I also posted this in the Hardware forum at MyMovies but I know some here are more knowledgeable than me on hardware so I thought I'd post it here as well.
I'm currently using an "old" Shuttle SB81P as my server and now that I need to expand on storage I've reached its limits with only 2 expansion slots. I'm an experienced I.T person on the software side but it's been a few years since I built a machine all by myself and I feel a bit lost with all the new stuff out there.
I could use a little help in making sure I don't make any big mistake here and since we now have a new hardware forum I thought some of you could share their thoughts on this. I've spent most of my week-end on internet doing some research and I came up with the following.
I have a budget around 500$ Canadian for this excluding tax and video card.
RequirementsMotherboardForm Factor: ATX, I need to know that I can add USB/SAS/eSata ports if needed.
Socket: AM2+/AM2, since it's gonna be a server and a "casual" workstation it doesn't need lots of CPU power.
Budget: I don't want to go cheap and have problems but I don't want to go crazy on the money either, I think I should be able to get myself a good Mobo between 75$ and 100$.
My choice: Gigabyte
GA-MA770-UD3. It's loaded with USB ports which is good for adding cheap storage solution, has plenty of expansion slots and I think the company has a good reputation.
For the
memory I just picked what others have bought with that same board.
CPUSocket: AM2+/AM2, as previously stated it doesn't need to be very powerful and I've always liked AMD. They are cheaper than Intel and do the job very well. I wouldn't want one in a 500 GB SQL Server Database but for my Windows Home Server it seems like more than enough.
Cores: I would have settled for a dual core but the only one available at Newegg is the 6000+ which comes only as the cpu, there's no fan or heat sink with it and I don't feel like making my life harder by shopping for this so it seems like I will have to go with a tri-core.
Budget: I haven't set any because it's not like there's a lot of options. I'm just gonna have to choose what I want and pay whatever the price is.
My choice:
Phenom X3 8750 Black Edition Toliman 2.4GHz. I went for the cheapest tri-core in the AMD2+ series.
PSUForm: ATX
Power: 400W or more
Other: Must be as quiet as possible
My choice:
Rosewill Stallion Series RD400-2-SB 400W. I found the PSU to be the most difficult part to shop for. There's so many makes and models available and I really don't know much about them. I see prices ranging from 15$ to 200$. I assumed that quality has a price with PSU's as with anything else so I stayed away from the really cheap ones. I finally decided to go with the Rosewill mostly because of the number of good reviews it has on Newegg.
CaseCompatibility: ATX Motherboards, it must have rear opening for all 7 expansion slots.
Other: Must look good. I know it's "only" a server but I like my PC's to look good. My server is in a room that serves as my office and a small private cigar lounge and I want it to look nice. When I sit there to smoke one in peace I don't want the place to look like a computer room nor do I wish to see a light show coming out of my server.
My choice:
nMEDIAPC Red Wood Wood/Steel HTPC 8000 ATX Media Center / HTPC Case. That's probably the nicest and coolest computer case I've ever seen.
I'm particularly interested in comments and suggestions about the power supply. I really want this computer to be as quiet as possible so if anybody knows of a good ATX 400W power supply that runs quietly I'd really like to know about it.
