Server Upgrades

April 7, 2002 2:14 PM

Hopefully, this will mean the end to the server time-outs: I'm finally upgrading the server [more inside]
posted by mathowie (staff) to MetaFilter-Related at 2:14 PM (31 comments total)

Here's what I ordered from accessmicro.com (thanks to mefi member endquote for the recommendation):
AMD Athlon Dual MP Processor DDR Bundle
- TYAN TIGER MPX S2466N DUAL SKTA 266MHz 4DIMM/1AGP/6PCI w/3COM NETWORK CHIPSET ATX MOTHERBOARD
- 2 x AMD ATHLON MP PROCESSOR 1900+ (1.6GHz) PALOMINO FOR SERVER AND WORK STATION OEM
- Kingston 512MB DDR 64X72 PC266 Non-Parity Unbuf DIMM 2.5V CL2.5 ECC REGISTERED
- 2 x ThermalTake A1139 VOLCANO 6 CU BALL BEARING COPPER AMD SKT 462 & INTEL SKT 370 HEAT SINK & FAN
- MSI 8808-320 MS-8808-32M TNT2 M64 32MB SDR 4X AGP VIDEO CARD RETAIL
- TEAC 1.44MB Floppy Drive OEM PACKAGE
- IN-WIN A500 300Watt Power Supply Medium ATX Tower 3x5.25 Bay 2x3.5 Bays-2 Hidden Rem. side panels

It ran about a grand total, I still have to plop in a hard drive, software, and more RAM. It should be up and running the site in about 3-4 weeks (should take a couple weeks to get to me, then I have to make the upgrades and setup, then ship it to NYC).

You don't have to, but if you feel like donating towards the bill, you can use the amazon donation page or use this paypal one (paypal is preferred, as the fees are much lower).
posted by mathowie (staff) at 2:25 PM on April 7, 2002

I sent my fiver in. :)
posted by riffola at 2:27 PM on April 7, 2002

You rock, Mr. Haughey.
posted by gleuschk at 2:29 PM on April 7, 2002

Uau, as we say here! Obrigado!
posted by MiguelCardoso at 2:40 PM on April 7, 2002

Matt -- why not change the donate link on the front page to the paypal link above for now?
posted by feelinglistless at 3:50 PM on April 7, 2002

Way to go, Matt!

Since there are two ways to donate, the Donate link should go to a MetaFilter Donate page with links to both options.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:56 PM on April 7, 2002

Geez, I wish you'd have made a post about needing to upgrade the machines. I still have, unopened and in the original box, the Athlon 1800+ chip I won in an AMD raffle back in October. If I'd known, I would have shipped it to you- coulda saved you $158...
posted by hincandenza at 4:07 PM on April 7, 2002

Thanks Matt, and donation on the way via Paypal.
posted by RunsWithBandageScissors at 4:08 PM on April 7, 2002

Oh yeah- great job, meant to say that. :)

You should check out NewEgg in the future. My friend and I put together a complete new server recently for under $3000 total that included dual AMD 1900+ with 1GB RAM and two RAID controllers (2x20GB mirror, 3x40GB RAID 5) and 3com load-balancing server nics, all in a kick ass tower case with redundant power supplies. Fantastic prices, and the shipping is terrific: we ordered the parts on a Friday afternoon; they all showed up the following Wednesday, the server was built and up and running by that Friday.
posted by hincandenza at 4:15 PM on April 7, 2002

Yeah, hincandenza, I looked around newegg among other places over the last couple weeks, and found the prices at accessmicro were a bit lower. I'll check newegg for upgrades, now that you've reminded me.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 4:28 PM on April 7, 2002

The new hardware sounds good. Well done ;-)

Btw, why is the "total collected" in the Amazon donation page set to zero?
posted by kchristidis at 4:29 PM on April 7, 2002

why is the "total collected" in the Amazon donation page set to zero?

I have no idea why, I've never reset anything on my honor system account. I noticed that a few weeks back. I should email amazon about it and ask them what's up.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 6:06 PM on April 7, 2002

Sent in my Abe Lincoln. Word!
posted by adampsyche at 7:01 PM on April 7, 2002

why is the "total collected" in the Amazon donation page set to zero?

