possible home server

[lodore]

Hello,
When I was a student I got windows server 2003 R2,2008 and 2008 R2 from dreamspark.
I intend to use server 2008 R2 for a home server but not sure what sort of hardware to get.
so far I intend to run the following on it:
file server
print (maybe)
DNS
Media streaming

Since I have only got home versions of windows I cannot have a domain server.
devices in house:
My laptop running windows 7 home premium
My desktop running windows 7 home premium
Parents computer running windows xp home
PS3

I intend to use karen's replicator on the desktops to backup the changes of the data once a day.
I also intend to do image backups directly to the server.

Atm I want to just get an idea of what spec hardware I would need and the price.

[DanceswithUnix]

I think that comes down to your performance expectations, specially if you are using Gigabit ethernet.

Any old Atom board will probably do the job, but if you want to move multi-gigabyte files around fast and have big disk arrays you want a recent dual core CPU. Thankfully they are quite cheap these days.

Maybe an Athlon II:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/168971

with suitable uATX motherboard. Note although that says the TDP is 65W, that is only when fully loaded and in an idle machine it should sip just a few watts which helps keep the heat & noise down.

My home server (Linux based) is still single core AM2 cpu, it usually does the trick but can struggle a little if hit hard. One day I will get around to fitting the dual core parts I bought for it

[s_kinton]

See the spec of my Home Server in my sig below. It uses a low end Intel which I picked up for next to nothing, coupled with a low/mid uATX board and 2Gb of RAM.

I push large files around the network, back up each computer to the server on a regular basis - all whilst watching and storing recorded TV to it. It never reaches 100% CPU use from what I can tell.

Theres no need for fancy parts, just a super cheap dual core and board. make sure the board has sufficient SATA ports though otherwise you'll be spending a wedge on a decent PCI-e card.

[lodore]

the lan ports on my router are only 10/100 and my computers use wireless.
laptop 300mb wireless
both desktop are 54mb wireless atm

[s_kinton]

Looks like an Atom might be a better bet then. You wont be able to push large files over the network at any great speed with wireless compared to Gbe LAN.

Still, if you could get your hands on a CPU with a 45w TDP then that might be a better bet for any future expansion.

[scaryjim]

If you're using 2k8 R2 you'll need to make sure you get an atom that supports x64 instructions (I think the desktop versions do). IMNSHO you'll be better off with a low end proper dual and a cheapish integrated mATX board - either an Athlon II X2 + 760G-based AM3 board, or perhaps a Celeron E3300 and a G31-based S775 board. The Intel combination is cheaper (and uses slightly cheaper DDRII), but the AMD combination probably has a better featureset (e.g. the mobo has 6 SATA ports rather than 4).

[lodore]

Just got a spec from cyberpower systems

case:CoolerMaster Elite 310 Mid Tower Gaming Case
cpu:AMD Athlon™ II X2 245 Dual-Core CPU w/ HyperTransport Technology
mobo:Asus M4A78LT-M LE
2gb ram -1333mhz
2 x 1tb hard drives
dvd drive
psu: 450watts doesnt say which brand
total £327

if i got the same components from ebuyer it would cost about £360 i think

cpu
motherboard
memory
hard drive
psu
case
dvd drive £20

[scaryjim]

My recommendation up there ^^ is the same mobo and the X2 240, which total about £100. 2GB DDR3 is, I think, about £40. 2x 1tb F2 eco-green ~ £120. DVD drive < £20. That'd leave about £50 for a case and PSU.

So, that's not a bad price really - depends what PSU that case comes with though - for a server that'll be running 24/7 you want something very reliable...

[lodore]

My recommendation up there ^^ is the same mobo and the X2 240, which total about £100. 2GB DDR3 is, I think, about £40. 2x 1tb F2 eco-green ~ £120. DVD drive < £20. That'd leave about £50 for a case and PSU.

So, that's not a bad price really - depends what PSU that case comes with though - for a server that'll be running 24/7 you want something very reliable...

for £10 more from cyberpower i can get a cyberpower branded 500watts psu.

[scaryjim]

Is the cyberpower spec without a PSU then? If so it's not such a great after all - you can get a cheaper case and a decent 350Wish PSU for < £50.

[lodore]

Is the cyberpower spec without a PSU then? If so it's not such a great after all - you can get a cheaper case and a decent 350Wish PSU for < £50.

the cyberpower spec comes with a generic 450watt psu
for £10 i can upgrade it to a cyberpower 500watt psu

[scaryjim]

Doesn't sound great to me, tbh - I imagine that a cyberpower-branded PSU is going to be a cheapy OEM one with a sticker on it. You're much better off spending a little more and getting a decent PSU - although you don't have to spend as much as £40. The other question is the case: while you could spend the £35 on a coolermaster (or £30 on an Antec VSK2000, which would be my personal choice), you could just as easily spend £11 on a Casecom 6630 which would do the job just fine.

From ebuyer, I'd personally go for:

Athlon II X2 245 - £49
ASUS M4A78LT-M LE - £53
2x Kingston 1GB DDR3 1333MHz CL9 - £48
OCZ 400W StealthXStream PSU - £32
2x Samsung F2 Eco-green 1TB - £114
Liteon DVD-RW multi drive - £14

Now, that comes to £311 without the case, but has a few benefits over the cyberpower build - running memory in dual channel will give better performance, and the OCZ power supply is likely to be a lot more reliable. The last thing you want to skimp on is the PSU...

[vicar]

Would you consider a NAS box for th price you are about to spend?

[lodore]

I have found Hp server with one year warranty for £190
decent processer and 1gb of ram
uses ddr2 800mhz ram which i can get for around £23 for 1gb from scan
hard drives £120
total £331

there is also a cheaper hp server at £161
total with the above ram and hard drives £301

[lodore]

Would you consider a NAS box for th price you are about to spend?

its an option I would consider.
got any reccomendations?

[vicar]

Try the Netgear below, It has an offer going on and review is not too bad. There are also many good makes about

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/2TB-N...m-Free-2TB-HDD