MB choices, PCIe issues and alternatives.

[LikeLinus]

I'd like to upgrade my 24 bay NAS/Server with a new motherboard and CPU. I'd like to see if anyone has suggestions based on my requirements.

I have a left over i5 2400K (LGA 1155) that I'd ideally like to use, but can change it to a newer model if need be. So either 1155 or 1150 I guess?

I need PCIe slots for:
8X - IBM M1015
8X - IBM M1015 or another Raid card (addition of an external enclosure)
1X - Ceton Corp InfiniTV Pcie 4

Other than that, I will just run the video through the CPU so I'd like HDMI output from the board.

OS SSD drive will be run off the motherboard's SATA port. Don't need a ton of them.

 

[Burpo]

Manufacturer refurbished (no accessories)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ASUS-P8Z68-...910759?hash=item33b6f60da7:g:mVgAAOSwt7pXMLBe

Used Z77.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MSI-ZH77A-G...871738?hash=item46505b4dfa:g:1gsAAOSwYmZXMsJM

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Interesting suggestion from Burpo.

I might expect some folks to get a SuperMicro server board and use Xeon processor(s), but a redeployed desktop board and CPU should work fine. That indeed is what I'm doing:

P8Z68-V Pro/Gen3 motherboard with last BIOS update
Ivy Bridge i5-3470, 16GB 4x4GB Corsair XMS DDR3-1600
Inexpensive Startech PEXSAT34RH 4-port controllers (two of them)

I should be installing Win 2012 R2 Essentials in the next week.

I use the onboard controller for the boot-SSD, external eSATA and optical drive (considered obsolete by some -- and I may choose to move away from it).

I don't think you'll have any trouble following this path, and it should certainly cost less. Of course, it depends on how much hardware in storage devices you plan on cabling to it.

 

[XavierMace]

Interesting suggestion from Burpo.

I might expect some folks to get a SuperMicro server board and use Xeon processor(s), but a redeployed desktop board and CPU should work fine.

If you want to go that route: $90 for the board $40 for the L5640 processor (6 core, low power). Option to add a second processor in the future if you want.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SUPERMICRO-...751187?hash=item281c419253:g:ZfsAAOSwanRXhrlX

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Xeon-...714903?hash=item5d66af2d17:g:XYMAAOSw5ZBWOhqi

That said, you won't get HDMI out on a server board and you'd need to see if your power supply has dual 8 pin EPS connectors. Sell your processor on ebay and you can recoup a good portion of your costs.

 

[mv2devnull]

Used Z77.

Your link is to a H77 board?

An Intel NIC could be nice in a NAS (that P8Z68-V has one).