Building a Server

Ok Im looking to build my first Server for my house. We are looking to have about 3 computers all gamers and downloaders on the network other then the Server. I will probly be doing alot of lanning with up to around 10 to 15 computers with the server. I was wondering if you guys could help me out. I will primarly be using it to host computer games and do storage and simple [-peep-] like that. I was wondering should I get an opteron or Xeon or a simple Athlon XP like a 1800+ or 2500+. I want to lean tword a Opteron system for the 64bitness. I know I know wait for the aplications but the way I see it everyone is heading there I might as well be prepared. I don't plan on upgrading my Sever to often maby a boost in the CPU area but nothing much more then that. So I thought I should grab up a 64bit chip while I can with out having to change up the motherboard and the ram. Here is what I am looking at buying.

OCZ Enhanced Latency Series Dual Channel Kit 184 Pin 1GB(512MBx2) ECC Registered DDR PC-3200 $282.00

OPTIQUEST Q51B 15" CRT Monitor –RETAIL $95.00

TYAN AMD8151+8111 Chipset Server Motherboard for AMD Socket 940 CPU, Model "Tiger K8W (S2875)" $110.00

AMD Opteron Model 140, 64-bit Processor - OEM $158.00

eVGA nVIDIA GeForce4 MX440-8X Video Card, 64MB DDR, 64-bit, TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "e-GeForce4 MX440-8X(064-A8-NV86-LX)" -RETAIL $44.00

Western Digital 160GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model WD1600JB, OEM Drive Only $118.50

What do you guys think?

I was wondering how much should I really care about CPU power. I mean will a XP 2500+ be a much better choice then this 1.4ghz Opteron. Othere then the Opteron having 64bit. Is the Opteron only benifit 64bitness? I mean I could build a Cheap ass XP 2500+? Anyway I thought I might ask you guys before I jump out and spend about 1k on a sever when I could spend like $400 and get better proformance.

Like I said before I will be using this for gaming mostly and storage. I do plan on also have a Linux partion. I really want to learn Linux. Also should I get a good Video card for the system? I thought not since I don't plan on doing anything that would tax a video card. I might be wrong so I thought I should ask. Im new to the whole Server thing. Don't quite fully understand the whole consept but thats why I want to build one and find out what they can do. That and Im going to be going to tech for this kinda stuff if I ever get off my lazy bum and do something with my life .

Thanks in advanced





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Remember what your fighting for, Remember why you even started fighting, and Remember who you are

P4 man may be too right. Build yourself a nice A64 system, and use your old system as the server.

Thanks P4man I think I will end up buying a AMD64 for my personal computer and use my current settup as my server then if I ever want or need 64bitness I can always upgrade buy a new computer and use the AMD64 as my server but that would be in like 2 years or so I think depending on how much money I will be making this year I might start doing an upgrade every year which would mean a new server every year and a good computer for my friends to use everytime I upgrade

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Remember what your fighting for, Remember why you even started fighting, and Remember who you are