Building a Server...

[CrimsonGT]

Right now I am renting a dedicated box with an Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 Proccessor, 2GB Ram, 250gb HD, etc. I have been looking at comments from everyone on here, and it seems the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 is the Processor of all Processors for its price range.

A year ago I built a new computer, and Newegg happened to send me double of everything I ordered. Most of the extras have just been sitting in my closet, so I figured I would like to build a server for LAN parties. (Would like to use it for online game servers, but I don't think most people collocate 1 box)

Here are the parts I already have (Some Relevant to Performance, some not so much)

1) Apevia Cruiser Case

2) Intel Pentium D 940 Presler 3.2GHz 2 x 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Dual-Core Processor

3) ASUS P5B-E LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard

4) Thermaltake W0093RU ATX 12V 2.0 Version 500W Power Supply

5) CORSAIR XMS2 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800

Basically this is what I have right now lying around. I really want a serious server so I am going to pick up the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 processor for it and I guess sell the P4 on ebay that I have now to cover some of the cost. I guess what I want to know is...

1) Are the motherboard, RAM (probably get 3 more sticks to make 4gb), powersupply, and case good for what I want to do?

2) Is overclocking left more for gaming machines, or is overclocking a windows 2003 Server box that will be used for SRCDS fine?

3) Is there anything else I should look into before proceeding?

4) Lastly, I have never used Windows 2003 Server for much aside from in class. Is there any reason I should use WIndows 2003 Server instead of Windows XP Professional?

[fqdn]

you can colo just about anything, some providers will take tower cases while others take only "server" type boxes, mainly you just have to pay for the space you take up on the rack.

[DjDigiD]

Grab the 6600 asap you'll love it

[CrimsonGT]

Woah...after looking at the prices of colocation I am in shock. Right now im paying about 150$ a month for an intel core 2 duo e6550 system for running servers off of. I was expecting to pay in the range of maybe 150-300$ for colocating and from what I can tell, I would be paying 500$ unless I wanted to get a very lousy connection.

[blik]

Colo is not a good idea if you have popular servers...

[CrimsonGT]

Well really I just need 1500gb bandwidth a month max, which they give me 2500gb bandwidth a month on my dedicated server and its 140$ and runs smooth. I just wish I could find colocation without bursting that would just rent me 1U space and like 2000gb of bandwidth.

[Mooga]

Windows server uses less resources and handles remote access better/differently then XP.
I'm using server 2003 and like it. Most people around here have used XP with no problems though

[blik]

As far as I'm aware server 2003, and XP both use the same RDP protocol version. So there should be no difference at all in remote desktop experience. Server 2003, can however allow multiple remote desktop instances.

For the cost difference it is really not worth it... XP Pro will do fine.

[fqdn]

the difference between colo and rentals is that people that colo know exactly how much bandwidth they need and will be using most if not all of it. dedicated server bandwidth is oversold to a certain percent and if all the clients used all the bandwidth they are allotted the server company will lose money as they will have to pay overage charges (server company not the user).

say the server company buys a 2Mb burstable connection and spreads it over 4 physical servers, that equates to roughly 660Gb transfer for the whole lot (not taking into account 95th% billing etc, keeping it simple). if they rent game servers, they can assume that their 10 12slot 100tick match servers are not full 24/7 right? so they use have that leftover as a buffer that they can sell to someone else like an almost always full 24 slot TF2 server which we know can chew up 500Gb+ easily, however if all the 12slot match servers suddenly go full all day everyday (along with the almost always full 24 slot TF2 box) they will go over their contracted amount and will have to pay overages. there's other stuff involved but this is the really simple comparison.

where are you located and where do you prefer to colo? i'm sure there's someone that will take your 1U box (your tower is not 1U on it's side it is more like 4-5U) and give you 1500Gb.

[ClanWoof]

Yeah, I was shocked how much they want for a colocation as well when I was looking into it. Most places it around 125$ just for the server itself then around 200+ for 2-3mbps connection. on 95th% billing.
Like Blik said if you have servers that are full 24/7 it's not really worth it, also if something goes down on your own you have to drive there fix it how long would that take? At least with renting it they will have it back up a hour or two. I have my own server I just built and am going to have it colocated, I'll let you guys know how well it goes. I'm going to be using Linux on mine as colocations look to see if you're using a cracked windows o/s.

[CrimsonGT]

I found somewhere to colocate that is 95$ a month for 2000gb bandwidth which is all we need for each box anyways.

Is server hardware different from consumer hardware? I posted all of that hardware above and one of my clan mates told me server hardware is completely different form factor and everything. I was assuming I could use most of what I have, but apparently I am wrong.

[Spartanfrog]

Well server motherboards are made to fit 1u cases, etc. Not sure if all other motherboards can fit in a 1U rack. The CPU can be anything...doesnt really matter. Some server processors have HE or other special things included but Core 2 Quad are amazing processors for game servers and they arent specifically made for "servers."

[CrimsonGT]

Yeah, that would fit in the mobo I have now, but I am not sure if my mobo (ATX) would fit into a 1U case.

[fqdn]

CrimsonGT Wrote:Yeah, that would fit in the mobo I have now, but I am not sure if my mobo (ATX) would fit into a 1U case.

each U is 1.75" in height, you're not going to fit any kind of video card in your pci-e slot that is that short. as a matter of fact your power supply is already bigger than 2U.

you can probably find a barebones server that will take your proc and ram (and hard drives) but not anything else. video will most likely be built in anyway. this one says it will do a pentium D:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816101048

[CrimsonGT]

Would it have to have a video card if I colocated it? I was under the assumption I just needed to make sure it would boot and what not prior to sending it. And yeah, the 1U case I was looking at came with a PSU.