older server hardware opinion please

[hedkz]

Hello

I'm a complete linux noob ;-)

I've recently been given a few old IBM servers
netfinity 5500 m20
quad PIII zeon 550 mhz
hot swap SCSI with RAID
(i've got drives that ranging from 4.5 Gb - 73 Gb)
can get up to a few gigs of ram

so, would using this as the 'main' media server be a good idea??
or would I actually get better performance from a new Pentium duo core??? box?

I'm thinking raid 0 for OS, and raid 5 for data.
I've also got a SCSI attached storage box, holds 10 more 80 pin SCSI's.

thx

[1audio]

You could probably pay for a new core with the power savings in 1 year. That was good hardware in its day but the energy use compared to what you can do with new stuff is pretty impressive. And getting it all running will be a lot of work. Use known hardware to start with and you will have a much better experience.

[hedkz]

thanks for the help,
I probably knew that.  I'm an IT guy, just wanted to
put that old hardware to good use.

but, you make a very valid point, old dog hardware that
aint gonna play nice with the new stuff.

thx

[blackoper]

I agree on the power usage.. It's going to be way up there. Unless you are generating your own juice with a wind turbine/water wheel for your home then I'd say no