I would never have considered Gateway for a server, but in a flier they sent today I happened to notice what looks like a nicely designed and solid 1U case they are using - I really like the looks for $1100 - 4 GB max ram, a 512K cache 1.13 Ghz processor, an 18 GB 10K SCSI hdd, dual integrated Intel NIC, slim CD/floppy, 3 hot swap bays, and what looks like a really nice case. What do you think?

Processor: (1)Intel® Pentium® III Processor 1.13-GHz with 512K full speed L2 Cache (Dual Processor Upgradeable)

Memory: 256MB PC133 ECC SDRAM (1 - 256MB module) expandable to 4GB

Hard Drive: (Total 1) 18GB Ultra160 SCSI SCA 10K RPM Hard Drive

Floppy Drive: 3.5" 1.44MB diskette drive

CD-ROM: 24X IDE CDROM

Operating System: Optional

Video: Integrated PCI Graphics - 4MB

Power Supply: 200 Watt Power Supply

Controller: Integrated Single Channel Ultra160

RAID Level: Please choose a RAID Level

Network Card: Dual Integrated Intel® PCI 10/100 Twisted Pair Ethernet

Limited Warranty and On-site Service Programs: 3Yr Parts, Labor, 3Yr Onsite - Next Business Day Limited Warranty, HW Tech Support as long as you own it

Server Management: HP OpenView ManageX Event Manager

$1099

http://www.gateway.com/work/prod/sb_gtwy935c_ProdDetail.shtml

Take it down to 3 years, 1 year on site on the warranty and save $99... take off the CD-ROM and do a net install and save another $50... $950 for a Gateway server isn't so bad...

Except they have a very high failure rate :(

Where did you hear that?

Experience. I worked for a place that ordered Gateway servers and one batch they ordered 100 of them, 59 worked :)

Well that's disappointing to hear, but thanks for the info RackMy.com. The ps is a little light and the scsi controller is only a single channel, but for the price it looked like a great value for a namebrand server with good specs and upgrade path (dual cpu and 4GB memory and 3 hot swap scsi bays) for what seems to be a bargain price.

I have to agree with RackMy.com. The last company that I worked for as a network tech purchased a lot of Gateway servers and desktops. We had very little trouble with the desktops but a lot of trouble with the servers.

Who would you recommend for 1U servers then? Dell is obviously the best choice, but you pay a premium for it. Any other company that might be similarly priced to the Gateway server mentioned above?

I own a retail computer service shop as side business to my hosting co.
but anyway Gateway is such a pain to work with and they have the highest failure rate of anything I've ever seen..if someone calls about repairing one I just turn them away and suggest they get a new computer. I also was a systems admin at my old job where my boss ordered 57 Gateway desktops ALL of them had some sort of problem but weirdest thing was that about 24 of them had this problem with burning up mice...the mouse would get hot to the touch and would stop working Gateway didn't have a clue and everytime we called to have the mice replaced under warnanty it got harder to get something done to the point where they "couldn't find" a record of our $80k order with them and refused to send us 7 new mice to replace the 4th batch the computers fried. I gave up as I was leaving that company in a few days after that happened anyway, the one good thing was that nothing could stop the Compaq servers we had :D

IMO you have to be crazy to buy a Gateway desktop or laptop and you have to be flat out stupid to trust a Gateway server.

if you want junk and downtime get a Gateway
if you want a nice system and very little downtime go Compaq or Dell a pay the extra price for something that works right

I have no experience with Gateway but if I were to buy a xU rack mount server it would not be from them. In fact I am buying a fully loaded 1U right now, so I compared prices - fully loaded (3 * 36GB; 2 1.4GHz CPU, 2GB RAM, no raid) the server comes to $5,813.00.

However, they only list 10K RPM drives, a similar server from Dell comes in at 6300 with 15K RPM drives.

Gateway doesn't list 7 * 24 service, Dell - its an extra 100$.

So if its name brand you want, I think you are better off looking elsewhere for a server that will sit on a rack unattended.

The other alternative at this price point is to configure one yourself. Maybe not for the timid however -- or you can built out a 1U server from the Intel server line up includes special cases, boards etc.

Gateway products are complete garbage. Go to the following site and look at the complaints.

http://www.thecomplaintstation.com/cgi-bin/frames.cgi?topic307

http://www.thecomplaintstation.com/g/gatewaycomputer_toc.htm

Yikes. Gateway desktops even worse than Compaq's. Wow! I had no idea they were that bad :D

I guess I'll stick with home-built with Intel/Quantum/name brand ram/3 com or intel on board nic, etc. I still like Gateway's case - now I'll just have to find one as nice for less than $300!