Hi guys

 

I'm just getting started with fleshing out the requirements for the server I'll be building. My original plan was to use an old Athlon XP 2500+ with an MSI mobo. Trouble is, this board uses a nForce2 chipset...which is highlighted as potentially causing data corruption. Urgh!

 

So - what's my best option? Is it worth tracking down a mobo that will fit the Athlon cpu? I found an Asus A7S8X for £30 (about $50) which the wiki suggests might be good.

 

Or should I give up on the Athlon and get the best CPU/mobo package I can find - maybe a Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2L? Add a cpu (P4? or should I go higher?) and I'm all set!

 

Appreciate your help!

 

Edit: Sorry, I should say that this post sort-of fits in both the mobo and cpu forums...so apologies to those that think this is a cpu question post.

Of you have all of the ingredients, except a verified motherboard, then by all means use what you have.

After reviewing the asus mobo, it seems you will be immediatly limiting how far you can grow and how fast it will be. the money for the mobo may be better off spent towards a newer platform.

 

If you want to migrate past that platform then choose something higher then a P4.

A later model (core 2 based) celeron will do fine or a used C2D from ebay. (choose the most energy efficient model you can afford).

Thanks for the advice. I did some digging and picked out a Celeron Dual Core E3300, the Gigbyte mobo mentioned above plus 1GB of Corsair XMS2 RAM for around £90 ($140). I could have gone a little cheaper with these items (and shopped around), but they all seem to check out and I've used scan.co.uk before and their service is excellent.