Budget: ~$400 (Under is good, a little over is OK.) Main uses of intended build: Storage/Streaming Media/App/Game Host. The latter is fairly undemanding, but needs a decent processor (Atom won't cut it). I've been using a rather ancient P4 box, which runs pretty hot (and therefore loud) even when close to idle; this will be on 24/7, so I've been eyeing Sandy Bridge for a combination of impressive performance and efficiency, but that's probably pushing the budget. Parts I have already: PSU (Antec EA-380D) HSF (Freezer 7 Pro) HDDs (WD 1TB+2x2TB) Graphics Cards (several, though ideally I won't need to use one) Parts required: CPU Motherboard RAM Case Case Fans (if necessary, preferably quiet) Ideally, budget allowing, a small SSD No overclocking, no real motherboard requirements. Case needs to have space for at least 5 HDDs (three currently, two for future expansion) and one optical drive, quieter is better. RAID isn't really necessary. Edit: OK, here's a possible combination that looks like it may suit. Gigabyte GA-G41M - $60 Intel E5500 (Dual Core Pentium 2.8GHz) - $70 4GB Patriot DDR3 1333 - $40 That's a total of $170. What I'm really having a hard time finding is a case. In the cart with those right now is the Antec 300 for $60, which would work, but I dunno. Ideally, out there somewhere is a small, quiet, understated (i.e. no blazing LED fans) case with decent cable management options. Also, in that budget there'd be room for a small SSD--a 32GB, perhaps? Recommendations?
ASUS E350M1 Series? matx, 5/6 SATA 6Gbps, very low power, passively cooled, onboard GPU, GigE. They do mini-ITX too that also has 5 SATA, but might be more difficult to find. PCI-E slot for disk expansion/optical on a cheap SATA PCIe card? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...rder=BESTMATCH&Description=asus+e35m1&x=0&y=0 Remember that's CPU+mobo price. Faster than Atom but not crazy fast admittedly. Otherwise your next step is H55/G6960
Interesting, I hadn't considered Zacate. I think, though, that I want something with more power than that; probably a Pentium dual core at least. I've been looking at a few different possible combinations, and will throw them up there later.
Cool, swapped that one out. I did notice the 4 SATA on the G41, but could get by with that and possibly get a card; haven't found a suitable replacement yet.
Try this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815158097 ...or this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815280003.
cpu: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103926 mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130308 ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220567 way better features and more future proof for $30 more. edit: i did some more shopping and switched to am3. that mobo linked can do 8 sata, 10 hdds if you use the ide port. less than the cost of a decent sata add on card. now you'll get sata 6gbps, usb3, a way better igp and still enough grunt to do anything you said you plan on tasking the server with.
I would bump up to an E8400 or like lysol said, get an i3 system. I have the HP MediaSmart EX 490 with the crappy Celeron proc in it. Everyone that upgrades the cpu in that recommends jumping up to the E8400 range for ideal performance.
