Added link to the unRAID guide in the OS section above:

http://www.tekforums.net/guides-projects/unraid-server-setup-management-guide-(using-an-hp-microserver)

And have changed the formatting to make it easier to navigate..

Hi,

just looking for some advice on what graphics card to put in my server.

the common options appear to be the ati HD5450, or the Nvidia G210

i have read that the NVidia card draws my power than the Ati, but my real question would be, does it matter if its the 512mb or the 1gb version (will this effect 1080p playback), and has anybody experienced problems with passive cooling?

Thanks

You will not need 1Gb of video memory for playback of full HD content, even 512Mb is overkill for that (consider that uncompressed raw Blu-Ray video data is about 50Mb/s I think, even if all of that were dumped into memory you would have about a 10 second read ahead buffer). Just choose the cheaper option I would say.

Also on your point of passive cooling, these cards are designed to run passively cooled, they simply won't get hot enough to need a fan (especially only doing HD video decoding and not 3D gaming)

Hi guys, looking to get this server up and running with XBMC. Before I buy it, can people tell me if it actually reliable? I'm going to get the Sapphire HD 5450 - is this the best buy? Will this drain the least power? Thanks Guys.

Do you mean is the microserver itself reliable? Mine is running 24x7 currently as a dataserver using an unRAID setup, I've had absolutely not one issue with it, faultless IMO.

I'm running windows 7 and not a problem with it at all, 24/7 run time!

Posted from Paris :-)

It appears this deal has been canned now, or am I missing something?

There is an updated version of the deal for the newer (slightly higher spec) Microserver still going on, e.g:

http://www.ebuyer.com/281915-hp-proliant-turion-ii-n40l-microserver-100-cashback-658553-421

These any good for running esx?

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This might help..

http://www.techhead.co.uk/running-vmware-vsphere-on-an-hp-microserver

And this seems to think so..

http://serversplus.wordpress.com/2011/11/11/special-edition-vsphere-esxi-5-testbed-bundles-based-on-the-new-n40l-microserver-are-now-available/

Nice, damn if I had some spare cash i'd get this. Looking for a decent esxi host that I can leave up and running for a test bed.

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Hello

I have a HP N40L with 8GB ram and 4 X Samsung Spinpoint 2TB HD204UI drives. Last week I got a HP 410P Smart Array card (Reported to work very well with the N40L) and I have had no luck getting it to work. The server recognizes the card at the bios level but not as a boot device. It hangs on the screen HP Smart Array 410P initializing ***** for roughly 5 minutes. I have no F8 option. I have tried the HP diagnostic tools and trying to flash newer firmware. In both cases no device is detected.

Any ideas? Bad card maybe? I have searched and found nothing to help me.

Thank you in advance

It sounds to me like you might have a dodgy card. I know its a noob thing to suggest but have you tried just taking it out and reseating it, etc in case it just isn't sat in the slot right and thats causing the problem?

Also, are you trying this with all the drives disconnected to make sure it's not the drives being plugged in causing a problem?

Also you bought it from hp, you bought the server from new, why not contact hp support? Maybe it's a simple fix they can walk you through?

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Quote from: M3ta7h3ad on February 03, 2012, 10:23:59 AM
Also you bought it from hp, you bought the server from new, why not contact hp support? Maybe it's a simple fix they can walk you through?

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I did buy both new.  I wasn't sure if they would help with this issue.  Is the P410 supported by HP in the N40l?