Server on a budget

[rjl67]

I am looking to build a server for home\business use. Home - For printer and file sharing, plus backups. Business - For creating a number of virtual machines to be used for development purposes.
I am thinking along the lines of a RAID1 for the OS (MS Server 2003, already have this) and a separate larger RAID1 (maybe RAID5 if possible) for the data and Virtual machines. I would like at least 4 GB RAM and a multi-core processor (maybe dual multi-core depending on cost). Graphics can be a minimum. I have up to £500 to spend, any suggestions on a decent machine would be appreciated; it doesn't have to look flash, but does have to be hardwearing and reliable?

[wonderlust]

well the q6600 is cheapish an supports vitrualisation in hardware. If you are planning to run at stock speeds a G31 or 33 chipset would be fine and have onboard everything.

If you want Raid are you looking at a hardware raid card or using something like the built in raid?

[rjl67]

wonderlust, thanks for the quick reply:exclaim. RAID will basically depend on the cost of separate card, at the meoment I was just thinking of an onboard solution.

[wonderlust]

Ah ok, well being biased I would suggest the bargain MSI P35 Neo2-FR,

Supports Sata Raid, has heat pipe cooling of the chipset so with a good server case, I use an Antec Atlas for my server, it is almost silent.

The downside is that compared to other P35 boards, most more expensive, it only has 4 internal Sata ports that can be raided, MSI saw fit to use the other to for E-Sata.

There is a 5th port (marvel controller) but afaik it cannot be included in a raid set up (non OS).

[rjl67]

I can find the MB and CPU, but Aria don't appear to be stocking the Antec Atlas, any other recommendations? What about the rest of the build, do you have any suggestions? Thanks again.

[coiler]

What do you think of this?

https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Cases/MIDI+Tower/Cooler+Master++CM-690+Dominator?productId=28807

[rjl67]

Looks good, but only one left. If it is still available by the time I get my final order together I will probably go for it.
At the moment I have: -
https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/...productId=28015
Not 100% sure about the MB because of SAT restrictions.
https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/...productId=28805
https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/...productId=28807

Getting there though, thanks for all help up to now.
(https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Motherboards/Socket+775+%28Intel%29/MSI+P35+NEO2-FR++Socket+775+Motherboard+?productId=28015)

[coiler]

There only one left at superspecial price but its showing 5+ stock at normal price :)

also those links above arn't workingi can you recopy and paste them?

[rjl67]

Sorry, my mistake.
Replacement links are: -
http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Motherboards/Socket+775+%28Intel%29/MSI+P35+NEO2-FR++Socket+775+Motherboard+?productId=28015
http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/CPUs+%2F+Processors/Intel/Core+2+Duo/Intel+Core+2+Quad+-+Q6600++-+95W+G0+stepping+-+OEM+?productId=28805
http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Cases/MIDI+Tower/Cooler+Master++CM-690+Dominator?productId=28807