Just thought I'd share my experiences, because I'm not in a position to actually install an OS on my server, and like the crowd here.
Bought a load of bits with the aim of building a server. Essentially quite a simple build:
- Jetway dual-core Atom D525 motherboard with 6 SATA II ports.
- CFI NAS case with 4 hot-swap and 2 internal drive bays
- 2.5" drive for OS
- 5 x 3.5" drives for RAID 10 array
- 4GB RAM (official maximum for the board though it is reported to go to 8GB)
The case importer let the supplier down, so it was about 3 weeks later than planned. Case finally arrived. Assembled the system and it just failed to POST and the fans and disks completely failed to spin up. Took RAM out, still nothing, so phoned the supplier. Known possibility of incompatibility between case PSU and motherboard, so he test same combination with same result as me. Sends out a brand new FSP180 power supply and arranges to collect the dud by UPS next day.
Assemble the system again (well just put the the PSU in really). This time disks spin up, lights and fans come on, but still no POST. Take RAM out and restart. Continuous long beeps. Still no display on monitor.
Ring supplier, not sure if its RAM or mainboard, but I didn't buy RAM from him (it is Kingston Value RAM, matching the motherboard specification). Supplier recomends the same brand, but currently has no stock, so is sending me the known working SoDIMM he used in his test-bed in the mail to rule out mainboard failure.
Amazon (who I bought the RAM from) have told me it is past its 30 day return window. Thought I'd share this story to illustrate benefit of going to a small independent supplier over a massive discounter.
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