What Desktop Motherboards are the most stable for use in server?

[ScAndal]

I'm trying to build a SQL server and a WEB server for production use.

I am wondering what motherboard/CPU combinations you guys recommend. Obviously I will not be overclocking.

It has to have a 64bit slot for a SATA Raid card.

Thanks for the help,

ScAndal

 

[jose]

I've use several Tyan K8W opteron mobo's , no problem.

This is not the new K8WE version, I'd rather go w/ something proven rather than bleeding edge..

Jose

 

[ScAndal]

I also forgot to mention that the rack server cases I am using are only have 300W Power supplies in them.

Thus I don't think a dual cpu server board will work.

 

[jose]

Look at what Tyan has designed for a rack server mobo. But again , I'd get the older K8W series rather than the new NF4 Pro based mobo's..

Also you won't find many single proc. mobo's that have a 64bit slot...

BTW , Why have a 64bit controller in a rack server ?? Which controller are you using ? You may be better off using the onboard controller than a dedicated
controller.. Are you running raid5 or raid 1 ??

 

[ScAndal]

jose,
thanks I am grateful for your time. I do not have a card yet, but most of the raid cards i've looked at are 64bit.

I want to run hardware raid 5. I haven't seen this on any mb's built in.

ScAndal

 

[jose]

I'd recomend the LSI 320-2X for scsi or the LSI 300-8X for sata.

What's the size of the rack server & how many drives ?? 1U runs really hot.. I'd go w/ 3U or 4U...

 

[ScAndal]

The server cases are 5U with dual redundant 300W power supplies.

It also have 4 hot swap cooling fans. Heat shouldn't be an issue.

I will be running SATA raid 5 drives. That LSI 300-8x is NICE! but spendy...

 

[ChiPCGuy]

Tyan. Tyan. Tyan. Use a workstation/server board for a workstation or server. You want rock solid bullet proof stability, then build the machine with the right parts. The only desktop board I am aware of that comes with a 64 bit PCI-X slot is one of the available Pentium M boards like the AOpen or DFI. Why in the hell it would have a 64 bit PCI-X slot is a good question... AFAIK, you need to move into true workstation/server class mobos to get a 64 bit PCI-X slot.

 

[ChiPCGuy]

Originally posted by: ScAndal
jose,
thanks I am grateful for your time. I do not have a card yet, but most of the raid cards i've looked at are 64bit.

I want to run hardware raid 5. I haven't seen this on any mb's built in.

ScAndal

Yes, for obvious reasons. You need the PCI-X bus in order to avoid saturation of the 133MB/s aging PCI bus. A RAID setup of nearly any type, except possibly RAID 1, will totally saturate the PCI bus and bottleneck you array, especially when using Ultra SCSI 320. There are no nForce4/Ultra boards that would serve the purpose you are after.

 

[jose]

ScAndal,

Check the size of the Tyan K8W motherboard,(w/ the case your looking at) it should work for what your looking for.