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**blacksunseven** · 10-18-2007, 09:45 PM

A lot of this stuff is totally unnecessary for a server. Let me start off by saying, consider Ubuntu, it's a bit easier for noobs to Linux than Fedora is and offers the same kind of uptime - as well as easier installs (both for OS and software, imo).

OK, so let's trim this build down a bit and get you set up with a SERVER computer, what you've posted here is more a gaming computer than anything.

Next, the processor. QX6850s are great and all, but you'd be fine with a Q6600 (which you can OC easily to 3.0GHz anyways) for about $600 less.

First, the case, forget getting a $129 computer case if this thing is just gonna be a server, get a nice full tower, steel sub-$100 case.

Next, the motherboard. Look, that's a great mobo, but it has a lot of waisted features and is super-expensive at any rate. Try looking at the Gigabyte P35 DS3R, it's a lot cheaper and has enough features for what you want to do - including the RAID.

The video card? Get the cheapest nVidia PCI-E card you can find circa $60.

Don't need a sound card, that saves $135 (and headaches in Linux with Creative).

OK, the RAM. Let's talk, 2GB of RAM is simply not gonna be enough if you want to host 32+ players (which, I'm assuming, you do). I'd say go for 4-8GB of RAM here.

A good solid PSU is important, but even $140 is a bit high. You can find great PSUs that will do the trick for this system @ 500W ~100-120 bucks.

That much hard drive capacity? Why? Dedicated UT3 server isn't ever gonna take up more than a few GB, absolute max. I understand the RAID 5 but maybe look into getting 80GB drives and saving some cash.

DVD Drive is fine, but if you have a USB DVD drive, just use that and save the money since it doesn't need to stay connected.

Keyboard, mouse, and monitor are all completely unnecessary for a real server. Use these from your other comp while you set this server up and get SSH and VNC (if needed) enabled over secure connections and just get to it via that. I've been doing it for years.

**Logy** · 10-18-2007, 10:01 PM

Like the man said, if you're building a server, then you don't need a lot of that stuff.

However, if you're building a gaming machine, well, everything on that list should work fine under Linux except for the X-Fi.

Currently, there are only some half-***** closed-source Linux drivers available for the X-Fi, so it would basically be a waste of money.

Something along the lines of an Audigy 2 would be supported much more thoroughly, and has more horsepower than you'd be using, anyway.

**=Uff-da=** · 10-18-2007, 10:06 PM

Black sun.. thanks for the comments.

I used the terms "mainly a server" meaning, I will have some other (more minor) purposes for this machine (I'm just a guy with a good DSL line and a small network and most of my machines are multi-purposed).

However, having said that, all good points! I'd take it a step further and go with a rack-mount unit if I was doing a sole dedicated UT server... but that is for another thread.

As far as the processor.. I didn't know much about that except that I wanted it to scream... if you think the Q6600 would work fine, I'd sure consider that. Thanks also for the RAM suggestions.. I'll definitely change that if it's needed (I've never ran a UT server before and figured 2GB's would work). I first quoted this all with a cheap vid card and cheap monitor... but then I thought I may want to try mod'ing on that machine, as well as some playing perhaps... thus the change.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the suggestions, especially on compatibility issues. I'll have to look into Ubuntu. I've only ran RedHat in the past... and not that much of it. Why do you think it is more noob friendly? Is it 64bit?

Rising above hardware, I hope this discussion can turn into things like server settings, configurations etc..

Oh, the HD space... this server will probably be doing some storage as well. R5 just keeps things replaceable and redundant.

Donovan

**=Uff-da=** · 10-18-2007, 10:07 PM

Originally posted by Logy View Post

Like the man said, if you're building a server, then you don't need a lot of that stuff.

However, if you're building a gaming machine, well, everything on that list should work fine under Linux except for the X-Fi.

Currently, there are only some half-***** closed-source Linux drivers available for the X-Fi, so it would basically be a waste of money.

Something along the lines of an Audigy 2 would be supported much more thoroughly, and has more horsepower than you'd be using, anyway.

Thanks! - I'll take it out of the list!

Donovan

**oldkawman1** · 10-18-2007, 11:29 PM

This will rock, dual FX74 3.0Ghz setup with 8 Gig DDR2 ram

This is the fastest AMD SLI system that can be bought;
ASUS L1N64-SLI WS Dual L (1207FX) NVIDIA nForce 680a SLI MCP SSI CEB AMD Motherboard for $305
AMD Athlon 64 FX-74 Windsor 3.0GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket F (1207 FX) DSDC Architecture Processor for $299 each
8 Gig DDR2 800 kit for $500
For $1400 plus cost of power supply, a couple 8800 cards, and a full tower case, you have the best current AMD SLI setup.
When you go to a server board, graphics are lost, no SLI.

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