Dell Poweredge SC420 - $249!

[LehighBri]

It looks as though Dell dropped the price on their SC420 server again.

Specs include
Celeron 2.53GHz CPU (upgrade to P4 for $99)
Free upgrade to 512MB DDR2, 533MHz RAM
40GB SATA Drive
48X CD-ROM
10/100/1000 Onboard NIC
$249! (was $279 a couple days ago)

Looks like a great deal to me. Thoughts?

 

[RossMAN]

Dell PowerEdge SC420 tech specs

Let's not forget the Unofficial Dell PowerEdge SC420 FAQ

 

[jpeyton]

+$10 for an 80GB SATA HD

 

[rcurley55]

Total newb question here - does this mean I could take this machine, put an os on it - and use it for a file server for my home network?

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: rcurley55
Total newb question here - does this mean I could take this machine, put an os on it - and use it for a file server for my home network?

Yes.

 

[LehighBri]

Originally posted by: rcurley55
Total newb question here - does this mean I could take this machine, put an os on it - and use it for a file server for my home network?

Absolutely! I plan on doing something similar but can't decide if I should wait to buy this at dell's end of quarter in April.

Thoughts? Is this deal too good to be true now or should I wait for a better deal come April and Dell's end of quarter?

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: rcurley55
Total newb question here - does this mean I could take this machine, put an os on it - and use it for a file server for my home network?

Yep, I plan on doing something similiar with my Dell PowerEdge 400SC which is still in a box.

Install OS - install TV Tuner card - Add WiFi = my "ghetto HTPC" :thumbsup:

 

[rcurley55]

Thanks guys - I'm about to jump on this right away, but I have a Second newb question - could I use a Linux OS on this that I have instead of a window's os and have it network with my windows xp laptops...I don't feel like buying any more XP licenses....

 

[ubercaffeinated]

I got this 2 mos back, did the mod, put in a ATI X700 pro, slapped on a zalman vf700, switched out the shroud fan (which is a delta btw) with a panaflo, and blam- I have nice new super quiet gaming machine. =]

 

[Darknight]

Originally posted by: rcurley55
Thanks guys - I'm about to jump on this right away, but I have a Second newb question - could I use a Linux OS on this that I have instead of a window's os and have it network with my windows xp laptops...I don't feel like buying any more XP licenses....

Yes.

 

[rcurley55]

thanks for the confirmation - looks like I got myself a new project - thanks...

 

[MarkLuvsCS]

Linux Selfbooting Server. Like knoppix, except for a server ^^

Server Elements

 

[cyberia]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Install OS - install TV Tuner card - Add WiFi = my "ghetto HTPC" :thumbsup:

Is it loud (without any fan mods)?

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: cyberia

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Install OS - install TV Tuner card - Add WiFi = my "ghetto HTPC" :thumbsup:

Is it loud (without any fan mods)?

I wouldn't know as mine is still in the box, I haven't done anything yet.

 

[The4thDoctor]

How are you guys getting a price of $249? The lowest I can get this is $348.

 

[PandaBear]

Yes, I have one of this and it is not 100% quiet, the CPU fan is huge.

Many mod the 8x PCIe slot with dremel or hot butter knife to go with a 16x card, not all are compatible but the most compatible one is ATI x700. If you are using its integrated graphics, Linux run in VESA mode so the graphics is slow as hell, win2000 runs fine for me without problem.

 

[xionn]

Looking for a recomendation. I want to buy a new super cheap server to hold a JBOD RAID array to store my *ahem* media files. Would this box do it, or can you recommend a different place to look. I have about 4 hard drives, and I will probably throw more in later.

 

[rcurley55]

Originally posted by: The4thDoctor
How are you guys getting a price of $249? The lowest I can get this is $348.

did you get rid of the service plan - it's $119 for 3 year basic or remove the second hdd for $89?

 

[drewski]

Originally posted by: xionn
Looking for a recomendation. I want to buy a new super cheap server to hold a JBOD RAID array to store my *ahem* media files. Would this box do it, or can you recommend a different place to look. I have about 4 hard drives, and I will probably throw more in later.

i just wanted to point out that JBOD != RAID, but RAID controllers can do JBOD (Just Bunch of Disks). you looking do do RAID 0, JBOD, or actually have some redundancy?

you should be able to do software RAID with the onboard controller (SATA). you could also put in a PCI RAID controller for SCSI (which is an add-on option) or whatever you might buy for a hardware solution.

i don't have one of these boxes, but it looks like there is only room for 2 internal hard-drives, maybe a 3rd in the spare 5.25" bay, so not a ton of room, but with megasize-HDD's that may not be an issue, except if you go SCSI.

 

[rcurley55]

Well, I jumped on it - I don't log onto anandtech for months, I'm here for 30 minutes and I make an impulse buy....

I got the cele, 512mb ram, keyboard, mouse, one 160gb sata drive, 1 year service, no os for 309+tax free shipping.....this should be fun, thanks guys...

 

[Booty]

Anyone used one of these in an office environment for, say, a backup domain controller?

 

[Dowfen]

Originally posted by: Booty
Anyone used one of these in an office environment for, say, a backup domain controller?

Probably faster than both the 2 domain controllers we're running combined (Dell Poweredge 2400's).

Eric

 

[Raiden256]

Actually use one of these for a server?!?! What kind of crazy you talkin', man?

 

[INXSible]

Need your help guys.

Do you know if the "SC420 Celeron" can handle "multiple burning" (3 DVD's at once, 2 Internals and 1 USB) ?
Currently I am doing this with an old "Dimension 4550 P4 2.66GHz 512MB" w/no problem, but I want to do my DVD burning on another comp and this baby seems like a cheap option to do so.

Many thanks.

 

[dabuddha]

I didn't get a chance to take a closer look but does anyone know how many 5.25/3.5 slots are in the case? I'm just curious as to how many hdds I can put in this thing. Would make a nice file server.