General work PC / File storage computer

diduknowthat

diduknowthat

formerly liuliuboy
hey guys, my dad needs a general computer / file server for his office, and he decided to let me build it. The budget is about sub 700, and he wants RAID 1 for storing his data.

Soo, can anyone knock up a list of parts? I'm also listing one together right now, i'll post it up later.
 
When you want storage like I do here plan on some of the newer large capacity drives now available. Seagate now has 750bg sata drives or you could go with a pair of WD 500gb drives. For a good work horse look over some Opteron model cpus now that the prices are lower. For a tighter budget the low end dual core or even last option of a single core model will still work plus a budget video card.
 
PC eye said:
When you want storage like I do here plan on some of the newer large capacity drives now available. Seagate now has 750bg sata drives or you could go with a pair of WD 500gb drives. For a good work horse look over some Opteron model cpus now that the prices are lower. For a tighter budget the low end dual core or even last option of a single core model will still work plus a budget video card.
Click to expand...

For now I think he's gonna start out with dual 320GB harddrives, (can always add more later on).

I'm looking at a Athlon 64 3200+. He doesn't really do any CPU intensive stuff, just a powerpoint here and there.

• AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Socket 939 2.0ghz CPU - $57
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103535

• ASUS PCI-Express X16 Socket 939 Motherboard - $72
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131569

• Kingston 1GB DDR400 CAS 3 Ram - $78
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820134008

• Spire SwordFin ATX Full Tower Case - $54
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811220010

• ASUS X300SE 128MB PCI-Express X16 Graphics Card - $39
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814121538

• Seagate Barracuda 320GB 16MB Cache SATA 3.0GB/s Hard drive X2- $200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148215

• Lite-On DVD Burner - $37
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106055

• Enermax 350W Powersupply - $56
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103455

This PC needs to be very reliable.
 
I would still move up on two items there. The supply is a little too underpowered if you consider adding more drives to increase capacity at a later time. And the 3500+ rather then 3200+ won't be a slow boat to wherever even for a basic build. The nForce chipset will rule over the VIA or SIS crap for the 939 model there.

Currently I'm running an Antec 480w model supply until I manage to get the intended sata array going with a few WD 500gb model drives. Then I'lll throw the TP II 550w supply in. For a 320gb sata drive the Seagate is a little too high when the WD equivalent is seen for $113.99 at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136046 WD drives have proven themselves reliable over the years here in many systems.
 
PC eye said:
I would still move up on two items there. The supply is a little too underpowered if you consider adding more drives to increase capacity at a later time.
Click to expand...

Ok I'll look into a high powered PSU, post that "good" and "bad" list up again? :)

And the 3500+ rather then 3200+ won't be a slow boat to wherever even for a basic build. The nForce chipset will rule over the VIA or SIS crap for the 939 model there.
Click to expand...

nah, the 3500+ costs 74 dollars and is out of stock.

For a 320gb sata drive the Seagate is a little too high when the WD equivalent is seen for $113.99 at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136046 WD drives have proven themselves reliable over the years here in many systems.
Click to expand...

But that WD model is only 250GB and cost 14 dollars more..


edit: how about this PSU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817194002
 
Last edited:
that looks like a good PSU, but this would even work
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817189003

this is just one i made for fun to see what i could make and give you a compare:

CPU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103631 - $99.00
Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813138026 - $78.99
RAM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145525 - $94.99
GPU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814195036 - $49.99
2xHDD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148215 - $199.98
Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119077 - $49.99
PSU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817189003 - $37.99
DVD Drive - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827106992 - $23.99
OS - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832116169 - $89.99

Final Total= $725
 
Good:
Akasa PaxPower - Antec(except Smart Power models) - Astec - AOpen - Channel Well - Coolermaster - Enermax
- Enlight - Fortron Source (Sparkle) - HEC - Hi-Power - Jeantech - NSpire - OCZ Technology - PC Power & Cooling - PowerMan
- Seasonic - SilenX - SilverStone - Tagan - TTGI/SuperFlower - Vantec - Zippy / Emacs - Verax - Zalman
- Corsair

Bad:
Allied - Antec Smart Power models(recommend True Power or NeoHE) - Aspire - CoolMax - DEER - EYE-T
- KingStar - L&C - Linkworld - Logisys - PowerMagic - PowerUp - Powmax - Q-Tec - Raidmax - Skyhawk - Star
- Turbolink - Ultra - ThermalTake - Rosewill

Remember the above comparison is still in need of updating. But this is the accumilition of goods and bads based on users over an extended period of time. At least one on the "good" list will always see a "thumbs up"!