I noticed this on a (very old) account of mine the other day too. Odd.
posted by Neale at 7:19 PM on April 7, 2002

Maybe Amazon is taking a little (or a lot) off the top.
posted by insomnyuk at 7:53 PM on April 7, 2002

Donated $5. Thank you so much for years of fine work on the web.
posted by IZ at 2:44 AM on April 8, 2002

hehe, i read 'plop' as php and got all excited :P (next year, when i have some free time, i think i will try and get involved with the mefi php thing)

i know cost is the big factor, and that the box lives in a closet (right?) - but its kinda hard to go past the compaq dl series for a co-located solution right now...

on my way to amazon again (scared of paypal, really scared)
posted by sawks at 4:22 AM on April 8, 2002

my fin is en (route). Thanks, Matt.
posted by pardonyou? at 8:23 AM on April 8, 2002

*cough* if you do use Amazon, and you click the little button that says "notify mathowie that you've donated" or whatever, you're not gonna get a little form you can see to check out what information is sent, or a confirmation screen, or anything---it's just gonna send a tooting-your-own-horn email right away.

I DONATED MONEY! NOW I AM IN YOUR INBOX TO DEMAND THE APPRECIATION AND THANKS THAT IS DUE ME!!

sigh. I was just curious, I swear.
posted by Sapphireblue at 9:15 AM on April 8, 2002

I shall donate $18. Thanks for Mefi!
posted by ParisParamus at 10:43 AM on April 8, 2002

I just happened to have $5.03 in my account, so after donating and now adding my two cents here, I've still got one cent left.
posted by jaden at 1:39 PM on April 8, 2002

I could only do five. But thanks a lot.
posted by justlooking at 8:47 PM on April 8, 2002

sent my five, hope it helps!
posted by phooey at 9:22 PM on April 8, 2002

I just happened to have $5.03 in my account, so after donating and now adding my two cents here, I've still got one cent left.
and with the processor cycles, disk drive depreciation and bandwidth associated with your most recent post, we calculate your balance owing to be... $.0.01!
posted by quonsar at 10:18 AM on April 9, 2002

total geek speaking, but can we please have pictures of the server? maybe 'mefi' stencil spraypainted on it?

also, thinking out loud, perhaps an auction of the old server would be cool. (unless you already have another use planned for it)
posted by complex at 11:08 AM on April 9, 2002

How do people without credit cards donate? Is there an address we can send international money orders to - or well disguised cash? There must be a lot of others besides me. Someone please advise. Is MetaFilter famous enough for an envelope with "Metafilter, San Francisco" to get there?
posted by MiguelCardoso at 11:27 AM on April 9, 2002

What Miguel said. He's not the only one. Is there a snail mail address?
posted by Lynsey at 11:50 AM on April 9, 2002

Alright, I'm in too - on top of my initial guilt-induced donation - but as an uninvited guest and a verifiable leech on the existing server, I'm definitely one of the causes of the problem so I do feel obligated to help out.

That said, I second the motion for pictures of the new server! I don't think it's a geek thing - as a non-computer type, I'd be fascinated to be able to actually see the actual hardware that all this actually "lives" on - to see the ethereal musings of thousands made tangible - to ponder the placement in metal and wire the collective wisdom of an entire community ...
okay, maybe it is a geek thing after all
posted by yhbc at 9:19 PM on April 9, 2002

yhbc: Steamy pics of the current MeFi server were posted here before. Definitely not work safe.
posted by riffola at 9:30 PM on April 9, 2002

ohmigod. Somehow, I imagined it as being more - well, impressive. coffee cups?

Alright then, I also second the motion for MeFi bumper stickers, dual chrome exhausts and flame decals for the new one, if such a motion has not been made previously!
posted by yhbc at 10:01 PM on April 9, 2002

to ponder the placement in metal and wire the collective wisdom of an entire community ...

You will be assimilated. ;)
posted by Modem Ovary at 11:54 PM on May 11, 2002