I thought I used to know some good places on the web to get hold of affordable components, but I have been totally frustrated in my search for AMD and Intel CPUs today.

I’m putting together a server that will be used to support my endeavours as a freelance web developer. Very soon I will have a server that is hosted in a data centre (rather than my living room), that I can use to host the web projects that I’m working on.

I am considering the Tyan barebone systems for starters, and these seem to be readily available. But after spending a couple of hours on scan, ebuyer and ebay, as well as google shopping and other sites I’ve never visited before, it would seem that I can’t buy any CPUs to put in the damn thing. Have AMD and Intel gone bust without telling me?

Scan don’t even stock 1000 series or 2000 series opterons, although they sell a Tyan barebones that takes dual-core opterons. I’ve had some experience using sun servers and HP servers at my time with Titan Entertainment, but I was hoping to save a few quid building my own. Anyone know any good e-tailers or know why AMD CPUs are so scarce?