Reddit reviews Crucial 4GB Single DDR3 1600 MT/s (PC3-12800) CL11 Unbuffered ECC UDIMM 240-Pin 1.35V/1.5V Server Memory CT51272BD160B

If you want New + quiet, this is similar to my setup:

Lenovo TS140 - Amazon $219

4GB of additional RAM - amazon $59.99

2x1TB Seagate $107.36

Perc 5/i w/ 256MB Cache - eBay $12.99

total: 399.34 + you have extra to get more drives and/or RAM.

ProxMox
I have 12GB of RAM + 4x1TB WD Blacks RE4s in a RAID10

I run Plex, a "Content Acquisition Server", a SAMBA file server and a 2012R2 VM to play with using 12GB of the RAM. 4 of which are going to the 2012R2 VM and I still have plenty of processing left. I would add another 4 GB of RAM and get another drive or two. :)

I've had the TS140 for a year now and am happy with it. Up until a couple days ago it was running WHS2011 with Plex + uTorrent but I got sick of Windows so I switched to Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS with Plex + Deluge.


I tested hosting a Minecraft server on it a few months ago and didn't notice any problems with just a couple people but I'd imagine some problems could arise if Plex was transcoding multiple streams while multiple new blocks were being generated.


I've never hosted a CS:GO server before but back in the day I ran a CS:S server and never ran into a problem with not enough processing power. Ping + upload speed are much bigger factors.


Both the i3 and xeon models come with and support unbuffered ECC memory and I'd suggest only using ECC memory unless all the data on the server is worthless. ECC memory detects and corrects the most common kinds of internal data corruption. If you want to add more memory this is the stick I bought to expand to 8 GB.


There are 5 sata ports on the motherboard when you unplug the optical drive. The TS140 comes with three 3.5" bays so I have a 120GB Samsung SSD laying on the bottom for the OS and purchased a 5.25 -> 3.5 bracket to fit 4 Western Digital Red HDD's. WD Red's are designed to run 24/7 and are more friendly for RAID's. Remember to pick up a couple "straight to Right Angle" Sata cables because space is very limited between the drives and the case.


When I purchased my server the i3 model was $250 and the xeon model was around $500 so the choice was very easy. If the price difference was $110 (on amazon) a year ago I would have gone with the TS440. According to cpuboss.com the Xeon's passmark score is about 2000 more than the TS140 which according to Plex means that it'll be able to handle one more 1080p transcode than the i3.


TL;DR Get the Xeon + ECC memory + SSD

Crucial lists this part as 1.3v/1.5v, (It is dual voltage and can operate at 1.35V or 1.5V.). Lenovo doesn't mention it, as you point out, and I've seen both sides argued for and against. I'd go with the dual voltage RAM to be safe.

You'd think that if it were important, Lenovo would comment on voltage though...

If you're not afraid of used, ITX mobos are around and pretty cheap. The i5 should be great.

Motherboard:

http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-P8H61-I-R2-0-Intel-Motherboard/dp/B00906G97I/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1418650875&sr=1-1&keywords=1155+itx

RAM:

http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-PC3-12800-Unbuffered-240-Pin-CT51272BD160B/dp/B006YG9EK6/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1418650912&sr=1-2&keywords=4GB+ECC+DDR3

Case:

http://www.amazon.com/A7879-Mini-ITX-Server-Hot-Swappable-Drive/dp/B00QOCN5XW/ref=sr_1_13?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1418650937&sr=1-13&keywords=itx+case+drives

This comes in well under your £300 budget so long as prices translate from USD to pounds.