Empire Super Tech
Server Builder
Powered by Jesse Sidekick AI. Design custom tower servers from $300 to $50,000, get real-time pricing, and step-by-step assembly roadmaps. Choose from 5 server tiers with multiple component options.
SMB Tier — $800 – $3,000
Small business server for virtualization, databases, and file services.
CPU / Processor
The core of your tower server. Server CPUs support ECC memory, more PCIe lanes, and higher core counts than consumer chips.
Intel Xeon E-2400 (E-2488)
8 Cores / 16 Threads · 3.2–5.6 GHz · 95W TDP · LGA1700 · ECC DDR5 · IPMI Ready
SMB file server, database, virtualization host (up to 10 VMs)
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X (ECC Capable)
16 Cores / 32 Threads · 4.5–5.7 GHz · 170W TDP · AM5 · ECC DDR5 (unofficial) · PCIe 5.0
High-performance SMB workstation, compilation, rendering
Intel Xeon W3-2425
6 Cores / 12 Threads · 3.0–4.4 GHz · 130W TDP · LGA4677 · ECC DDR5 RDIMM · PCIe 5.0
Entry-level true server with ECC validation, database workloads
Motherboard
Server motherboards include IPMI/BMC for remote management, validated ECC support, and more expansion slots than consumer boards.
Supermicro X13SAE-F (LGA1700 / Xeon E)
LGA1700 · ECC DDR5 · PCIe 5.0 · IPMI/BMC · 10G LAN · ATX · 4× M.2 · SATA × 8
SMB server with remote management, database, virtualization
ASRock Rack E3C246D4U (LGA1151)
LGA1151 · ECC DDR4 · PCIe 3.0 · IPMI/BMC · Dual 1G LAN · Micro-ATX · SATA × 8
Budget SMB server with IPMI, file server, NAS
Supermicro X13SWA-TF (LGA4677 / Xeon W)
LGA4677 · ECC DDR5 RDIMM · PCIe 5.0 · IPMI/BMC · 10G LAN · ATX · 4× M.2
Professional SMB server, high-memory workloads, ECC RDIMM
GPU / Accelerator
From integrated graphics for headless servers to H100 AI accelerators for enterprise ML training.
NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada 20GB
20GB GDDR6 ECC · 6144 CUDA Cores · PCIe 4.0 · 130W TDP · Single Slot
Professional visualization, CAD, light ML inference, multi-GPU setups
NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16GB
16GB GDDR6X · 8448 CUDA Cores · DLSS 3 · 285W TDP · PCIe 4.0 x16
Budget professional workstation, ML development, video editing
NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada 32GB
32GB GDDR6 ECC · 12800 CUDA Cores · PCIe 4.0 · 250W TDP · Dual Slot
Professional ML inference, large model deployment, VFX
Memory (RAM)
Server builds require ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory for data integrity. Higher tiers use RDIMM or LRDIMM for larger capacities.
Samsung 128GB DDR5-4800 ECC RDIMM (2×64GB)
128GB (2×64GB) · DDR5-4800 · ECC RDIMM · Registered · Server Grade
SMB server with large memory footprint, virtualization host
Micron 64GB DDR5-4800 ECC RDIMM (2×32GB)
64GB (2×32GB) · DDR5-4800 · ECC RDIMM · Registered · CL40
SMB server starter, database, light virtualization
Kingston 256GB DDR5-4800 ECC RDIMM (4×64GB)
256GB (4×64GB) · DDR5-4800 · ECC RDIMM · Registered · Server Grade
Heavy virtualization host, large database server
Primary Storage
From consumer NVMe for home servers to enterprise U.2 NVMe with power-loss protection for mission-critical workloads.
Samsung PM9A3 1.92TB U.2 NVMe Enterprise
1.92TB · U.2 NVMe · PCIe 4.0 · 6,900 MB/s Read · Power-Loss Protection · 1 DWPD
SMB server OS + database, hot-swap capable storage
Seagate Exos X20 20TB SATA HDD
20TB · SATA 6Gb/s · 7200 RPM · 256MB Cache · Enterprise · 5yr Warranty · 550 TB/yr
Bulk data storage, backup target, NAS data drives
Micron 7450 Pro 3.84TB U.2 NVMe
3.84TB · U.2 NVMe · PCIe 4.0 · 6,800 MB/s Read · Power-Loss Protection · 1 DWPD
High-performance SMB database, application server storage
Tower Chassis
Server chassis range from consumer mid-towers to purpose-built pedestal server cases with hot-swap bays and redundant PSU support.
Supermicro CSE-733TQ-668B (Tower Server)
Mid Tower Server · ATX · 8× 3.5" Hot-Swap Bays · 668W Redundant PSU · IPMI Ready
SMB server with hot-swap storage, redundant power
Chenbro SR30169 (4U Tower Server)
4U Tower/Rack · ATX · 12× 3.5" Hot-Swap Bays · Redundant PSU Ready · SAS/SATA
SMB storage server, NAS with hot-swap, convertible form factor
iStarUSA D-400-6 (4U Tower Server)
4U Tower · ATX/E-ATX · 6× 3.5" Hot-Swap Bays · Redundant PSU Ready
Budget SMB server with hot-swap, small business file server
Power Supply
Server builds benefit from redundant PSUs for uptime. Higher tiers require 1600W–3000W to power multiple GPUs and large CPU TDPs.
Supermicro PWS-1K28P-SQ 1280W Redundant PSU
1280W · 80 Plus Platinum · Hot-Swap Redundant · 1+1 Configuration · Server Grade
SMB server with redundant power, high-availability requirement
FSP Twins Pro 700W 1+1 Redundant
700W · 80 Plus Platinum · 1+1 Hot-Swap Redundant · ATX Compatible
Budget SMB server with redundancy, no GPU or low-TDP GPU
EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 T2 1600W 80+ Titanium
1600W · 80 Plus Titanium · Fully Modular · 10yr Warranty · Single Unit
High-power SMB workstation with multiple GPUs
SMB Build Summary
Build Performance Profile
Relative scores based on tier selection
Cost Distribution
Price breakdown by component
All Tiers Overview
Why Build a
Tower Server?
Tower servers offer the flexibility of custom builds with enterprise-grade components.
ECC Memory & Reliability
Server-grade ECC RAM catches and corrects memory errors before they cause crashes or data corruption — critical for databases and production workloads.
Hot-Swap & Redundancy
Replace failed drives without downtime. Redundant PSUs ensure your server keeps running even if one power supply fails.
Scalable from Home to Enterprise
Start with a $300 home lab and scale to a $50,000 enterprise AI tower — the same knowledge applies across all tiers.
