Socket F opteron
Here's another big mean, compiling/multi-media machine! The processors are used. All other components are new.
Motherboard
Arima NM46X dual socket F motherboard, supporting dual and quad core Opterons
cost: $83.56 + FREE s/h
Power supply
Super Flower 850R14XE 850Watt (~68A supplied by the +12V rails)
cost: $22.50 + $15 s/h
Memory
4 x 1GB ELPIDA DDR2 PC2-5300R Registered ECC (EBE10RD4AGFA-6E-E)
cost: $30 + $9.45 s/h
Processors
(2) 3GHz dual-core 1207 Opterons (OSA2222GAA6CX)
cost: $40 + FREE s/h
Hard drive
Seagate Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) 73GB (8D073S0-WL)
$2.26 + $8.85 s/h
Cooler #1
Thermaltake Mini Typhoon FREE (Had it. Massive. It looks just like a bowling trophy.)
Cooler #2
Rocketfish (RF-UPCUWR) Universal CPU Cooler
cost: $9.99 + FREE s/h
Mid-tower case: FREE (Had it) To accomodate the big motherboard, the 5.25 inch bays had to be removed by drilling through 8 rivets and ripping out the bays.
Keyboard and mouse: FREE (Had them)
Total cost
$210
note
The motherboard has a built-in SAS controller. Linux and FreeBSD were reported to have had the required kernel module, stex.ko. However, the controller is really a mixed-up jumble of Adaptec and Vitesse hardware. No opensource driver is available. Only Windows 7 can "see" the SAS drive with the driver provided by (the now defunct) Arima Corp.
The mounting width for the coolers on the F sockets is "non-standard", so either I had to buy expensive coolers or hack (literally with a hacksaw) something to fit. I "borrowed" 2 socket 940 retaining brackets, cut out the center mounting pegs, then screwed these pegs into the motherboard's backplate - backwards. The clips on the coolers had to be installed "inside out" (as it were), but the coolers fit the mounting holes perfectly.
update
A 1TB Seagate Barracuda SATA ("borrowed" from another computer) has been substituted for the SAS drive. This box is now running Debian - briskly.
Additional hardware purchased for this box consists of an Nvidia NVS 300 video card for $49.99, a Soundblaster X-Fi XtremeGamer soundcard for $18.50 and a Hauppague WinTV-HVR-1800 TV capture card for $23.98.
Revised cost
$302.47