what mobo for server would you recommend?

[err]

I am building a small file server and I am considering what motherboard should I get.

This will be either a Athlon / P3 machine. So it will be either SlotA or FC-PGA mobo.

The most important thing is for the mobo to support high RAM capacity (4 mem slots preffered). There are 512MB limit on i815 architecture, so I am thinking to go with Via or BX architecture for P3 mobo.

Realibility is also the upmost important. Integrated mobo is nada. no - no...

What would you recommend?

I have been looking at Asus CUBX, Asus CUVX, old Abit BE6-2, MSI K7T Pro ... any suggestion from you ?

Thx for all the comments.

eRr

 

[AndyHui]

ASUS CUV4X-DLS? Dual FC-PGA, 10/100 LAN, SCSI Ultra 160....

Should be cheaper than a high end CUR-DLS.

 

[KMurphy]

This is a nice board, I think it goes for around $800 Tyan Thunder 2500

Supports up to 8GB registered SDRAM (interleaved, so must be installed in pairs).
Very nice board.

Also, the Supermicro Super 370DE6 looks awesome.

 

[err]

wow... hold on....

my budget is still around $150, not $800.

It will be nice to have dual cpu capabilities, but I am still looking for a cheap solution.

thanks for the comment anyway.

eRr

 

[KMurphy]

Then how about the Tyan Tiger 133

It's around $140 and is rock solid for me. Memory performance kinda sucks, but you can find tweaks all over the net.

 

[KMurphy]

Forgot to add that 2CPU.com has a forum with some information.

 

[Sunner]

If I were you, Id definately skip SMP if money is an issue.
Fileservers need good disksystems, not fast CPU's(ok, granted a P90 or something would be a bit cheap).
For something very reliable, yet vheap, maybe you should considder something like the old Asus P2B.
Old, yes, but its tried and true, and quite possibly, one of the most reliable mobo's ever made, IMO its Asus's greatest creation in terms of quality.
Will support upto 800 MHz Coppermines, though only 768 MB os RAM, but for a fileserver, this shouldnt be a problem, since 128 or 256 will be fine for small time fileservers.

It is Slot1 though, but that shouldnt really matter, at least around here, finding Slot1 coppermines isnt hard, and they go for about the same price as their FCPGA counterparts.

 

[err]

Asus P2B would be a strong candidate, yes.

I've looked at Tyan tiger... it seems like a decent board.

Thanks again for the recommendation.

eRr

 

[Windogg]

Supermicro for servers

 

[keepper]

one board...

Intel L440GX(+)...

the board most companies try to imitate

seriously, this is the ABSOLUTE best P3 server board.