Need help picking NAS motherboard/processor

[harrkev]

Hi.

First, I have a confession: I have not built a new PC is over three years. I simply have not kept up with the newest processors. The last time I did a full system build was during the dying days of AMD's socket 754.

Now, on to the item under discussion: I am trying to build a NAS storage box. I already have the case (micro-ATX), power supply, and RAM (DDR2). Next, I want to get a motherboard and processor. Here are my requirements

• Under $100 for mobo, processor, CPU cooling
• On-board everything (video, sound, networking)
• Prefer gigabit networking (but not essential, as I can add a PCI card to get this)
• Low power (the lower the better, underclocking is OK)
• Micro-ATX
• At least 2 SATA ports (four is better)
• at least 1GHz processor
• At least 1 PATA port for optical and CF-card

I am tempted to go with this:
VIA pc-1 Platform VIA C7-D 1.5GHz CPU + VIA CN700 Chipset Motherboard Retail PC2500E
http://www.clubit.com/product_...il.cfm?itemno=A4842001
The advantages of this is that it meets ALL of my requirements (except for gigabit networking), and I get the mobo, processor, and heat-sink for $60 shipped. This is certainly not a bad price. However, I have also read some not-so-flattering reviews of this combo. I am pretty sure that this would still be enough processing power for me (planning on running FreeNAS, which does not take much processing power)

On the other hand, I could also get a cheap Micro-ATX Intel mobo, and a Pentium D processor, and underclock the heck out of it. If I get four SATA ports, that opens up the posibility of RAID-5, and maybe I could even get gigabit ethernet? Checking Newegg, I did not see a lot of flattering reviews of the cheap ($60 or so) Micro-ATX mobos.

I don't want to just blindly buy the Via combo without at least looking at the Intel boards. I do not mind paying an extra $30 or $40 if I can get more for my money.

Opinions?

 

[panfist]

No matter what you do, don't get a Pentium D. I have been using a Pentium D for a really long time and here's what I've learned: even if you underclock it, you're going to be consuming way more power than a C2D and get way less performance. Spend the $50 on a C2D, it's well worth it.

Edit: Now I realize this statement is completely stupid. Read my later post where I attempt to redeem myself.

 

[harrkev]

Since the cheapest Core 2 Duo is at $125 (not including mobo), that means that, for my requirements, the Via is probably the way to go then. Correct?

 

[Modelworks]

Seems like the via board would be what your looking for.
I didn't realize they had gotten so cheap.
I may get one to replace my old compaq pc thats running a 1GHZ p3, 512MB, as a linux based firewall/router/print server/nas

People tend to think you need 3ghz core 2 to do any pc.
They forget that years ago people used 500mhz machines for file servers and they worked fine.
Unless your serving up an office with 20 clients all transfering files, I think the via board is more than powerful enough.


Its always funny when you read reviews on products like this.

Strengths: Low power. Using PicoPSU and Maxtor 160GB EIDE, LiteOn DVD writer the system runs 24-40Watts. The DVD kicks it up to 40. Idles at 24.
Weaknesses: Display sucks and no upgrade slot for AGP or PCIe.

Its a 60.00 motherboard/cpu combo, its not suppose to run games like crysis.

 

[panfist]

I'm sorry, I said c2d but what I really meant was an allendale. Here's the cheapest for around $60+shipping and tax: http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2144549&enterthread=y

You basically get a good processor and compromise on the motherboard, or you get a much more versatile platform and compromise on the processor. Either way, don't get a pentium D. Go for the allendale if you can find some use for those CPU cycles. If this cpu will be delegated to NAS and nothing more, get the lowest power platform you can find.

On the other hand, if you really want to run RAID-5 you need a nice processor to go with it, as pretty much any low-cost RAID solution just dumps all the hard calculations onto the CPU. RAID-5 is an investment that you should only make if you plan on taking full advantage of it. Economically you're only better off building an array if you need more space than you can get from one or two of the biggest drives available, ie more than 3 TB.

 

[Mondoman]

You can still buy the MegaRAID i4 cards mentioned in this article on ebay for around $70: http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/content/view/27840/77/
I find that used last-generation high-end stuff works better than cheap new stuff; if you're not completely wedded to the microATX form factor, I bet a nice used high-end socket 939 board w/single-core Athlon XP would work well.

PS - I agree w/pf on the e2140

 

[harrkev]

Originally posted by: Mondoman
You can still buy the MegaRAID i4 cards mentioned in this article on ebay for around $70: http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/content/view/27840/77/
I find that used last-generation high-end stuff works better than cheap new stuff; if you're not completely wedded to the microATX form factor, I bet a nice used high-end socket 939 board w/single-core Athlon XP would work well.

PS - I agree w/pf on the e2140

For a person with more demanding needs, I agree. I think that I will stick with RAID-1 and a cheap mobo.

RAID-5 is nice, but has a disadvantage in that you need at least three drives. Going for a hardware RAID-5 solution will drive the cost up much more than I am comfortable with.

My current NAS solution is a D-Link DSM-G600, which was one of the first (if not the first) NAS devices intended for home use. Needless to say, darn near anything will be able to beat the performance of that beast.