Low power consuption 24/7 running budget server/HTPC

[Eter]

Mobo:
Gigabyte GA-MA78LMT-US2H 760G Socket AM3 DVI VGA HDMI Out 8 Channel Audio MATX Motherboard £46.19
Processor:
AMD Athlon II X2 240e 2.8GHz Socket AM3 2MB Cache Energy Efficient Retail Box Processor £47.99
Ram:
EXTRA VALUE 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1333MHz Memory Kit 1.5V CL9 £38.29
HDD:
Western Digital WD7500AADS 750GB Hard Drive SATAII 32MB Cache - OEM Caviar Green £42.22
Case:
Antec NSK 2480 MATX Desktop Case Black & Silver - With 380W EarthWatts PSU] £85.97
Optical Drive:
LG GH22LS50 22x DVD±RW DL & RAM with LightScribe SATA Optical Drive - Retail Box Black With Software£14.99

Total: £286.70 before shipping

Basically this will run 24/7 as a Linux file, mail, server and from time to time i plan watching DVDs, no gaming on it. I'm trying to keep the cost bellow £300. Any thoughts on this setup and potential improvements are welcome. Estimated time of purchase around a month.

 

[Dougie Fresh]

I'd spend the extra £10-12 and get one of these motherboards with a more up-to-date chipset (785G or 880G). The 760G is pretty outdated.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/190087
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/218935
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/220150

You could probably also drop down to 2GB (2 x 1GB) to save some money if the majority of usage is a low power server. Just make sure the RAM you pick is on the support list for the motherboard you choose or that there's a good return policy in case it's not compatible. You can always add a couple of more 1GB sticks later if you need.

If you don't need a desktop case, check out the Antec NSK 4482. It has the same PSU but it's a tower case. It's very good but £20 cheaper. http://www.ebuyer.com/product/177233

 

[Eter]

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction with the mobo. Acer Aspire Revo R3700 Desktop i just stumbled on this while browsing ebuyer i wonder would it do as small server. It has hdmi which i need to connect to my TV and is definetly low power and could run 24/7. Any thoughts about it?

 

[gkay09]

^ I like the build that you have come with better...Gives you room for upgrade...
And some suggestions, why not try the AMD Sempron ?
With the boards that Dougie has linked, you could try unlocking the 2nd Core...
Even with a single core, that is pretty fast for normal tasks(I have one running on a backup PC, so when unlocked, would be even better)
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/168973

Also get this CASE + PSU - Cheaper
Antec NSK 3480 MATX Micro Tower - With 380W EarthWatts PSU
£76.27inc. vat
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130946

 

[Eter]

I'm not sure about the sempron it's £20 cheaper than the X2 uses same 45W but will it be ok for the htpc part of this build?

 

[gkay09]

^ Like I said I have been using 1 for past sometime and with a powerful onboard like the 785G, it would be good, also not to forget the possibility of unlocking the 2nd core...
But if you dont want to take risk, then get the X2...