Considering getting a server

[JanFrode]

Hello everyone

 

For quite some time I've been become more and more interested in getting an used rackserver, just cause of curiosity really.
So I was browsing a Norwegian "craigslist" if you will, and I found this one. 

HP DL380 G5

2x Xeon E5420 Quad Core 2.5Ghz
32 GB Ram.

2x Fibre Channel Card/Adapter 
1x dual 1gbit NIC 
2x integrerte 1gbit NIC 
2x 1000w Power Supply
P400 Raid Controller m/256mb cache og battery (Battery status unknown)

 

Price: about 170 USD

 

Apperantly 1 of the PSU is giving out errors from time to time.

And no HDDs, but that's kinda to be expected I suppose.

 

Is this a good deal?

Is it something you'd buy? Or is it pretty much worthless/useless?
If I were to actually use it for something, it would mainly just to try stuff out, as I have no idea how to operate servers or anything.
It would probably be too power hungry to be used as NAS and all that malarky..

And I assume it's loud.

I'm not saying I'll end up buying, but I like to browse around (window shopping), but thought I'd ask, just to get an general feel about what people think might still be useful or not

[NTDaws]

Personally I would buy it, and yes if its a 1u or 2u server then yes most likely it will be loud, recommend keeping it in a empty room or in a garage with ethernet cables running to it. You're choice.

[NTDaws]

Though that PSU should be replaced asap.

[KuJoe]

Loud, power hungry, and lack luster performance. For tinkering you're better off finding an old Dell 1U like a CS-24 or C1100.

 

EDIT: I forgot to mention that with HP's you'll need a license for the iLO, Dell DRAC's don't require a license.

[JanFrode]

8 minutes ago, KuJoe said:

Loud, power hungry, and lack luster performance. For tinkering you're better off finding an old Dell 1U like a CS-24 or C1100.

 

EDIT: I forgot to mention that with HP's you'll need a license for the iLO, Dell DRAC's don't require a license.

There is a guy selling old Dell PowerEdge SC1425 for like 60 USD per server.
Nowhere as impressive specs tho. But the cheaper the better I suppose.
And I assume much less power consumption

Few HDD bays on it tho

2 x Xeon 3.2 GHz Dual Core (800Mhz BUS) 2MB L2-CACHE. (4 CPU)
2 GB DDR2 (400 MHz BUS)  Ram can always be expanded, so I don't really see this as a problem.
80 GB Sata Disk.

 

But I'll keep looking at stuff.. I'm in no rush  
Just like to browse abit. Thanks for the replies tho

[Electronics Wizardy]

4 hours ago, JanFrode said:

There is a guy selling old Dell PowerEdge SC1425 for like 60 USD per server.
Nowhere as impressive specs tho. But the cheaper the better I suppose.
And I assume much less power consumption

Few HDD bays on it tho

2 x Xeon 3.2 GHz Dual Core (800Mhz BUS) 2MB L2-CACHE. (4 CPU)
2 GB DDR2 (400 MHz BUS)  Ram can always be expanded, so I don't really see this as a problem.
80 GB Sata Disk.

 

But I'll keep looking at stuff.. I'm in no rush  
Just like to browse abit. Thanks for the replies tho

the reason there cheap is because there use less and use that much money in power in 2 months. There basiccly getting paid to get rid of junk.

 

If you want a used server spend a bit more on a r710 or hp dl380 g6 or dell c2100. They can use half the power, are much quieter, faster, and support bigger drives normally, and have support for many new software features. 

 

I have 2 of those old servers. I never use them to save power. You can pick them up if your in the area. There very loud.

[tt2468]

Seems like a pretty bad deal IMO. If you want a good server, get an r410. They are super cheap, newer than that server, more powerful, and quieter too.