Re: Board reco for system used for storage

In article <NqWdnaJ-MJeHRtrZnZ2dnUVZ_tydnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxx>, Ken
<ken@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I want to build a system that will be used only for storage and backup.
(I don't plan on using RAID, although most ASUS boards seem to come with
RAID 0 +1). I have 4 SATA drives and would like a header as opposed to
having to add a board to accommodate the drives. On-board video is
fine. I have always used Intel and thought that a fast Celeron cpu
would work for this purpose but would consider switching to AMD if
someone can suggest the AMD equivalent of the Celeron.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
Ken

The AMD equivalent of the Celeron, is the Sempron. It appears
to be protected by ECC, so if you want to use an ECC protected
DIMM, you can. Sempron is socket 754, and has a single channel
memory controller interface. Celeron relies on the chipset on
the motherboard, for the memory interface function.

http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/white_papers_and_tech_docs/31805.pdf

AMD Sempron 64 2500+ Palermo 1600MHz HT 256KB L2 Cache Socket 754 $68
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819104251

One reviewer comments: "Runs very cool (under normal use 22-27C,
never gotten it above 30), stock fan works fine, powers my 1TB
linux server providing gigabit file service to 3 other computers
with power to spare"

Since Sempron is associated with budget computing, it tends to be
associated with less capable motherboards. The Nforce3 has two SATA
ports, and the Via 8237 southbridge used on some boards, also tends
to give two SATA ports. There are a few boards that mix Nforce4 with
S754:

K8N4-E Deluxe: 4 SATA Southbridge, 4 SATA by a SIL3114 chip $177 (ouch)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131535

Gigabyte GA-K8NE S754 nForce4 4X ATX - Retail $66 (4 SATA Southbridge)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128308

Asus is supposed to have a K8N-E Deluxe, with 2 SATA southbridge
and 4 SATA on SIL3114, but I cannot find it for sale.

Celeron D has parity protection on the FSB, and the chipset has to
support ECC if you want it. 915 has no ECC (DDR or DDR2, depending
on implementation). 925 has ECC (DDR2 only). 945 has no ECC. 955 has ECC.

P5AD2 Deluxe 4 SATA Southbridge, 4 SATA via SIL3114 (discontinued?)
925 chipset. Cannot find it listed, but probably not cheap.
http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=158&l1=3&l2=11&l3=23

ASUS P5WD2 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 955X ($155) (ouch)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131547

So, a non-ECC chipset is likely to be cheaper and more
available.

This LGA775 board has 4 SATA on the Southbridge, no ECC memory
support, but built-in graphics for building a cheap small server.
Little is written about this motherboard. I checked the manual,
and it has memory timing settings, but I don't see voltage adjustments.
Which should be acceptable for your proposed purposes.

ASUS P5RD2-VM Micro ATX $72
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131590

So either processor family can be used to make a cheap server, but
I guess my personal preference, is to stick with proven mainstream
boards, rather than searching the fringes for products of unknown
characteristics. And then I wouldn't be building a cheap box any
more as a result. The Sempron based box has the potential to run
pretty cool. Intel has cool platforms, like Pentium-M, but those
tend to be expensive, and it is pretty hard to find a desktop
board to run them, at a decent price.

Paul
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Board reco for system used for storage
    ... (I don't plan on using RAID, although most ASUS boards seem to come with RAID 0 +1). ... I have 4 SATA drives and would like a header as opposed to having to add a board to accommodate the drives. ... I have always used Intel and thought that a fast Celeron cpu would work for this purpose but would consider switching to AMD if someone can suggest the AMD equivalent of the Celeron. ... to be protected by ECC, so if you want to use an ECC protected ...
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  • Re: Board reco for system used for storage
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