UK Cheap HP server...

[Fluff]

Just need an OS. Could be value desktop.

http://uk.insight.com/apps/productpresentation/index.php?product_id=HPIA04FQW&SRC=WED1#extendedspecs

£89.99 plus vat.

Product Description HP ProLiant ML115 G5 - Dual-Core Opteron 1214 2.2 GHz
Form Factor Micro tower
Manufacturer Warranty 3 years warranty
Dimensions (WxDxH) 17.5 cm x 42.6 cm x 36.7 cm
Weight 11.7 kg
Processor 1 x AMD Dual-Core Opteron 1214 / 2.2 GHz ( Dual-Core )
Hard Drive 1 x 160 GB - standard - Serial ATA-150
Networking Network adapter - PCI Express x1 - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet
Power AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
RAM 512 MB (installed) / 8 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM - ECC - 800 MHz - PC2-6400
Storage Controller Serial ATA ; IDE
Graphics Controller - 8 MB
Type Server
Cache Memory 2 MB L2 Cache
Optical Storage DVD±RW
Monitor None.
Cache Per Processor 2 MB
Server Scalability 1-way
Memory Allocation Technology Shared Video Memory (UMA)

[UtwigMU]

Besides lowend HP servers being dirt-cheap you can also buy HP OEM server OS for about the price of upper tier desktop OS.

They don't make nice desktops:
No room for big videocards, not sure if there is even a x16 slot.
HP is probably the reason why torx screws are being produced in any significant numbers.
On ML150 G3 you have to remove 10 torx screws+2 thumbscrews to install HDD. On my Chieftec LBX you need to remove 2 thumbscrews and 0 screws to install HDD. Similarly with notebooks on some HPs HDDs were screwed in caddies with 3 pairs of screws, each pair being a different type of screw + two screws for the cover. Thinkpad 1 screw for cover which you can remove and 4 same screws for HDD caddy.
Even if they're dinky server wannabe desktops, they're still somewhat loud.
Parts are expensive (memory, HDDs) but you can use generic parts.

The ML 1xx servers are OK if you need a cheap lowend server with warranty and available spare parts or need machine with x4 or x8 slots for RAID or fancy NICs.

[az]

HP is probably the reason why torx screws are being produced in any significant numbers.

OT: Torx is the best screw system out there (not counting the very obscure ones, as I have no experience with them). I wish we'd just do away with slotted, phillips, and pozidriv, and just all use torx for everything. It doesn't cam out, you can't slip off, it can withstand high torque. I see no negative other than the need for one set of new screwdrivers. That's more than worth it in my eyes. OK, maybe it's not suited for screws with very very flat heads.