Dedicated server necessary

[jayadev]

I need a dediated server to host my vBulletin forums. It burns about 35 to 40 GB per month. At peak times it is UNUSABLE because it is so slow. My host says the calls to the mySQL database are causing a bottleneck and only a dedicated server can provide relief.
The problem I am having is the lack of all-encompassing info at the websites of dedicated servers. I have tried to email some questions, but the process is so slow. I get piecemeal answers from different sales reps... its like pulling teeth.
I need a dedicated server that is "like a shared server". In other words, I want my own control panel, and I want a technician on the other side of a phone if needed. It seems that dedicated server also means no tech support at times. And if you want a technician to manage your server, add $300. Just can't do it.
So, is there any way I can get a dedicated, managed, userfriendly, control-panel-enabled dedicated server that can handle 40GB transfer and a ton of mySQL DB calls, with techs that are at your beck and call and give you a warm fuzzy feeling, for $200 to $250 per month tops? Or am I out of my freaking mind and I should just close up my site now? Thanks for any help!

[monaghan]

You don't give us much to go on here.

You'll get a basic US based server for around $100/month, however if you're hitting MySQL hard, then you may need a better server to cope with the load. Without real figures, then it's just an educated guess.

To have this managed with someone on the end of the phone on demand, then $300 is not that bad, however a properly setup box that is man enough for the load should not need much management, what you're paying for is the luxury of having someone on the end of a phone waiting for your call.

We could do you a server and create a single cPanel user account for you if that's any use.

[TWD_Tony]

As Monaghan says - $300 for a fully managed box isnt that bad to be honest, it all depends on the term "managed" - it seems to mean different things to different people.
Our lowest price dedi server is £240 / Month but it's a high spec Pentium 4 machine and it FULLY managed - and by fully I mean EVERYTHING.

Some management plans are only client responsive - i.e. YOU have to tell them there is a problem and you want it fixing... FULLY managed on the other hand should mean that the box is fully monitored and the server management should report and fix things as they happen.

At the end of the day - things do go wrong with servers, it's how quickly you react to fix them that matters