Sun or SuperMicro: Which to choose

["Bart van den Heuvel" <bart@zokahn.com>]

Hi,

I'm not used to use Linux with new hardware :-) But todays new server
hardware is so cheap that i'm gonna buy something. My budget is around
1500 euros and I want a 1u high Opteron 175 dual core server system with
2gb mem and 2 x 180 GB disks. IPMI is a an nice extra but not a reason to
go over the 1500 :-)

In my search i have found 2 systems:

Sun fire X2100: in the config above it's around 1500 euro's
http://www.ahead-it.be/shop/configure.php?id=839

SuperMicro 1U servercase with a SuperMicroH8SSL-i ServerBoard
http://www.ahead-it.be/shop/configure.php?id=829

Both systems feature the same options, The Sun has a nForce4 chipset while
the SuperMicro hase a serverworks ht1000 chip... The SuperMicro has a bit
more options,but i'm unsure if i'm even gonna used them... IPMI is 1/3 (50
eu) cheaper that Suns (150 eu)...

So i guess it's more who's marketting machine to follow? Here's a
benchmark for the SUN. I did not find any for the SuperMicro: Benchmark
This itself may be a reason to choose for the SUN ofcourse. Other reasons
for choosing are faster=beter! Stability is beter... Linux support is a
must (both systems are ok there, at least they claim :-)

Does anyone know the difference between the chipsets? Maybe someone has
both systems? Which would you choose and why?

Thanks....

Bart