Comments on: How to build a cheap and low power server for Windows Home Server (WHS) or Server 2008 (also works for a home media center)

By: Dustin

Dustin — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:07:21 +0000

Was just surfing through some articles and I wanted to thank you for the great write up. Thanks for all the pricing, pics, etc., I know that takes a lot of time. Keep up the great work.

By: alec

alec — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:18:06 +0000

How do you connect a base unit to the server.

By: mikelwilson

mikelwilson — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 22:19:03 +0000

Hi Andrew,

I’m a few months late in answering your comment, but even that’s not close to how far on your comment is from the original article

For a home server I’d look at keeping the power down as low as possible, perhaps even using the newer Intel Atoms as suggested by Antoine, above.

@Antoine – how many watts – that would depend on the parts you used. Check the specifications and add up the values for max load and idle – the real world usage will be in-between them

By: Antoine

Antoine — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 22:15:59 +0000

HI.
If I use intel atom enbedded in the motherboard, and use 2 giga ram. only
without harddrive, cd,dvd, but only motherboard,processor atom and 2 ram. how many watts would consume ?
I want this for a asterisk server. so no video graphic is needed since i would administer with ssh

thanks for your help in advance

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 28 May 2010 22:59:03 +0000

Even later to the party!

Great article, and very informative.

I’m looking to build a small media server but I’m a software guy and was wondering how you’d update the hardware list for the time? Would you still go for the older AMDX2 to keep it a dual core and keep the power down (45W) or look at the Phenoms, newer but with higher power (according to the stats on their site – 80W for X2, 65W for X3 ). Also, any thoughts about the MB? Are there any particular Chipsets to avoid? As an alternative to the MB you mention the Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-US2H seems to get pretty good reviews for almost the same features, or should I be thinking newer? Still trying to do this on a tight budget, same as you did.

Anyway, thanks in advance if you even still look at this!

By: Which is better; Stock or Aftermarket CPU Fan?

Which is better; Stock or Aftermarket CPU Fan? — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:00:21 +0000

[...] my article on building your own Windows Home Server / Server 2008, I’ve had a few comments on the choice of fan. That is to say, whether an aftermarket cooling [...]

By: Hamish

Hamish — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:38:56 +0000

Late to the party, but alas:

Nice review, good photo’s, informative overall!

One comment though, you mention:
Apply a liberal dose of the paste to the CPU die.

Why a liberal dose? It’s to fill the imperfections of both surfaces (cpu / heatsink), to make good contact. IMHO you should use as little as possible to cover the surface of the cpu.

Some cooling-pasta actually first gets more ‘liquid’ first (lower viscosity) and then hardens. If you apply too much, it’s flow out under the pressure of the heatsink being clamped to the cpu and spill on the precious electronics around it. As you mentioned as well, that is something you do not want.

By: Fredrik

Fredrik — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:13:57 +0000

I’m just about to build a similar server so this article is really interesting. Keep up the good work!

By: Nurul

Nurul — Sun, 10 May 2009 17:31:38 +0000

i am convinced. Going to order my parts today. I had a few questions tho:

1.how do you set up raid or is that a software issue
2. which operating system would be best for web hosting?
3, any updated comments on the webhosting site?

overall it has been very helpful and informative.

Thanks

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:21:53 +0000

Steven said that he wanted more than 2 HDDs. This can be done flexibly and cost effectively using standard USB2 external drive enclosures. This allows infrequently used and backup drives to be turned off most of the time. I use this technique with a standard commercial relay board to turn on individual hard drives when needed (a trivial Windows batch file then re-enables sharing of the drive). With a little work you can even have remote control of the server drives from your PC media clients. The one problem I had was getting a suitable case for the relay board, so I made one to look right with a media server (see kalikosystems.co.uk for how to make a suitable relay board case).