Looking for a PC to power your cab?

[ashardin]

Saw this on another board I visit.  Its considered a "server" but damn if it wouldn't do a good job powering mame, especially at $249.  

Link:
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/enterprise?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

Here is the text copied and pasted from the other board

DellSB - PowerEdge 400SC Server with i875P Chipset, 2.0 Ghz, 256MB DDR, 40GB HD, 48x CD-ROM, AGP Slot, AND Free PDA or Digital Camera for ONLY $249 after Rebate! (Posted by: Brian)
This is pretty crazy guys! Dell dropped the price on the 400SC again for now, down to only $249, with FREE memory upgrade and your choice between a FREE digital camera or a palm pilot. For those of you who aren`t familiar with the 400SC, this server is an Intel i875P chipset based server with an 8x AGP slot, which means you can pretty easily turn it into a gaming, multimedia, or graphics workstation. It is compatible with 533Mhz and 800Mhz processors (hyperthreaded too), there`s built in 2 channel S-ATA, there are 6 USB 2.0 ports, there`s built in 10/100/1000 ethernet, 4 PCI slots (with both 5.0v and 3.3v universal support), ADI 198x audio, and loads of other features. These puppies are incredibly fast and rock stable. Oh! And this deal comes with 1 year parts and Onsite labor service too! Here`s what you do:

Go here for Dell Small Business PowerEdge Servers. DELLSB

Click on Customize It in the center left of the page under the Recommended Systems, PowerEdge 400SC $249

You have to add all the free stuff:
Free Palm Zire 21 ($99 retail value) or
Free Largan Digital Camera ($79 retail value)
$100 MAIL-IN REBATE 44306 Redemption information: www.dell.com/bsd_rebates Special Offer
256MB DDR, ECC, 400Hz, 2X128MB at a 128 price Special Offer

Standard Windows Keyboard,Gray

Logitec System Mouse, Gray

Add whatever other options you may want, though it`ll raise the cost. I would especially suggest upgrading to the P4 for only 50 bucks more:

Intel

[rampy]

That does seem pretty damn cool.  we uses 500c's I think for our file share at work (it has the built in scsi  only real difference)

damn you for tempting me with more purchases... don't you know it was just christmas?!

Rampy

[arizonacats]

The only bad thing I can think of is the AGP slot.  Do the motherboards on these servers even have one?  The last server I got from Dell only had PCI slots, no AGP.  I think that was a 400SC about a year ago.  It seems like a great deal, but I'm planning on getting an ArcadeVGA which is AGP.  Doh!

[Stormy151]

The description says it has an 8x AGP slot, though I'm surprised- I would think a server would just have onboard video...

Anyway, that's a smokin' deal- too bad I just bought a new PC.

[daeven]

I have this computer with the 2.4GHz Pentium in my upright cabinet.  It is an EXCELLENT computer for the job.  I have it running with the ArcadeVGA in an AGP slot with no problems.

BTW, it is supposedly the same or similar motherboard as one of the high-end Dimension desktop lines.

For more details, and an unofficial FAQ on the 400SC, see:

http://www.aaltonen.us/forums/viewforum.php?f=4

[daeven]

I forgot:

It's also the quietest desktop that I have ever used.  OTOH, it is supposedly not easy to overclock and doesn't use a standard ATX form factor.  So don't expect to swap out the motherboard and put a different one in there (unless you also swap out the case).

[TheTick]

Dell is killing the market for used PCs. Whatever happened to the days of having to overpay for a new, under-powered PC at CompUSA?  

[arizonacats]

I have this computer with the 2.4GHz Pentium in my upright cabinet.  It is an EXCELLENT computer for the job.  I have it running with the ArcadeVGA in an AGP slot with no problems.

I was really glad to hear you say that, but now I'm confused (and hopeful)!  Everywhere I look on the website, I see that it has PCI slots, and an "ATI Rage XL PCI graphic card" (quoted directly from the site).  All the datasheets and PDFs say the same thing.  Could I be looking at the wrong machine?  Or maybe they changed it this year to make it cheaper?  Either way... I hope there's an AGP there somewhere, as it's a great price.

[Wienerdog]

I think it has an "unsupported" agp slot.  In other words, its there, but Dell isn't going to help you use it or tell you it works with every operating system.  By the way, to configure this for $249, you will not get an OS.

[daeven]

Wienerdog has it right.  It has an 'unsupported' AGP slot.  Mine did come with the PCI ATI card.  The aaltonen web site has a bunch of home-user 'experts' on this system.  You can get the details there.  I know Dell will let you send it back if you don't like it for any reason.  If for some reason they were to change the motherboard out for one without the AGP slot, I'm sure you could send it back.  I don't see why they would do that, though.

Another point worth mentioning:  It will run with Windows 2000, but Windows 98/98SE are not supported.  It has built-in sound and network cards that do not have drivers for 98.  I'm sure DOS is also impossible.

[OSCAR]

If I had to wager a guess, I would say that the reason the AGP slot is "unsupported" because a server is very likely to have Linux installed on it.  Dell probably doesn't want to deal with tech support issues when somebody installs the latest & greatest video AGP super-3D-render-anything-blah-blah-blah card into their Linux server and starts having trouble.  Just a guess...  

But, yes, most of these types of servers usually do come with a PCI or onboard video, but also include an AGP slot.

[IceCold]

If I had to wager a guess, I would say that the reason the AGP slot is "unsupported" because a server is very likely to have Linux installed on it.  Dell probably doesn't want to deal with tech support issues when somebody installs the latest & greatest video AGP super-3D-render-anything-blah-blah-blah card into their Linux server and starts having trouble.  Just a guess...  

But, yes, most of these types of servers usually do come with a PCI or onboard video, but also include an AGP slot.

My Geforce 4 ti 4600 worked just fine with Redhat(and this was soon after the video card came out, it was top of the line).  I've actually been surprised by how good the compatability is with Linux.

I agree with you though, that's probably why it's "unsupported".

[Sephroth57]

wow thats really a steal, as long as that AGP slot is on there im probably buying that since im going to use arcade VGA. no OS installed is np cause im sure everyone has windows versions laying around (with extra liscensing of course   )