New Motherboard

[NugentS]

I am looking for a new motherboard for one of my computers with a perhaps slightly unusual spec.

Its not for overclocking (I know heresy) but will be used completely standard. No games either so graphics are not important

The minimum spec as follows:

Intel Quad Core (not the new ones)

4-8 GB Memory capable

1 PCI slot for graphics (or on board would be fine)

Lots and lots of PCIe slots for things like RAID cards and network cards.

N.B. PCIe 1x is useless - the slots need to be 4x minimum with at least 1 8x on the board

As an alternative (if such a thing exists) I would use as PCI-X board with at least 2 * PCIe 4x as well (and lots and lots of PCI-X slots)

Any ideas?

Sean

Preferably

 

[-VK-]

Take a look at the P5Q Range by ASUS, there's something for everyone there and they're pretty solid boards.

 

[NugentS]

They don't seem to have enough PCIe slots - that aren't X1 anyway...

Sean

 

[BUFF]

did you really mean a PCI slot for gfx or did you mean PCI-E?

also, PCI-E x1 slots aren't useless - there are sound cards, wifi cards, TV cards etc. in that format.

Does sound like you need a P45, X38/X48 or nVidia 780i/790i type of mobo though.

Budget?

 

[Bondi007]

I like the EVGA 750i FTW they seem to have the reqs you need, or you could try any other board by asus as they have a good range of P5Q as -VK- said

 

[NugentS]

I really meant PCI for graphics - this is to run Linux in text mode only - so any PCIe x16 slots will run other boards - not graphics in x4 or x8 modes

And for my purposes PCIe 1x are in fact useless (almost) - I want x4 minimum (Intel dual NICs are x4) - and I am looking for lots of NICs to run 802.1AD

At the moment I have an Asus board running 2 * 3Ware RAID cards, 1 * dual NIC and a single NIC that might be x1 or might be PCI (I am not up to taking it out of its cubby hole to find out at the moment). Thats 1 * x8 and 1 * x4 for the RAID, a x4 for the NIC and I am reasonably sure a x1 for the single NIC.

Ideally I would like 1 * x8, 3 * x4, a PCI and as many x1's (faster=better) as are available (for extra NICs). I looked at the P5Q range and didn't spot anything better than what I have already (and mostly worse)

Budget £300 (up to) - so any consumer board would be considered

Sean

 

[Bondi007]

are you running a server? well with the budget you have dont server boards have what you need?

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/(16110)Supermicro-X7DVAE-Dual-Intel64bit-Xeon-Quad.aspx

 

[NugentS]

Well its PCI-X and I already have the PCIe stuff

Sean

 

[Bondi007]

this one has it all hasnt it? I must of been mistaken.. what proccessor and memory do you have to help me find one in more detail

 

[NugentS]

I have an Intel Quad Core2Duo processor - can't remember which version - but not the newest ones.

DDR2 memory - 8*2GB modules

I could use PCI-X as long as there are two PCIe (8x, 4x) slots as well for the RAID boards

Sean

 

[prosto_artur]

Hello!

I'm looking for a Massive upgrade on my current system and I'm not too sure which motherboard to buy. My main criteria would be DDR3 (2000MHz ) support + reasonable 'overclockability' ...

What would YOU recommend???

P.S Just like to say Thanks for this website - it's really informative ,keep up the good work !!!