Hey, Guys

I am building a server, just a simple file server that will run vmware and few other things.

The case i just ordered is http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...p?Sku=TC3J-4505 ( i know, It sucks, But it looks like a server and has a temp display, its perfect for me and I can put 5 hard drives in it.

The cpu i have already, which came out of another system is a P4 2.8Ghz and i will be buying 1gb of ram.

now the motherboard i saw that would work is this one http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=BO...BV2&cat=MBB and its not in stock, If someone could help me and find one that will work good.

I am trying to keep it under 200 bucks.

I do need a PSU maybe just 350 watts or something I dunno.

I think i will install a Sata Controller or a IDE controller http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...&CatId=1455 plus this hard drive divided into 2 portions 40g/40gb and another 2x 40 gbs and a 20gb Hard drive will be installed as well so, Maybe both sata and ide controller?

and I might get a DVD\CD Burner as well for testing software and stuff.

I do need a KVM but i do have 2 ports on my screen so I all i want to use is the keyboard and mouse.

Thanks guys! try to stay under 200 bucks.

EDIT: Ok, It might be over 200, dont try to go over 300, Cause i forget, I need these 2 things http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...p;sku=D700-5394 and http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...p;sku=N100-1402

Okay, here we go:

Motherboard: P4M800PRO-M478 (V1.0)

RAM: Just plain and simple 1GB DDR2 533 or 667MHz 1.8volt.
PSU: CoolerMaster Extreme Power 500 Watt

That case you picked out is made out of 0.5mm steel, but it’s constructed not to bad. I sell them here for my basic systems but they are a lot cheaper then in the USA. Don’t forget to buy some extra fans to keep your CPU and hard disks cool.


Do you have a CPU cooler by the way? Any questions more about the product I posted, ask!

Well, I have fans, thats not an issues its just the CPU is P4 2.8Ghz 533FSB and I only have 1gb of DDR PC2700 so i dont think that motherboard will work well for me unless you have another Idea.

@Punto - he'd need a video card to go along with that one, if he were to get it. The motherboard he showed has an onboard graphics card, which for his purposes will do just fine.

Another option is this board. I usually try to stay away from VIA chipsets, but considering that you're looking for an old socket 478 motherboard, you're going to have to skimp on some stuff.

If you can expand your budget a little bit... I'd suggest getting a new motherboard and CPU and ditching the old P4 you've got.

Here's my parts list so far:

Motherboard - Intel BOXDG965RYCK LGA 775 Intel G965 - $39.99
CPU - Intel Celeron 420 1.6GHz 512KB - $43.99
RAM - Kingston 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 - $21.99
PSU - Thermaltake TR2 430W - $39.99
DVD-RW - Pioneer DVR-212D - $31.99

The motherboard has all the bells and whistles of modern systems (PCIe, SATA, DDR2, C2D support) and is based on the tried-and-tested i965 chipset. You also get an onboard graphics controller, so you don't need another card for that. I'm also guessing that this setup will draw less power than your P4 will, so your parents will thank you when the electricity bill comes along (hey - we all want to be green, no?). I can't say I agree with the reviews of the DVR-212D. I've got two of them at home, and they're fantastic. I've never burned a coaster yet (*touch wood*), and I rip about 6-7 DVDs a week. I know that jcarle has 4 of them in his system and I haven't heard any shouts of anger from across the country yet...

For the KVM - I recommended the Linksys KVM in another thread - have a look at that one. I've used it for years, and it's never let me down.

@Zxian

I already have a 256mb AGP 8X video card.

I already ahve 1 gb of pc2700, all i really need is a motherboard and i had one a long time ago and gave it away! Errr... and I try to stay away from VIA and Celerons. I hate Celerons... ahd I can't buy from Newegg.

The motherboard will be able to handle your DDR RAM - it can do either DDR or DDR2. If you really want to stick with what you've got, then the ECS board is probably your best bet. I'd still suggest moving up in the world, and leaving things like S478, AGP, and DDR-RAM behind. You're only going to tie your hands together if you want to upgrade later, or add something else.

What if one day you wanted to upgrade the RAM? Or start using the system as a workstation? AFAIK, there are no dual-core CPUs for S478, and DDR RAM is becoming more and more expensive (while DDR2 prices are dropping). The i965 motherboard I suggested will let you move up to a C2D CPU and use DDR2-800 RAM, as well as any PCIe graphics card you can think of. It leaves a LOT more space for future expansion and use in another system.

Old stuff - pricey, not futureproof
New stuff - cheaper, more futureproof

Well, i'm sorry, that I AM NOT RICH! I mean i'm 16 and i don't have a job! my main system is a P4 3.2Ghz 800Mhz HT and 2048Mb of ddr PC3200 and 250gig sata-150 hard drive and a dvd burner. and a 20.1 in wide screen and a Evga 7600GT KO and all that took me about 2 years to build!

Our dell (family comp) is a 2.0Ghz P4 with 1024MB of PC2700, 60gb hard drive and a 64mb Evga video card and a 17in LCD from Acer which am using as a file server and theres 80 + 20gb hard drives for the files.

and my dads laptop is a 1.8Ghz Intel Centrino, 512mb of PC2700 and 40gb hard drive.

and I just want a 2.8ghz p4 that i have a 1gig of ram and 180 gigs of hard drives for my file server

and not to mention, I have $1400 Electric Guitar to pay for as well!

and I got to buy a truck so i can go to school/college next year, So pretty please give me a little break.

People judge way to much these days.

I hope you understand.

lol your getting too heated again

but you should at the newer stuff. some of it is cheaper and it is also better.

Dude, read please, it supports DDR1 and DDR2. You said you need to buy RAM so I thought it would be better for you to go with DDR2 .



It has onboard VGA…



I forgot to say that the board is about 45US$ . So it would be only the motherboard that would be outdated, but it make a set with the CPU he has .

It wasent directed to you, it was directed to Zxian.

I know it can do DDR and DDR2

Overall, It looks very decent Mobo.

and Thank You soo much!!!!

I think I will get it and i am going to hope it to work!

I’m selling it to people that don’t want to throw away there old CPU and stuff. I even have one running my self. It has a P4 2.4@3.0GHz and running stable. Forget the VGA card you have now, just keep the onboard VGA, its good enough to run most apps and even games up to 1024*768 like NFSU2 and so. But okay, we are talking about a server here, I know... By the way, it’s DDR1 OR DDR2, not both (but I think you saw that, just in case).

@Punto, Actually, This is kinda funny i was just telling my friend before i created the post that you can run both DDR and DDR2 its either one or the other, but only if the mobo supports it! lol! anywas, thanks for your help man! You really nice! You dont always meet nice geeks Well, I think i might order that mobo!, Thanks dude!

Whoa dude... hang on. Your first post said an initial budget of $200, which you said might be able to go up to $300. The parts I listed are under the $200 limit, so I figured that you'd be happy you could get some new stuff for pretty cheap.

I never judged you based on your lifestyle. I'm a student, living on my own (paying rent, food, bills), and my income is just over the 5-digit mark. I don't have lots of money to spend either, but I make do with what I've got. The important thing to realize is that something which might be cheap now could be more expensive later. It's the razor/razorblade scenario in many cases, and you have to watch out that you're not trapping yourself (ask anyone who built a system with RDRAM back in the day).