Looking to get back into folding

[nowwhatnapster]

I am looking to get back into F@H and my server is in dire need of a new motherboard Consequentially the CPU and RAM must also go.

Spec wise I am looking for something along these lines:

• LGA 1366, 6 core support, Xeon
• DDR3 1333, 6+ slots, ECC, Registered
• PCI-Express 2.0 16x, 2+ slots, SLI support, Compatible with Adaptec 5405
• Onboard audio/video
• Dual gigabit nics (preferably Intel)
• Must fit in a Norco RPC-470 or RPC-4220

Price wise: Under $400. for the motherboard

The CPU will be Xeon E5506 Will probably upgrade to 6 core in a year or two.

Ram will be the last thing I purchase with whatever change is left in my wallet after all this

Also, when I deem my workstation (Q9550) as outdated I plan on re-upgrading my server and taking the old hardware (the stuff were talking about right now) and using it as my workstation upgrade.

 

[silicide]

I don't do a lot with server/workstation boards, but it looks like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131357 might be worth considering. The NICs are Realtek, not Intel, but it has your Xeon support, 6 1333mhz ECC slots, onboard audio, and SLI support. Dunno the dimensions of those cases, so can't speak to that.

 

[Kendrak]

What OS are you looking at?

Also, are you looking at OCing at all beyond turbo?

 

[nowwhatnapster]

What OS are you looking at?

Also, are you looking at OCing at all beyond turbo?

I do not plan to overclock. The operating system is currently set to be Windows home server, but I want to switch to something more robust such as server 2008 r2. I will work more on sorting out the OS after I get the hardware in my hands.

I don't do a lot with server/workstation boards, but it looks like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131357 might be worth considering. The NICs are Realtek, not Intel, but it has your Xeon support, 6 1333mhz ECC slots, onboard audio, and SLI support. Dunno the dimensions of those cases, so can't speak to that.

That's one of the only boards I was able to come up with last night. I guess its my current top pick at the moment.

 

[nowwhatnapster]

Changed my mined about the processor, swapping the E5506 for a W3550 (better value)
So I guess I'm looking at:
$279.00 @ amazon.com ASUS P6T WS PRO
$306.56 @ newegg.com Intel Xeon W3550
$140.74 @ buy.com Kingston ValueRAM 6GB (3 x 2GB)

$726.30 Subtotal
-$20.00 amazon gift card
-$25.00 newegg gift card
-$4.60 fatwallet cash back 1.5% for newegg.com
-$7.04 discover card cash back 5% for buy.com
-$5.85 discover card cash back 1% for newegg.com & amazon.com

$663.81 Total

Guess the OS will be linux because I'm broke! I shouldn't complain. That's a decent price.

ASUS P6T WS PRO? Is that your final answer [H]?

 

[musky]

Are you sure that board will meet your needs? There is no OB video and I only see 2 PCI-e x 16 slots. You will need a graphics card somewhere. Did you look at the SuperMicro? I don't know that it is any better for you, though.

I am a little worried about the stock HSF that comes with the Xeon and whether or not any of these boards come with a real Xeon backplate. If that is a problem, i have several stock socket 1366 HSFs i would be willing to part with for free.

This is an odd system for most of us, so I don't know if we are the best bunch for recommendations.

 

[Kendrak]

As musky said, most of us are building rigs that we will be OCing the hell out of.

Where not sure what to do when yu take that away from us.