Suggestions for low power home server

[brianjohn]

Hi everyone,
I'm currently looking at building a low power headless home server for use for the following:
- File server (Gigabit required)
- Confluence wiki (2 GHz single core CPU and 512MB memory required - I think I could get by with a dual core atom)
- Nagios
- Possible DVR in future
- Possible webserver in future
- General purpose linux box

Overall I want it to be low power usage (under 50W full load), but be able to handle several different tasks. I looked at getting a sheevaplug initially, but that just doesn't have the horsepower to run something like Confluence.

I've got some spare DDR2 memory and hard drives laying around that I could use. I don't really want to spend more than $200 on the build if possible.

Does anyone have any suggestions for components to get? A power-efficient low wattage power supply seems like a key piece, but I'm not that well versed on them. I know intel is coming out with the new version of the atom very soon, and AMD looks like they'll have a contender shortly as well. I don't need the server right away, would it be worthwhile to wait and see what comes out in the coming months?

 

[gwarren007]

Celeron 440
micro atx
pico psu 120

 

[Dangman]

I've got some spare DDR2 memory and hard drives laying around that I could use. I don't really want to spend more than $200 on the build if possible.

What parts do you actually need for that $200 budget? Case as well?

 

[brianjohn]

What parts do you actually need for that $200 budget? Case as well?

Good question. I should have mentioned that I already have an Antec case that can take an ATX mboard. It also has an Earthwatts (high efficiency) power supply, it's either 380W or 500W, I can't remember.

I wasn't sure if I could use these components since it looks like the Atom boards are mini ITX and I'm not sure how efficient the earthwatts power supplies are at < 50W.

 

[engiNURD]

Mini-ITX is backwards compatible with mATX, which is also backwards compatible with ATX cases, so you can surely drop a mITX board into an ATX case.

Earthwatts units are all 80+ certified:

The 80 PLUS performance specification requires multi-output power supplies in computers and servers to be 80% or greater energy efficient at 20%, 50% and 100% of rated load with a true power factor of 0.9 or greater. This makes an 80 PLUS certified power supply substantially more efficient than typical power supplies and creates a unique market differentiation opportunity for power supply and computer manufacturers.

20% of 380W is 76W. If you have the EA500, it was tested at 100W. A Mini-ITX PSU is 100W or less, IIRC.

 

[Dangman]

Good question. I should have mentioned that I already have an Antec case that can take an ATX mboard. It also has an Earthwatts (high efficiency) power supply, it's either 380W or 500W, I can't remember.

You still haven't answered the question

 

[brianjohn]

You still haven't answered the question

Ugh, sorry I read through that too fast.

Basically, as long as I can use my existing case/power supply (will an ATX power supply work with mini-ITX motherboard?) then all I really need is a motherboard and processor. I could also use advice on hard drives to buy, but those wouldn't be included in the < $200 budget.

 

[brianjohn]

I'm thinking about potentially using the new Intel D510MO motherboard, which is the new generation of atom processors. It uses a little less power than ION and seems to perform better at non-video intensive tasks.

How long does it usually take for motherboards to end up on Amazon? Since it is new, is it likely that the Linux support will be poor?

Info on intel's site:
http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/motherboards/D510MO/D510MO-overview.htm

 

[Dangman]

I'm thinking about potentially using the new Intel D510MO motherboard, which is the new generation of atom processors. It uses a little less power than ION and seems to perform better at non-video intensive tasks.

How long does it usually take for motherboards to end up on Amazon? Since it is new, is it likely that the Linux support will be poor?

Info on intel's site:
http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/motherboards/D510MO/D510MO-overview.htm

More than likely Linux support would be a bit lacking since it is a new chipset. Dunno how long it takes for motherboards to show up on Amazon.

Oh and yes a you can use a ATX PSU with mITX motherboard.

 

[wizang]

I'm thinking about potentially using the new Intel D510MO motherboard, which is the new generation of atom processors. It uses a little less power than ION and seems to perform better at non-video intensive tasks.

How long does it usually take for motherboards to end up on Amazon? Since it is new, is it likely that the Linux support will be poor?

Info on intel's site:
http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/motherboards/D510MO/D510MO-overview.htm

Does anyone know any US retailers that have this for preorder?