[clue-tech] Need new hardware (was two monitors)

[Ken MacFerrin]

Jack Parker wrote:
> Current client has provided me with a thinkpad T30.  Piece of junk, nice
> box, but has been dropped on it's head once or twice too many times, the USB
> ports drop a lot.  Otherwise it does the job.  Still, I've got 3 19"
> monitors spread all over the home office, I don't really need the dual head
> or care to pay for the power and deal with the extra radiation (I'm half
> blind already).  I have to play windows to make nice with everybody else -
> but do the real work on a dinky linux box in back (cygwin and ssh).
> 
> So now comes the question:
> 
> I need something with a little more oomph in the Linux department.  I do a
> lot of database work, I'm self-employed (i.e. not a lot of excess cash).  At
> least 4 disks and 2GB of RAM.  I've got my eye on a Dell PowerEdge 830 for
> about $900 (P4 2.8Ghz - single core, 2GB, 1 160GB SATA drive (I'd plug in
> three more I have here)).  What would the group look at in my shoes?
> 
> (The 4 disks is to spread the load across spindles.
>  I am currently using a P3 with 700MB of RAM and three disks.
>  CPU is 90% idle.  Disk and Memory are bottlenecks)
> 
> j.

If you don't want to roll your own I'd check out Monarch Computers.  The 
one listed below is from their "value" workstation line.  This would get 
you an AMD Opteron chip and is only $623 if you order without an OS 
installed.. Also all the hardware is linux tested.  Has four SATA ports. 
  You'd just need to upgrade the RAM.

--------
Monarch Furia Value Workstation Special (PCI-E)
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=90383

Basic Configuration:
# Case - Monarch/Enermax CA-3030-BS Midtower Case w/400W PS ATX
View
# Motherboard - Asus A8N-VM CSM GeForce 6150 
Video/Audio/GB-LAN/IEEE-1394/PCI-E/SATA3G/DDR/u-ATX 64 939
View
# Processor - AMD Opteron 146 2.0GHz 1MB 64/32-Bit (939) (OEM) w/ AMD 
Certified Thermaltake Heatsink and Fan
View
# Memory - 1 GB (2 pcs 512) DDR (400) PC-3200 OCZ Value (OCZ4001024V25DC-K)
View
# Hard Drive - Western Digital Caviar RE 160GB SATA 16MB Cache 7200RPM 
(WD1600YD)
View
# NEC ND-3550A 16X Dual Layer DVD±RW (OEM) (Black)