Jim’s Building a New WHS – Choosing the Motherboard
As I mentioned in The Home Server Show 82, I am going to ask for your advice (or convincing) on all the parts needed to build a new WHS. Starting with the motherboard and CPU, we will have an open discussion at the HSS forums (http://homeservershow.com/forums). After a week or two on each part, I will make a decision and we will start with the next component. We may even discuss your posts on the show.
My priorities will be to get the best value that is available. Not always the cheapest, but not the most expensive either. I want this server to be around for a while as well, but also easy to upgrade when the time comes or the need arises.
After some discussion in the forums already, here are some basic guidelines:
1. Onboard video is required. I don’t want to have to install a video card
2. DDR 3 Memory
3. Gigabit Ethernet
4. No less than 4 SATA ports
Nice to haves:
1. USB 3.0
2. 6Gb SATA
Not important at all:
1. Anything to do with Audio
2. Memory Support above 8 GB
Based on some of our discussion so far, here are some boards that have been identified. For our reference. Currently I have only listed Gigabyte boards due to the recommendation of PCDOC in the forums. Do you have a board that you favor?
Jim’s Starting Pick:
MSI P43-C51 LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard | |
| CPU Socket Type | LGA 775 |
| CPU Type | Core 2 Quad / Core 2 Extreme / Core 2 Duo |
| # of Mem Slots | 4×240pin |
| Mem Standard | DDR3 800/1066/1333/1600 (OC) |
| Max Mem Sup | 16GB |
| Mem Channel | Dual Channel |
| Exp Slots | 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 |
| SATA | 3Gb x 6 |
| Video | None – Picked it before I made the requirements |
| LAN Speed | 10/100/1000Mbps |
| Rear Panel | 2 x PS/2 |
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Warranty | 1 years limited |
| Price / Retailer | $79.99 Newegg |
Intel Boards:
GIGABYTE GA-H55M-S2H LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI Micro ATX Intel | GIGABYTE GA-H55M-USB3 LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel | GIGABYTE GA-H55-USB3 LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI USB 3.0 ATX Intel | |
| CPU Socket Type | LGA 1156 | LGA 1156 | LGA 1156 |
| CPU Type | Core i7 / i5 / i3 | Core i7 / i5 / i3 | Core i7 / i5 / i3 |
| # of Mem Slots | 2×240pin | 4×240pin | 4×240pin |
| Mem Standard | DDR3 2200+/1800/1600/1333/1066/800 | DDR3 2200*/1800/1600/1333/1066/800 | DDR3 1666(OC)/1333/1066/800 |
| Max Mem Sup | 8GB | 16GB | 16GB |
| Mem Channel | Dual Channel | Dual Channel | Dual Channel |
| Exp Slots | 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 | 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 | 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 |
| SATA | 3Gb x 6 | 3Gb x 7 | 3Gb x 7 0/1/JBOD |
| Video | D-Sub + DVI 1 x HDMI | D-Sub + DVI 1 x HDMI | D-Sub + DVI 1 x HDMI |
| LAN Speed | 10/100/1000Mbps | 10/100/1000Mbps | 10/100/1000Mbps |
| Rear Panel | 1 x PS/2
1 x Optical S/PDIF Out | 1 x PS/2 | 1 x PS/2 6 Audio Ports |
| Form Factor | Micro ATX | Micro ATX | Micro ATX |
| Warranty | 3 years limited | 3 years limited | 1 year limited |
| Price / Retailer | $89.99 Newegg | $109.99 Newegg | $124.99 Newegg |
AMD Boards:
GIGABYTE GA-MA785GT-UD3H AM3 AMD 785G HDMI ATX AMD | GIGABYTE GA-785GMT-USB3 AM3 AMD 785G HDMI USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD | GIGABYTE GA-790XTA-UD4 AM3 AMD 790X SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD | |
| CPU Socket Type | AM3 | AM3 | AM3 |
| CPU Type | Phenom II / Athlon II / Sempron 100 Series | Phenom II / Athlon II / Sempron 100 Series | Phenom II / Athlon II / Sempron 100 Series |
| # of Mem Slots | 4×240pin | 4×240pin | 4×240pin |
| Mem Standard | DDR3 1666(O.C.) /1333/1066 | DDR3 1800 (OC)/1666/1333/1066 | DDR3 1866(OC)*/1333/1066 |
| Max Mem Sup | 16GB | 16GB | 16GB |
| Mem Channel | Dual Channel | Dual Channel | Dual Channel |
| Exp Slots | 2 xPCI Express 2.0 x16 | 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 | 2 xPCI Express 2.0 x16 |
| SATA | 3Gb x 6 0/1/10/JBOD | 3Gb x 5 0/1/10/JBOD | 3Gb x 6 6Gb x 2 0/1/5/10/JBOD |
| Video | D-Sub + DVI 1 x HDMI | D-Sub + DVI 1 x HDMI | D-Sub + DVI 1 x HDMI |
| LAN Speed | 10/100/1000Mbps | 10/100/1000Mbps | 10/100/1000Mbps |
| Rear Panel | 1 x PS/2 1 x IEEE 1394a 1 x Optical S/PDIF Out | 1 x PS/2 | 1 x PS/2 |
| Form Factor | ATX | Micro ATX | ATX |
| Warranty | 3 years limited | 2 years limited | 3 year limited |
| Price / Retailer | $94.99 Newegg | $94.99 Newegg | $139.99 Newegg |
Atom Processor/Motherboards
JetWay JNC63P-330-LF Intel Atom 330 1.6GHz Dual Core NVIDIA ION Mini ITX Motherboard/CPU Combo | ZOTAC IONITX-F-E Intel Atom 330 (1.6GHz, dual-core) NVIDIA ION Mini ITX Motherboard/CPU Combo | |
| CPU Socket Type | Motherboard/CPU Combo | Motherboard/CPU Combo |
| CPU Type | Intel Atom 330 1.6GHz Dual Core | Intel Atom 330 1.6GHz Dual Core |
| # of Mem Slots | 2x240pin | 2x240pin |
| Mem Standard | DDR2 800/667 | DDR2 800/667 |
| Max Mem Sup | 4GB | 4GB |
| Mem Channel | Dual Channel | |
| Exp Slots |
| 1 x PCI Express x16 |
| SATA | 3Gb x 4 | 3Gb x 3 0/1/0+1 |
| Video | D-Sub + DVI | D-Sub + DVI |
| LAN Speed | 10/100/1000Mbps | 10/100/1000Mbps WiFi IEEE 802.11 n |
| Rear Panel | 1 x PS/2 Mouse & Keyboard Combined connector 3 Audio Ports | 1 x PS/2 6 x USB 2.0 |
| Form Factor | Mini ITX | Mini ITX |
| Warranty | 2 years limited | Lifetime limited |
| Price / Retailer | $144.99 Newegg | $169.99 Newegg |
CPU Chart
| Chip | Name | Power / 64bit | www.cpubenchmark.net | Virtualization / Hyper-Tranport | Price |
Intel Core i3-540 Clarkdale 3.06GHz 4MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core | Core i3-540 | 73W / Yes | 109 | Yes/Yes | $139.99 |
Intel Pentium G6950 Clarkdale 2.8GHz 3MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core | Pentium G6950 | 73W / Yes | 202 | Yes / No | $95.99 |
AMD Athlon II X2 255 Regor 3.1GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core | Athlon II X2 255 | 65W / Yes | 205 | Yes / Yes | $74.99 |
Intel® Atom™ Processor 330 (1M Cache, 1.60 GHz, 533 MHz FSB) | 8W / Yes | 520 | No / Yes | NA |
