[clue-tech] Cheap Dell server box

[Nate Duehr]

T. wrote:
> Hello all,
> 
>   I hope that this isn't *too* far astray from the CLUE-Tech charter, 
> but I thought that this might be quite helpful/interesting to a few out 
> there.  Dell is currently offering a bare-bones Poweredge SC420 starting 
> at $229, which is approximately 55% off the list price.  Yes, there are 
> a couple limitations...
> 
>  * No OS (like anyone on this list would care);
> 
>  * The page states that Dell doesn't support using a graphics adapter on 
> this system (but I'm told there are workarounds posted on the 'net);

There's an 8MB on-board Intel video card (no info on whether it shares 
system RAM or has its own) and the expansion slot is PCIX 8X.

Tons of info on how to hack the oddball PCIX connector to allow for 
"high end" video cards for gaming.  All of those cards have PCIX 16 
connectors.  Google will find it.

>   It looks pretty basic to me, but as a basic mail/web/low-end DB system 
> that you just SSH/VNC into, it seems just about perfect for what I'll be 
> using it for.  I upgraded to the P4 CPU & 160 Gb HD, & still got it for 
> about $350 _INCL._ shipping.

Yeah, price is pretty darn low on them.  A friend purchased one, but he 
put Winderz on it.

Have seen reports on the web of using Linux -- I believe it does use a 
Broadcom chipset for Ethernet, so if your distro makes loading binary 
drivers a pain, you'll have... uh... pain.  ;-)  And that same machine 
can be ordered with RHEL on it from Dell, so Linux support isn't too 
much of a question overall...

Nate