Was this server barbone worth it?

[kfranc9]

Hey all! Yesterday I purchased a few Tyan Transport GT24 Dual Opteron Based 1U Barebones Server and for the life of me cannot figure why they are discounted for over $350 cheaper than everywhere else. So my question is, was this a good buy? Is there any reason for this type of discount?

I will only use these at my home and will probably setup a DNS with Active Directory, LDAP, and at the most intensive do some OS virtualization (just so i can run a few of the popular linux distros). Was this a good fit?

 

[JPB]

The link doesn't work.

 

[MarcVenice]

A few ? You just had some opterons and ddr 400mhz ecc ram hanging around, waiting to be used ?

 

[kfranc9]

Fixed link. I have none of that.

 

[MarcVenice]

"All you need is to add the CPU, RAM, drives, Server Operating System, monitor and the rest and you're ready for fast computing!"

You're server isn't quite done. Sounds like a 'big' investment in old tech to me. Not sure how cheap this exactly is compared to something 'newer', but by the looks of it I doubt it's such a HOT deal.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
"All you need is to add the CPU, RAM, drives, Server Operating System, monitor and the rest and you're ready for fast computing!"

You're server isn't quite done. Sounds like a 'big' investment in old tech to me. Not sure how cheap this exactly is compared to something 'newer', but by the looks of it I doubt it's such a HOT deal.

:laugh:
"General Features:
* 19-inch rack mountable 1U chassis
* NO CPU
* NO RAM
* NO Hard Drive
* NO CD-ROM Drive
* NO Floppy Drive"


"for the life of me cannot figure why they are discounted for over $350 cheaper than everywhere else. So my question is, was this a good buy? Is there any reason for this type of discount?"

Link us up to the barebone server that's $350 more than the one you purchased.

 

[kfranc9]

http://www.buy.com/retail/prod...d=24981301&dcaid=17902

 

[kfranc9]

sorry, seems like i confused you guys. I bought them for $99 each. does this change anyones opinion? Would this compare with a quad based core 2 duo dell desktop?

 

[Blain]

Make sure you don't buy socket 939 Opterons for it. It requires socket 940 CPU's.
The Tyan MB also requires "Registered" DDR, not unbuffered.

But I'm sure you considered the special requirements of this sytem before you bought it... :roll:

 

[kfranc9]

somewhat. ya see, i start by comparing 2 processors on newegg.com such as:
AMD Opteron 275 Italy 2.2GHz Socket 940 95W Dual-Core Processor ($144)
and
AMD Opteron 285 Italy 2.6GHz 940 95W Dual-Core Processor ($429)

and say surely they must be similar in performance because their specs look the same....(i could be wrong) and i can afford to load 2 of the 2.2GHz models, thus i'll be pushin a quad core server.

and then i say 2gb ram should cost about $100 and say cool.

BUt i dont know is whats the difference between socket 939, 940, AM2, F, etc. How does the setup I just talked about compare to the desktop sitting under your desk right now (or a Q6600 dell desktop)? Am I buying the processing power of pentium 4s or is this gonna be able to push ten instance of an application at the speed my macbook pushes five?!

 

[MarcVenice]

Blain is always a little sarcastic, you get it as a bonus, with the most of the time spot on advice he gives. He's only trying to say you jumped the gun on this. Like I said though, 99$ for a case + dualsocket mobo ain't bad. You do need to buy 'older' tech though. I don't know how a p35 mobo with a q6600 and 4gb of ram stacks up to a dualsocket opteron mobo with 2x2.2ghz cpu's in it, that's for you to google/find out somehow ...

 

[TritonDrew]

You can get some Opteron 275s on ebay for like $40 each. Also, you will need DDR ECC Registered ram. You can probably find that cheap on ebay as well. I got a similar server off the same deal. GX28. I put a CERC Sata card in there and I have it running ESX 3.5 for some OS virtualization. Runs great and fast. The server is loud though.

 

[kfranc9]

Awesome! I saw I could get 2gigs of memory for about $50 on eBay, but I don't see the Opteron 275s for $40 (linkage please).

Speed: I'm running a 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Macbook. Will it say, compress a file just as quickly? Essentially what I want to know is, will I see a noticeable hit in performance over whats in laptops/desktops today?


Noise: Is it so loud that u wouldn't recommend having in ure room (do you have it in your room or a closet?)

 

[TritonDrew]

Auction ended but the guy had 10 when I got them.

Auction

 

[kfranc9]

THanks for all your help guys! I talked to Tyan support and they assured me the barebone and a good opteron s940 cpu would "leave my laptop/desktop in the dust". So far, I've only purchased the processors:
2x AMD Opteron 875 2.2GHz 2MB Socket 940 - OST875FKQ6BS

I plan on getting these but I'm not sure if they are the right fit my barebone (mainly the heatsink and RAM is what im concerned about but please let me know if any of the others won't fit) :
Heatsink - ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler
RAM - Axiom 400Mhz PC3200 Registered ECC IBM Supported 2GB
CD-ROM - Dell Poweredge 24x CD-ROM Drive
Floppy - Dell Poweredge Floppy Disk Drive
Hard Drive - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD502lJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEMz

 

[TritonDrew]

You got the wrong CPUs. You needed to get Opteron 200 series. Also, you won't need the heatsink since it already comes with two.

Your motherboard is a Thunder K8SR S2881

240, 240EE, 242, 244, 246, 246HE, 248, 248HE, 250, 252, 254, 256 (1.4 - 3.0 GHz)
260HE, 265, 265HE, 270, 270HE, 275, 280, 285, 290 (1.6 - 2.8 GHz)

 

[kfranc9]

When I talked to Tyan Transport, a rep told me (off the record) that the 800 series will work just fine but if i have any problems (on the record) i would have to deal with it

 

[kfranc9]

Awesome! Thanks for your help! I still have a few questions though:

1) What heatsink/fan do I use. Where should I look to purchase them for a 1u server?
2) Will my my barebone use any server cdrom and floppy drive?
3) What model CERC Sata card did your purchase? Any problems with it?

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
He's only trying to say you jumped the gun on this.

Yeah, basically it is better to ask questions first, buy later. If you buy first and later ask if you made good choices... :roll:

As for winning or losing "the good deals game" well, it's not as much a game as an affliction of the wallet.

 

[RebateMonger]

My judgement of "did I get a good deal" was always -
"Can I sell it on eBay for more than I paid for it?"