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Cheap and future-proof?

S

Stagnate

n00b
Joined
Jan 14, 2008
Messages
10
I'm looking to upgrade my server. I don't game and don't overclock, so my needs are pretty basic. Looking for suggestions to narrow the field of candidates. I am willing to wait for specials, so multiple options will just let me wait for a good special.

I either want a dirt cheap mobo + cpu for the server (probably would be 2-3 generations old, just looking for names to search on), or a low-end combo for my PC (figuring roughly $150 total).

Server PC requires: Minimum 3 PCI, preferably more. 2x IDE connectors. 4 DIMM slots (will probably have several vms running at times). DDR2 rather than DDR, since the later is 2x as expensive. Processor can be anything, horsepower won't matter. I was going to use a PIII but I don't want to spend $30+ for a mobo that old, and it's hard to find one that supports 1.5 - 2.0 G RAM.

Or I can upgrade my PC and use that board for the server. In which case I need SATA Raid, would like AGP but can go with a cheap PCIe card. 4 DIMM slots for DDR2. The biggest goal here is get the important features for the future: 3GB SATA, eSATA, processor support, etc. I'd rather focus on a good motherboard with a cheap processor at this point, and worry about upgrading the processor later if necessary.

The mobo deal that Fry's has is interesting, but doesn't have SATA RAID (no good for PC) and only has two PCI (no good for server). Any suggestions appreciated.
 
Thanks for the memory link.

I think my request wasn't clear. I was planning on a cheap 775 motherboard, but wanted any pointers to models to look at. There are a ton out there and I'm having trouble focusing my search.
 
Your big problem is to find MBs with 2xIDE - most have only one these days. You will likely have to go with an IDE PCI-e card.

As far as SATA RAID goes - if you get an older MB with 2xIDE, you can add a SATA PCI-e card or PCI-x, but PCI is too slow.

If you want future-proofing (more fantasy than reality - the only future-proofing is money :) ), get a decent LGA775 MB with the future capacity you might want (CPU upgrade, SATA, etc). Add the legacy requirements with add-in cards (though only the 2xIDE sounds like a problem).

No specific recommendations - just go to a large online retailer, list MBs and choose low priced ones to see what features are on them. Any of the well known brands like ASUS, Gigabyte, etc will do.
 
yeah, good luck on that search.....i've found a fairly good selection of boards that have 2x IDE connectors and DDR2, but they only have 2x PCI slots.

any particular reason you want/need that many PCI slots?
 
I need the PCI slots for the server, which will have an IDE and SCSI PCI RAID controller as well as a Gbit network card.

Optionally I also wanted to use PCI for sound and video since I have existing cards.

If I use the new board for my PC then I don't need the PCI slots. If I get a board with onboard video and Gbit ethernet then I could also make do with 2 PCI slots as well.
 
Stagnate said:
I need the PCI slots for the server, which will have an IDE and SCSI PCI RAID controller as well as a Gbit network card.

Optionally I also wanted to use PCI for sound and video since I have existing cards.

If I use the new board for my PC then I don't need the PCI slots. If I get a board with onboard video and Gbit ethernet then I could also make do with 2 PCI slots as well.
Click to expand...

going with a mobo that has onboard Gig-E & video is going to be the better option, since you won't be limited by the PCI bus for the Gig-E that way, it should be on the PCI-E bus instead....which is especially important, since you are likely going to tap out the PCI bus with the RAID cards anyway.....

and for a server, i wouldn't even worry about adding a sound card, just use the onboard sound, if it's even necessary to use sound at all. personally, i'd just turn the onboard sound off.

i actually found a few LGA775 boards that have 3x PCI, 2x IDE, 4x DDR2, on-board Gig-E, & onboard audio over at Newegg that may work for you....the new ones are kinda expensive, but they have several "Open Box" items for cheaper.....
 
There are always nice cheap options on the AMD side of things.

Asus M2NBP-VM Quadro NVS 210S motherboard $83
- supports 4 ATA devices, 4 DDR2 slots, 2 PCI slots, onboard Video (w/ DVI), Audio, and H/W GB Lan, as well as SATA 3GB/s Raid support
- If a bios update isn't released already, should be able to support future Quad Core Phenom chips with only a bios update

AMD Athlon64 X2 3800+ $48
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103732
- cheapest dual core CPU at Newegg, and can save another $10 for their cheapest single core chip b/c you said that you didn't need much horsepower
- Another $12 gets you another 100MHz., CPU cooler, and a 3 Year warrantee as well as a cooler running 65W CPU
 
Can't believe I didn't see the power search option on Newegg. That will help a lot, and the links looked good.

Regarding AMD, my only question is regarding the future of the different chipsets. It appears (at a very quick glance) like they are transitioning from AM2 to AM2+ boards. I'd rather not buy on the transition but am willing to be convinced (current PC is AMD so I have no problems with either side).

Thanks for the links.
 
One other note, which chipsets should I look for or stay away from. Are there any that are either notoriously bad or limited (no support for newer processors, etc)?

Any chipset that is notable for being cheap by with decent features?

I have seen some references to the intial IP35 being good, and found some decent boards built on that.
 
I am currently waiting on a AMD AM2+ Micro ATX board. They are rumored to be coming very soon. Current AM2 sockets are compatible with AM2+ CPUs if the bios update is released for that motherboard. Giga-Byte has a 690G motherboard on newegg that is compatible with the Phenom I believe. [H] reviewed it and it turned out pretty good. I would snag one if it wasn't for waiting on the AM2+ boards, because I know that as soon as I order the Giga-Byte board, a week later the new ones will come out.
Jason
 
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