Small Business Server Build

[JaceX]

ARCTIC COOLING AF12025 PWM 120mm Case Fan - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186015

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128359

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128359

G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL4D-4GBPI-B - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 ... - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

Acer X193Wb Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009151

Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drives - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042



I am building a small business server which will be on 24/7.

I have selected the above items to build the server station, please give me advice or criticism, I have only built PCs for people, never a server.

*Note* I am buying 3 of the cooling fans. I need to find a heatsink which will support a server, as I am wary of the stock intel heatsinks.

Thanks,
-JaceX

 

[Proximon]

The PSU is massive overkill, and you need some sort of GPU. The MB is not really needed either.

Then, you would benefit more from a quad core....


ASUS G45 MB
Includes a GPU

Q9400
Or
Q9550

Antec 300 and EA430 combo


A server certainly doesn't need a 19" monitor. It's a great price and all but you don't want it taking up realestate.
HP 15" Monitor

You want a bolt down replacement cooler?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233005
AND
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233020

 

[JaceX]

So, for a server, what gpu would you recommend? And what if the small business wanted a big monitor? And you are sure a 430 can handle all of the server's needs?

Can all of these items can withstand 24/7 use?

 

[calinkula]

The question is what are you using the server for and how many people are going to be hitting it at the same time.

A small business that does video editing will need a completely different system then a business that just needs a print server.

 

[singingigo]

1. If they want a big monitor, that means they probably want to use the machine for more than administration. Which means they don't quite get the idea of a server.

2. Get industrial grade hard drives. You need the increased reliabilty. This is a server edition of the WD 1TB HDD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136313

3. Run RAID for data security. That means at least 2 hard drives, I suggest a RAID 1 setup. If they can afford it, get two smaller, faster (10k RPM) hard drives in Raid 1 to load the OS and programs on, and then get 3+ of the 1TB drives to run in RAID 5 for the data files.

4. Onboard graphics are fine. Our SMB server (with 8 HDDs) has a 16MB onboard graphics controller. Works great.

5. Get a full size case. Not a mid tower. There is more room for fans and cooling. Heat kills, and you need this machine to be reliable! If you like Antec, look at the 1200:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043

6. Definitely go quad core. PSU is good quality. You don't need that many watts, but having something with high reliability is key.

7. Can't say it enough, RELIABILTY is key. Therefore, get a very stable motherboard. The gigabyte Ultra Durable 3 line is nice....this should work, but you will need a basic (32-64MB) video card...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128371

 

[Proximon]

Perhaps it's the OP that is confused about what a server does?

 

[JaceX]

They don't know what a server is, and I don't have a grasp either. So your help is much appreciated.

And I should have mentioned this:

They have a budget of 950 absolute max, and they don't really want to reach that max.

Also, the server is for a small water business with clothes washing places, and multiple water processing/filter sites. The server is meant to connect 3-4 different sites which will hit it whenever they need to access/store their data onto the central server. The server is mainly for accounting/logging purposes and not video editting.

 

[Proximon]

Generally speaking, when you say "server" these days you mean "file server." It's not something that is used by someone sitting in front of it, but a box tucked away in a closet or a back room that is a central repository for data used by a number of workstations over a network.

Things that are important for a small business server such as you describe would be:

1. Reliable storage. Dependable long lasting drive(s). It sounds as if a single internal drive would work fine.

2. Back ups. Probably in this case a nightly back up to a simple external drive located in a different building is ideal.

Your server should not be used for running programs. It has a server operating system that allows multiple connections. It just serves files up for other computers.

 

[JaceX]

The server they want is something they can also use as a PC whenever they are at work. (Listen to music, surf the net, etc.)

Can it be possible to build this hybrid server/desktop?

 

[Proximon]

Tell them they should never compromise the security of the company by surfing the internet with the same machine that is storing confidential accounting information.

You could probably build a budget server and a budget workstation for around $1200. Maybe hit the budget if you make some big compromises:

Desktop office PC:

Refurbished Acer
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4356032&csid=ITD&body=MAIN#detailspecs

Throw your monitor in here
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009151

Then, build a cheap server:

Antec 300 and EA380
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.193753

AMD quad core
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103244

Foxconn board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186166

Mushkin RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146731

WD server grade 250GB HD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136291

DVD burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151175

There you go, you are under budget.

As far as networking gear and OS and other software, maybe that's another thread or two.