I'm going to build a simple (single cpu, 1 IDE HD) server and colo it. I've built plenty of desktop (tower and midtower) computers, but I've never built a 1u server.

Is there a good mobo for 1u server with integrated sound/video (lan card would be nice) that supports DDR?

When I build personal computer, I never get integrated video or sound. Also, I always try to get 300W or higher. However, most 1u case specs come with a 150W or 200W power supply. Is that enough since I won't be running a bunch of add on stuff?

Here is specs from an AMD system with SDRAM 133 Memory:
-=-=-=-=-=-
Enlight EN-2100SX1R 1U Rack Mount 3 Drive Bay w/ 150W Power Supply $213.95 $213.95
210-12051 IBM Deskstar 60GXP IC35L040AVER07 40 GB ATA/100 Hard Drive (BARE) $104.00 $104.00
120-24042 AMD Athlon Thunderbird K7 - 1.2GHz Socket A CPU (OEM) $102.95 $102.95
800-14033 MSI 6378 KLE133 Socket A MicroATX Motherboard w/ Audio & Video $64.00 $64.00
450-91002 D-Link Full Duplex 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet NIC $10.95 $10.95
220-52001 Floppy Drive 1.44MB 3.5" Sony Internal Beige (Drive Only) $10.75 $10.75
230-52020 CD-ROM Drive 52X Sony Internal ATAPI (Drive Only) $29.99 $29.99
110-60019 Kingston 256MB 144-pin 32Mx64 133MHz 3.3V CL3 SODIMM $50.15 $50.15
SUBTOTAL: $586.74
-=-=-=-=-=-

In case I can't find a good DDR mobo for 1u servers, do these parts all look OK? I don't know much about the $64 MSI mobo and I'm a little leary about stability of that cheap mobo. I've always liked ASUS for personal computers with good stable mobos.

One last note: I can't decide if I want to buy a server admin utility like Plesk or other out their. That doubles the price of my server. I'm going to start another thread asking about server admin utilities including the free Webmin. I mostly want my clients to still have some control, especially email.

I build at least 8 1U servers ... What bothers me everytime was the space limitation involved .. I have never build a DDR server, but here are some general tips:

1. Get the low profile CPU fan. Most CPU fans that comes with the CPU will not be able to fit in 1U case with only probably less than or around 1 inch of _effective_ height left after you put your motherboard and CPU. For Intel CPUs, I know that Thermatlake Golden Orb does make a low profile CPU fans .. I have been using these fans, and have no problem so far

2. Similarly, get a low profile memory modules ... If your motherboard does not have a memory slots slanted at an angle (which I believe you don't), then make sure that your memory module is not taller than 1.1 inch .. If possible, get the _low profile_ memory module (less than 1") so that your memory can fit well inside the rackmount case. There are many cheap memory modules, but they usually are about 1.3 inches tall or more.

3. If possible, get the motherboard that has build in video/NIC (does not care about audio). You can only add one PCI card on your 1U rackmount, so you may want to use it for something more useful/important than NIC card. It's always good to have one PCI slot available for further growth. Asus make this motherboard (with build in NIC/video). I believe it's the K7V-M series ... It's more but I think it's worthed the extra money.

4. I heard that AMD CPUs are using more power and can gets hotter than Intel CPUs. With the space limitation on 1U rackmount, make sure that you won't get problems with cooling inside the rackmount case ...

5. And ... I'm pretty sure you do not wnat the 144 pin SDRAM ... You need the 168 pins, the 144 pins are SODIMMS and it's used in notebook, not on your motherboard that use standar 168 pins SDRAM ...

Building your first 1U will be very challenging, I wish you the best of luck :)

cheers,
:beer:

i just won a black 1u case, with 300watt power supply & 3 heavy blowers for $130 + shipping. check out there.

http://cgi6.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewListedItems&userid=racksys&include=0&since=-1&sort=2&rows=25


this is who i won it off of. they have more i'm sure.

Very nice deal, skylab! congratz! Now I see the seller put a lower limit of $178 on the case :D

cheers,
:beer:

hahha. i didn't even notice that they put a higher price. i think they sell them for that price through their website.

Originally posted by yazzer
I'm going to build a simple (single cpu, 1 IDE HD) server and colo it. I've built plenty of desktop (tower and midtower) computers, but I've never built a 1u server.

Is there a good mobo for 1u server with integrated sound/video (lan card would be nice) that supports DDR?

When I build personal computer, I never get integrated video or sound. Also, I always try to get 300W or higher. However, most 1u case specs come with a 150W or 200W power supply. Is that enough since I won't be running a bunch of add on stuff?

Here is specs from an AMD system with SDRAM 133 Memory:
-=-=-=-=-=-
Enlight EN-2100SX1R 1U Rack Mount 3 Drive Bay w/ 150W Power Supply $213.95 $213.95
210-12051 IBM Deskstar 60GXP IC35L040AVER07 40 GB ATA/100 Hard Drive (BARE) $104.00 $104.00
120-24042 AMD Athlon Thunderbird K7 - 1.2GHz Socket A CPU (OEM) $102.95 $102.95
800-14033 MSI 6378 KLE133 Socket A MicroATX Motherboard w/ Audio & Video $64.00 $64.00
450-91002 D-Link Full Duplex 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet NIC $10.95 $10.95
220-52001 Floppy Drive 1.44MB 3.5" Sony Internal Beige (Drive Only) $10.75 $10.75
230-52020 CD-ROM Drive 52X Sony Internal ATAPI (Drive Only) $29.99 $29.99
110-60019 Kingston 256MB 144-pin 32Mx64 133MHz 3.3V CL3 SODIMM $50.15 $50.15
SUBTOTAL: $586.74
-=-=-=-=-=-

In case I can't find a good DDR mobo for 1u servers, do these parts all look OK? I don't know much about the $64 MSI mobo and I'm a little leary about stability of that cheap mobo. I've always liked ASUS for personal computers with good stable mobos.

One last note: I can't decide if I want to buy a server admin utility like Plesk or other out their. That doubles the price of my server. I'm going to start another thread asking about server admin utilities including the free Webmin. I mostly want my clients to still have some control, especially email.

You'll need atleast a Good 250W PSU. I'd highly recommend you get atleast 300W, because your chances with the 250W and a AMD 1.2 aren't very good.

Also, what are you using to cool that 1.2? Not sure of what is really good, and will fit well.

luckily, i used to work for a large VAR in north carolina, so, i get great prices on hardware, and get to go and pick and choose what i want to use. they have a box in their server dept that has these nice "mini" orbs. which i'll be using. and thankfully. two of the blowers in that case are sucking from the harddrives and blowing through the cpu, out through the back of the case. so there will be maximum airflow moving from front to back, hopefully taking out any bad heat.

where i'll be colo'd keeps the room temp at frigid level...