Are there any features of those systems that would make them better for your use than a modern Dell minitower or a self-built PC?

I don't know about his particular case, but those boxes have a lot of redundancy and high speed IO features. Real hardware SCSI RAID with lots of drives, ECC, redundant power supplies...

I'd get #3 for the RAM and the hard drives probably, although I've never heard of a 'Perc 3'. The redundant PSUs on #2 are temping but it has only 512MB of RAM.

I considered that, but with the P3 system they are OLD SCSI drives probably about ready to die. I'd consider brand-new SCSI drives a nice step up from new SATA drives, but 2+ year old heavily used SCSI drives not so much.

 

[F1Fish]

Dave, to answer your question. NO
It comes down to cost, storage space, ease of backup, and fun.
The first system is more in tune with what I need. The two others add for what they offer.

 

[F1Fish]

Thank you for your help Dave.
I'll build new. I'll still go with Linux

 

[pkme2]

Originally posted by: Atheus

Originally posted by: pkme2
You can always buy more RAM.

It'll be ECC reg... expensive...

I have 4 sticks of 512MB ECC registered PC2100, same as on server for sale for $160.00
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=45&threadid=1956233