Building a cheapo gmod server box, $200-$400 budget - Hardware & Software

I live in the US, and I'm just wanting a 8-16 player server that I'm going to host. I have no idea where to start with building a server, so I guess people here know? Thanks. I'm hoping for it to be more around 200-300, but it's okay if higher.

[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136113[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145239[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186145[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119210[/url] $258.46 You can get a smaller harddrive if you want to save more money.

Build it with an AMD cpu for better bang fo' yo' buck. Also, you might want 4gb of ram at least.

[QUOTE=demonguard;19265779]Build it with an AMD cpu for better bang fo' yo' buck. Also, you might want 4gb of ram at least.[/QUOTE] On his budget the E5200 fits in fine, he could get another 2GB of ram but It'll toss on another 50 bucks.

[QUOTE=demonguard;19265779]Also, you might want 4gb of ram at least.[/QUOTE] Even if it's a tiny server? [editline]06:45PM[/editline] Well I'm gonna go with Yumyum's build, unless someone has a better and cheaper one. But his fits my budget nicely.

Get Yumyum's.

Nice build, Yumyum! Save some money by using this case though: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146059[/url]

-snip-

[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147010[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148231[/url] X2 in RAID [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128407[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171046[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161030&cm_re=2gb_DDR2-_-20-161-030-_-Product[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103728[/url] 299.85 should do fine with any game you throw at it hell if you got the bandwith maybe a TF2 and L4D server

[QUOTE=JohnEdwards;19267623][url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147010[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148231[/url] X2 in RAID [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128407[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171046[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148149[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103728[/url] 299.85 should do fine with any game you throw at it hell if you got the bandwith maybe a TF2 and L4D server[/QUOTE] that's very impressive for the money get this instead. much much better. tri core + raid. no need for 250 gbs

[QUOTE=JohnEdwards;19267623][url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147010[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148231[/url] X2 in RAID [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128407[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171046[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148149[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103728[/url] 299.85 should do fine with any game you throw at it hell if you got the bandwith maybe a TF2 and L4D server[/QUOTE] That memory doesn't work with the mobo. :downs: Also I would go with an athlon x3 they are nicer.

I'll throw something together. Give me a few minutes. [editline]04:26AM[/editline] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811233061[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148231[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827131061[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171042[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161030[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128357[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117165[/url] Xeon is mostly for bragging rights. It's only a few bucks more than the Core 2 Duo equivalent, but it runs cooler, OCs better (but of course you don't want to OC a server), and uses less power.

[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147010[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148231[/url] X2 in RAID [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128407[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171046[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161030&cm_re=2gb_DDR2-_-20-161-030-_-Product[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103728[/url] 299.85 should do fine with any game you throw at it hell if you got the bandwith maybe a TF2 and L4D server [editline]11:46PM[/editline] [QUOTE=ButtsexV2;19291572] Xeon is mostly for bragging rights. It's only a few bucks more than the Core 2 Duo equivalent, but it runs cooler, OCs better (but of course you don't want to OC a server), and uses less power.[/QUOTE] PROTIP: most servers are Oc'ed

[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103694]AMD Phenom II X2 545 Callisto 3.0GHz[/url] - $93 [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184]CORSAIR XMS2 4GB (2 x 2GB)[/url] - $86 [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.309385]GIGABYTE GA-MA74GM-S2 + CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W[/url] - $90 [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136075]Western Digital Caviar Blue WD1600AAJS 160GB[/url] - $40 [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811162045]Broadway Com Corp Sonic Black[/url] - $30 [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200049]Rosewill RFA-120-BL 120mm 4 Blue LEDs[/url] - $5 In total: $344 It's a whopping $45 more than JohnEdwards' build, but even with 1 less core it gives a better performance and has more reliable items.

[QUOTE=Tools;19314671][url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103694]AMD Phenom II X2 545 Callisto 3.0GHz[/url] - $93 [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184]CORSAIR XMS2 4GB (2 x 2GB)[/url] - $86 [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.309385]GIGABYTE GA-MA74GM-S2 + CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W[/url] - $90 [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136075]Western Digital Caviar Blue WD1600AAJS 160GB[/url] - $40 [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811162045]Broadway Com Corp Sonic Black[/url] - $30 [url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200049]Rosewill RFA-120-BL 120mm 4 Blue LEDs[/url] - $5 In total: $344 It's a whopping $45 more than JohnEdwards' build, but even with 1 less core it gives a better performance and has more reliable items.[/QUOTE]Great build. Not to mention a chance to unlock another core.

[QUOTE=JohnEdwards;19292296]PROTIP: most servers are Oc'ed[/QUOTE] PROTIP: Servers are meant to be as stable as possible, and overclocking often leads to instability. On the other hand, workstations, which usually use similar parts, are often overclocked.

[QUOTE=ButtsexV2;19318606]PROTIP: Servers are meant to be as stable as possible, and overclocking often leads to instability. On the other hand, workstations, which usually use similar parts, are often overclocked.[/QUOTE] Don't change the fact quiet a few are OC'ed even a few Mhz for overhead

I'd go with Yumyum's build with one exception: Get two sticks of 1 GB DDR2 instead of one stick of 2 GB so you can run them in dual channel mode and get more memory bandwidth. Gmod servers are both CPU and memory intensive.

OP what is your upload speed [url]http://www.speedtest.net[/url] and are you sure your ISP allows to forward ports?

[QUOTE=lemongrapes;19347765]OP what is your upload speed [url]http://www.speedtest.net[/url] and are you sure your ISP allows to forward ports?[/QUOTE] I've done it before and I've forwarded my ports already. I'm sure I can.