Build a 2-terabyte Windows Home Server for under $500

ShadLar — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 01:10:00 GMT

I’ve been running my Windows Home Server (WHS) for about 18 months almost flawlessly. My WHS was a old re-purposed system that had sat unused for many months. I installed WHS on it and plugged it in to the home network, and there it sat humming in the closet for the next 18 months. Until last week, when I decided to add more storage and do some routine maintenance. It was the not so routine BIOS update that ruined the long standing stability that I had enjoyed. The short story is that the BIOS updated failed part way through, and my motherboard was old enough it did not have a backup BIOS. My lesson learned? Don’t feel like you need to update your BIOS just because an update is available; after all, the PC had run perfectly for many years without it.

After these events I sought out to replace my hardware with some updated parts, and a smaller form factor. I also wanted to spend less than $500 and repurpose any hardware I could. Here is what I opted for in configuration:

Shuttle K48 Barebones PC - $130
Intel Celeron 430 (1.8 GHz) - $35
Kingston 2GB Value SDRAM DDR2 (PC5300) - $30
2 x Seagate Barracuda 1 TB SATA Hard Drive (32 MB Cache) - $100/each
Windows Home Server License - $100
Repurposed: DVD-ROM (Only needed for WHS install) - $0

Grand Total: $495

Because Windows Home Server has low system requirements I could have opted for less memory and less CPU speed – but it is hard to buy new equipment with specs much lower than this. I could have gone with 1GB of memory and save $12… but with memory as cheap as it is I figured 2GB wouldn’t hurt. Also, remember that with Windows Home Server you only need a DVD-ROM for the installation, after than you really won’t use the drive any longer.

In the end I am very happy with my configuration and the smaller form factor PC for my WHS. It now sits nicely and quietly on my desk.

Any other low-priced configuration? Share them in the comments.

Shad Larsen's Technology Blog : Hardware

Build a 2-terabyte Windows Home Server for under $500