Server Mobo for E660

[Computer Guru]

Hello All,

I need to put together a server within the week. I'm getting the mobo and CPU online, and the rest of the parts local (from the Middle East).... So the 'normal' parts will be a bit more expensive than they are online, and I'm on a 2k - 2500 USD budget for the server.

I'd rather woodcrest, but I'm on a deadline so E6600 it is.

Now, I need a mobo. Must have Raid 0, 1, +5.... onboard audio, video, overclocking support, and must be quite stable...

My research basically led me to a DFI or the new nVidia/Asus PN5 mobo... but I'd like some final advice since this won't be upgraded for a while.

I'm going to have two 400GB SATA 3GBps HDs in backup RAID.. 4GBs memory (or maybe 2... comes back to the budget)....

So... Advice? What mobo should I go for? DToS isn't my way, but Woodcrest is too far out.

Thanks guys!

 

[jose]

Get a real server mobo on a mature platform. Be it Xeon or Opteron..

Pair that w/ a 64bit hardware controller... most of the stuff onboard is software raid.

This what I'd recomend if it's for a business. If it's personal then find a mobo w/ raid 5 ..

ie. for a cheap A64 w/ onboard raid, look at the DFI SLI-DR mobo w/ a cheap A64 processor or X2.

What are you running on this build ?

Regards,
Jose

 

[Computer Guru]

Thanks for the reply Jose..

Well, all of my research tells me that the E6600 is the best priceerformance ratio, I don't want something tried and tested and outdated, and I have a lot of faith in the Conroe line (got my hands on a E6400 and it's great).

I'm going to build two identical babies, they'll be running 2k3 x64 Edition, and fairly equal loads.. for instance, one server will have:

File Server
MySQL 5
IIS 6
ISA 2006

While the second willl have

Active Directory
Exchange 2007
DHCP
DNS
Print Server

The load isn't anything special, it's a large businness with minimal reliability on technology (construction and contracting. It'll have maybe 12 machines LAN'd into them, with about 18 more via VPN...

Computer budget isn't the biggest, but it's enough, and I don't want dated technology that's going to run out soon; the conroe is just out, and we'd like to take advantage of something that powerful yet affordable, and again, the woodcrest is just too far out while we need something now.

Most of my network server custom building in the past dealt with Xeon or Itanium servers on 2u Rack Mount with daisy-chained SCSI - expensive outfits... or the 100% desktop-running-as-server for tiny home businesses or schools.. this is my first medium-size business contract, and I'm just not sure which mobo to go with.

Thanks a lot for your help.

BTW: So I guess the new question is - What mobo do you recommend, and if I can trouble you further, which 64-Bit H/W Controller (PCI-X????) do you recommend with a Conroe Mobo?

 

[jose]

There are none for the e6xxx series procesors that I know of.

There is this one but I don't think it supports conroe..

http://usa.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=3&l2=11&l3=248&model=1031&modelmenu=1

You'll have to get an Opteron or Xeon based mobo for pci-x slots..

Although you could try a pci-e raid controller.. ie. LSI

Regards,
Jose

 

[alex123]

Take a look at these two boards. They both have ECC/nonECC memory support, and both of them have 8 SATA connectors from 2 raid controllers, and I beleive 2xGbLAN.

They dont have an on-board video, so you'll have to stick some PCI video card into PCI slot.

Also Asus has 2 PCI-X slots so you could get a hardware raid controller if you want to. Although now we see some PCI-E raid controllers as well. But still, most raid controllers are PCI-X.

Asus is about $350 USD. Intel is a bit cheaper, I guess $275?. If I were you I would go with Asus with ECC memory with onboard SATA mirrored disks.

ASUS P5WDG2 WS Professional ($350 USD)

Intel® Desktop Board D975XBX (aka Intel BAD AXE) - ($275 USD)

 

[jose]

I see the asus board uses a PCI-X Bridge: Intel 6702 PXH ..

What else is on this bridge ? ie. usb ... ??

There was a old Asus Xeon NCCH-DL that had 64bit/66mhz slots. But it had other devices on the bus so it would slow down the bus. ie.. usb

So if want the thru put of pci-x then you need to get a true pci-x mobo..

But the Asus board does look interesting... You could put a LSI pci-e scsi

http://www.lsilogic.com/products/megaraid/megaraid_320_2e.html

Be warned that there are reports of compatablity problems w/ the pci-e controller..

Note that in the end you will probably regret getting a regular pc mobo instead of a true server mobo..

Regards,
Jose