Please recommend me a motherboard/CPU combo.

[nk215]

Hello guys, I am looking to upgrade my old file servers. The existing configuration is a Xeon X5650, x58 mother board with 24G ram. This has been solid for many years.

I am looking for a combination of motherboard/CPU with the following requirements:
+ 2 PCIe x16 slots. I can live with x8 as the minimum
+ 6 SATA
+ ECC ram
+ 4 USB3 (I can use PCI-USB cards if needed).
+ 1Gb network
+ Not crazily expensive

Speed is not the priority but stability is. The PCIe x8/16 slots are for my Nvidia quadro/grid cards.
Thank

 

[Ketchup]

I will answer your question with a question. Do you really need ECC support? I know in a larger-scale business environment this can be a must, but I have never owned or dealt with a personal computer (or personal server) that I thought "Man, if this thing just had ECC."

This will give you a lot of flexibility for buying choices.

Two more things:
1. What form factor?
2. "not crazy expensive" it too subjective. Need some real numbers.

 

[nk215]

Hello,

The reality is that I don't need ECC. The old system served me well in the last many years w/o it. With the new built, I do want it especially my NAS and other file server both have ECC memory (Synology 3612sx and and old Dell T110).

I don't really have real a budget in mind. I do have a $500/month toy budget and if possible would like to be around 500-1K area. I would like something much more energy efficient than the Xeon X5650.

My server case is RPC-470 which supports up to EBB (12x13 mother board size).

I will answer your question with a question. Do you really need ECC support? I know in a larger-scale business environment this can be a must, but I have never owned or dealt with a personal computer (or personal server) that I thought "Man, if this thing just had ECC."

This will give you a lot of flexibility for buying choices.

Two more things:
1. What form factor?
2. "not crazy expensive" it too subjective. Need some real numbers.

 

[Ketchup]

Some good reviews on the EEB board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-643-_-Product

and this CEB board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-798-_-Product

 

[nk215]

I saw this board? It seems to check all my requirements. I forgot to mention that I need Xeon CPU (for both virtualization and ECC).

Supermicro X9SRA Server Motherboard - Intel C602 Chipset - Socket R LGA-2011

 

[Ketchup]

If you know it will work with your hardware, that's great. I would be cautious with how close everything is in the lower portion - memory slots, pci-express slots, pci slot. If you are comfortable with that, go for it.

BTW, I had to laugh at some of the Newegg customer reviews. Did these people not even look at the board before buying?