I want to build a Windows 2000 Advanced Server machine for learning the Microsoft .Net technologies, and I would love some advice about appropriate hardware choices. My primary concern is stability and compatibility. My next concern is stability and compatibility. ;-) I would like to build a _rock solid system_ that has decent performance. I am not an overclocker. Currently, my criteria (all open for comment) for the Mobo and CPU include:
1 GHz+ processor (Should I go AMD XP or Pentium 4? Is either more Win2K stable?)
Capacity for 1.5 GB DDR RAM (at least 3 slots DDR so I can use the relatively cheaper 512mb PC2100)
Mobo:
With so many Mobo choices out there, I am not sure of what to choose. Many of the reviews seem oriented toward gamers/overclockers. Given an AMD XP or P4 CPU, which are the best DDR Mobos for a _stable_ Windows 2000 server? I plan on mirroring two 60 or 80 GB Hard drives, so ATA100 Raid would be nice.
Sound (Are the built-in chipsets/drivers Win2K _stable_? SB Live! has problems with Win2K - SB16 PCI seems best? I only need very basic, but highly compatible sound, so the Mobo either needs to have no sound, or sound that is either compatible with Win2K or easily disabled.)
Basically, I want a system that I can build, load Win2000 Advanced Server, some Dev Tools, and then never think about the hardware ever again. I am a software person, so I want a machine that will allow me to focus on the tools I want to learn and not on troubleshooting HW problems. My total system budget is about $2000. I priced out parts for a complete system with an AMD CPU and a Soyo K7V-Dragon Mobo and it came to about $1500. However, I have no clue about how stable this would be with Win2K. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
--BJ
1 GHz+ processor (Should I go AMD XP or Pentium 4? Is either more Win2K stable?)
Capacity for 1.5 GB DDR RAM (at least 3 slots DDR so I can use the relatively cheaper 512mb PC2100)
Mobo:
With so many Mobo choices out there, I am not sure of what to choose. Many of the reviews seem oriented toward gamers/overclockers. Given an AMD XP or P4 CPU, which are the best DDR Mobos for a _stable_ Windows 2000 server? I plan on mirroring two 60 or 80 GB Hard drives, so ATA100 Raid would be nice.
Sound (Are the built-in chipsets/drivers Win2K _stable_? SB Live! has problems with Win2K - SB16 PCI seems best? I only need very basic, but highly compatible sound, so the Mobo either needs to have no sound, or sound that is either compatible with Win2K or easily disabled.)
Basically, I want a system that I can build, load Win2000 Advanced Server, some Dev Tools, and then never think about the hardware ever again. I am a software person, so I want a machine that will allow me to focus on the tools I want to learn and not on troubleshooting HW problems. My total system budget is about $2000. I priced out parts for a complete system with an AMD CPU and a Soyo K7V-Dragon Mobo and it came to about $1500. However, I have no clue about how stable this would be with Win2K. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
--BJ
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