MB Recommendations for home server?

[Texun]

My intent is to build a server for a home network for KaZaa, WinMx, and backing up files from other computers on the network. Perhaps some of you have already done this and can offer some advice. Details are as follows:

1. I am leaning toward a Celeron due to the low power requirement, less heat and less noise due to fewer fans.

2. HD could be a 5400 RPM model. I happen to have spares available so that should be covered.

3. Integrated LAN, sound and video is not an issue. I've got spares for that too.

4. My main concern is in selecting a reliable board with PCI for the NIC and support for the Celeron. Integrated video\LAN, etc. are optional. Reliability and low heat\noise are what I want.

I should know this already but I would appreciate feedback before I make the move. As far as selecting a MB for a P4 or XP system, I've got that covered. It's the basic but reliable brick that I am seeking. Any MB suggestions (and pitfalls) would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[rexfalk]

I think if I was going to build a Celeron machine today I'd opt for the new P-4 Celerons on an Intel 845 board. Ultra stable and reliable with much better speed than the older Celerons.

 

[Texun]

Thanks Rex;

Where do the P4 Celerons start? I believe I read they started at 1.0g or 1.1g. Is this correct? As far as the 845 board.. any particular one come to mind? I have an ASUS with the 845 now and it has been rock solid. Good board.

Thanks- r

 

[Daovonnaex]

The Tualatin Celerons outperform the Willamette-128 Celerons (P4 Celerons). Furthermore, since the P4 Celerons are the old .18u Willamette core, they're not exactly energy savers. If you really want the low power requirement, then get the Tualatin Celeron. Otherwise, I would actually recommend a cheap Athlon/Duron solution on an nForce mainboard, as the nForce mainboards are extremely stable and have superb I/O subsystems. Since I really don't know anything about Socket 370 mainboards other than those using Server Works chipsets, I'll only give you the Athlon configuration.

Mainboard: Asus A7N266-C (that's the 415D chipset)
Processor: Athlon XP 1500+
HSF: A quiet one, such as the Millenium Glaciator II, or perhaps a Thermalright AX-7 with a Panaflo fan.
Hard disk: 80GB Maxtor 7200 rpm drive with liquid bearings. This is as quiet if not quieter than most 5400 rpm drives, but it performs better than most 7200 rpm hard disks.

Such a system would be reliable, quite, and a capable server.

 

[Mark0999]

Some solid socket 370 board choices would be....

1) Asus TUSL2 (w/ onboard video)
2) Asus TUSL2-C (no video)
3) Asus TUV4X

...not a first choice, but if it's made by Asus it can't be all that bad.

4) Asus TUSI-FX (w/ video and LAN)