How to Build a Cheap 1U Server
By TerrySchmidt
Great for putting in some Ghetto Colo. Since this is going to be a *nix Network Server, you won't need a CD-Rom or Floppy beyond the initial install.
- Motherboard
- $56 (Newegg) Biostar M6VLQ. Has integrated Video, and LAN. Socket 370 board, PC133 Memory, supporting up to 1gb of memory. Supports processors up to PIII 1.4ghz and Celeron 1.3ghz
- Memory
- $53 (Newegg) Whatever your cheap memory favorites of the day is. 256 MB Kingston, etc.
- CPU Cooler
- $10 (Newegg) Thermaltake A1151 1u Cooler. You need a special 1u CPU cooler to fit inside the case.
- CPU
- $73 (Newegg) Celeron 1.3ghz. For this example I choose a 1.3ghz Celeron socket 370 processor. You could go up to a 1.4ghz Pentium III with this motherboard, but is it worth the increase in money, especially when you are trying to make a cheap server. Beware of AMD 1u systems, as then tend to output more heat and are harder to cool.
- Hard Drive
- $69 (Newegg) Whatever your favorite cheap hard drive is of the day. Samsung 40gb, 7200rpm.
- Case
- $199 (Rackmountpro) The 1U case is usually the most expensive part of the whole computer. The case should also come with a 1U power supply. For this example I choose the RM1U1M-P200W from Rackmountpro.com. The advantage of this case is that it has 2 swapable hard drive trays, and 8 fans. The 8 fans are important as cooling a one machine properly can be difficult if not well venilated.
Total Price (Celeron 1.3GHz, 256Mb, 40GB, Case): $460 + Shipping
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All these prices were accurate as of 25 July, 2002 (so it's somewhat old now).
Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/
RackmountPro: http://www.rackmountpro.com/
I am currently using the same configuration above, except with a 1ghz Pentium III processor, and a different case (same price), and it has worked perfectly. The BioStar motherboard didn't like the expensive Crucial Memory, but loved the cheap CompUSA stuff.