Parish needs new server - opinions?

[BB Gun]

Parish office is looking to FINALLY upgrade their "fileserver". It hosts a couple win3.11 database apps, and shares a few directories. Once upgraded, it will also be the backup system for a few (less than 10) of the office PCs. Its currently an old PII running - wait for it - WIN95.

I figure a mirrored RAID array would be the way to go, and as always, money is tight. I threw together an athlon and a pentium system. Which is better? What other changes would you make? Is the PIV, given the relatively light server duty, really worth an extra 150 bucks? The network guys are going to install Win2K server edition on it.

Intel: http://secure.newegg.com/app/WishR.asp?ID=610377

AMD: http://secure.newegg.com/app/WishR.asp?ID=609770

Thanks,

BB

 

[Met-AL]

either would suffice.

But, let me tell you about another option. Since this is for a server with a light load, check out a Dell server. They have a server for $299 after mail in rebate.

Specs:
P4 2.26Ghz
No OS...you said you have that already
128MB DDR ECC RAM...add your own cheaper
48x CD
Mouse and Keyboard
No monitor...it's a server..any old one will do
1yr parts and onsite labor
40GB 7.2k RPM drive.
Onboard NIC..

Nothing great, but its easily worth $299. Just wanted to point this our since it's for a church with possible limited funds for this type of thing.

Or you could do like we did at our office...HP Proliant ML350 with a 3.06Ghz Xeon, RAID 1 w/ 2-36GB 15k RPM SCSI drives for around $3000....when in reality, the $299 one from Dell would have been just fine.