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Need a new machine

Matts on 2003-12-12T11:38:57

My current computer (ted) that runs axkit.org and pretty much my entire network is slowly dying. It's started making horrible noises. So I have two options:

- Fix the noises (this probably means just a new PSU as it's the fan making the noise) - Get a new computer.

On the latter option I have been looking around at what I can get. I can go for basically three types of machines:

- A 1U machine (because one day I may wish to rackmount it) - A cheapo build-it-yourself box from somewhere like Scan - A pre-built desktop

So the other day I went and looked around PC World (yes, don't say it, I know) for their cheapest options. I found that the cheapest PC they sell is the eMac. Strange, but true.

So now I'm left with a dilemma - can I run my network (email, DHCP, DNS, Web, NAT, firewall, etc) from an eMac? I think probably yes, but it might prove more difficult than getting a cheapo build it myself box and sticking linux on it.

Two interesting side-points: I don't have a monitor in the house any more (last one broke so I threw it out) so the eMac solves that problem nicely. And secondly you don't seem to be able to buy a PC for less than £500 (I don't *need* a P4-2.5Ghz thank you - ted is a P3-500 and manages just fine). If anyone knows different I'd like to hear it.

One of these

essuu on 2003-12-12T12:09:01

1U boxes are all very well but they don't really care about the noise they make. This may be of concern in a residential setting ;-)

Have you thought about one of these ? - small, fanless, reasonably quick and not too expensive.

Re:One of these

2shortplanks on 2003-12-12T12:13:36

I have a eMac

melopt on 2003-12-12T17:09:35

I have a eMac at home and it does basically what you are asking for.

1000 euros, + upg to 1Gb ram from crucial, and it's great!

Ideally it would run Mac OS X Server, but normal panther works fine. You could also run Yellow Dog Linux. It's up to you.

Re:I have a eMac

cbrandtbuffalo on 2003-12-13T17:43:17

Plus, if you get AppleCare you are totally covered for 3 years. I usually don't go for the extra cost service agreements on things like electronics, but when I think of all the things that can happen with a computer over 3 years, it seems like a good deal. This is especially true if you're going to have it running 24/7 as a server.

watch out for noise

jmason on 2003-12-12T17:58:46

cheapo PCs make a huge amount of noise. However if you're going for something slow it should be a bit quieter ;)

The mini-ITX boxes seem really nice, FWIW.

Quiet, unobtrusive boxes

dws on 2003-12-12T18:20:51

For my last box, which replaced an old P133 home file/database server, I went with a VIA mini-ITX single-board system. They're small, low-power, and are reasonably quiet. They run RH8 just fine, and people are building them into just about anything. (This dual boot mod is particularly clever). And (at least in the US) they're fairly inexpensive. I built one out for about $325 USD, but that didn't include a 60Gb drive rescued from a different system. The downside is that the on-board graphics are limited to 1024x768, that hardly matters if you're mostly headless.

3rd option

djberg96 on 2003-12-12T19:15:09

So I have two options:

- Fix the noises (this probably means just a new PSU as it's the fan making the noise)
- Get a new computer.

You forgot "turn up the stereo". :-P