The 3700+ is another one seen for $74 at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103622 But the 3500+ is still in stock or was just restocked. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103533

The one that grabs attention here however is the 3400+ primarily seen in prebuilt systems like Compaq that is on sale in a bundle until 1/31/07 seen at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103023 This an oem without the stock hsf if you are planning on using a 3rd party cooler.
 
PC eye said:
The 3700+ is another one seen for $74 at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103622 But the 3500+ is still in stock or was just restocked. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103533

The one that grabs attention here however is the 3400+ primarily seen in prebuilt systems like Compaq that is on sale in a bundle until 1/31/07 seen at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103023 This an oem without the stock hsf if you are planning on using a 3rd party cooler.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's why I picked out the 3200+ as it was retail and I didn't need to look into aftermarket heatsinks. Plus, he really doesn't need much CPU power.

joeswm8 said:
CPU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103631 - $99.00
Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813138026 - $78.99
RAM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145525 - $94.99
GPU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814195036 - $49.99
2xHDD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148215 - $199.98
Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119077 - $49.99
PSU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817189003 - $37.99
DVD Drive - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827106992 - $23.99
OS - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832116169 - $89.99

Final Total= $725
Click to expand...

I think I'll stick with my case and PSU, but I'll see if I can step up to AM2 for future upgrading reasons.

• AMD Athlon 3000+ 64 Socket AM2 1.8ghz CPU - $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103639

• Abit Socket AM2 nForce 4 Ultra ATX Motherboard - $74
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127010

• Pqi Turbo 1GB DDR2 667 Ram - $107
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141210

• Spire SwordFin ATX Full Tower Case - $54
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811220010

• ASUS X300SE 128MB PCI-Express X16 Graphics Card - $39
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814121538

• Seagate Barracuda 320GB 16MB Cache SATA 3.0GB/s Hard drive X2- $200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148215

• Lite-On DVD Burner - $37
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106055

• Enermax Liberty 400W Powersupply - $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103455


Total = $656 (before S&H)
 
Last edited:
ok updated list, just need a quick checkover, will order VERY soon.

• AMD Athlon 3000+ 64 Socket AM2 1.8ghz CPU - $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103639

• Asus Socket AM2 nForce 570 Ultra ATX motherboard - $93
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131022

• Corsair XMS2 1GB (2 X 512mb) DDR2 800 Ram - $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145566

• Spire SwordFin ATX Full Tower Case - $54
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811220010

• Asus X300SE 128MB PCI-Express X16 Graphics Card - $39
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814121538

• Seagate Barracuda 320GB 16MB Cache SATA 3.0GB/s Hard drive X2- $200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148215

• Lite-On DVD Burner - $37
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106055

• Enermax Liberty 400W Powersupply - $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817194002

• Hanns-G 19” 8ms DVI LCD Monitor - $179
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824254009




Total = $858 (before S&H)
 
Crap supply alert! Some strong complaints have been heard lately on the Liberty line. That reminds me of a need to add that in on the "good" and "bad" list of makes here.


Good:
Akasa PaxPower - Antec(except Smart Power models) - Astec - AOpen - Channel Well - Coolermaster - Enermax(except Liberty models)
- Enlight - Fortron Source (Sparkle) - HEC - Hi-Power - Jeantech - NSpire - OCZ Technology - PC Power & Cooling - PowerMan
- Seasonic - SilenX - SilverStone - Tagan - TTGI/SuperFlower - Vantec - Zippy / Emacs - Verax - Zalman
- Corsair

Bad:
Allied - Antec Smart Power models seem to lack(recommend True Power or NeoHE) - Aspire - CoolMax - DEER - EYE-T
- Enermax Liberty models seeing problems - KingStar - L&C - Linkworld - Logisys - PowerMagic - PowerUp - Powmax - Q-Tec - Raidmax - Skyhawk - Star
- Turbolink - Ultra - ThermalTake - Rosewill
 
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