UPDATED:
Thanks to all who have helped shape this build and for their advice and patience.
The final build is:
Mobo: Supermicro X10SRA-F (RMA'd due to IPMI bugs) ==> ASRock X99 WS
CPU: Intel Xeon E5-2695v3 [preowned]
CPU cooler: Corsair H105
GPU: Nvidia 9500GT (ASRock doesn't have integrated graphics)
Case: Thermaltake Core V71
RAM: 32GB DDR4 ECC (2 x Crucial 16GB DDR4-2133 RDIMM (CT16G4RFD4213))
PSU: Seasonic Platinum SS-400FL2 400w fanless
Drives (RAIDZ2): 8 x Seagate ST4000DM000
OS drive: Kingston SSDnow V300 120GB
Additional LEDs: Purple, 4 x 30cm long strips with 18 5050s leaving these out for now.
Additional fans: none at the moment. Don't think I'll need them.
SATA cables: Blue flat for OS SSD, 8 x Black rounded for array drives
REVISED POST:
I'm upgrading my HP N54L
I'd like suggestions for mobo/CPU combos, requirements:
- I am looking for a Xeon CPU and board combo with DDR4 memory capable to taking at least 64GB of ECC memory
- I would prefer to keep power consumption as low as I can, but it's not essential. It will be shut down when not in use.
- I'll be running 8-10 SATA drives initially so I need either SAS ports or a lot of SATA ports on board, or ideally, room to put a decent PCI card. The more bandwidth the better. Eventually, I will be looking to double the drives, so I will need room for expansion.
- I use 2 GLAN ports on my N54L (added extra Intel card in addition to on board LAN) so I would ideally want 2 LAN ports, preferably more - or room to expand in addition to any SAS/SATA cards.
- as mentioned above, ECC is a must due to ZFS, I'd like the board to be able to take 64GB in order for future expansion, but will probably install 32GB to start
- I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that this is not going to be a mini ITX build. I have been looking at other enclosures including the Node 804, I would welcome other suggestions, but ideally I would like to keep the footprint as small as possible. I would prefer the initial 8-10 drives to be housed in the same enclosure as the motherboard, but future drives can be external enclosures.
Some of these ideals might conflict- that's why I'm after input.
Thanks
ORIGINAL POST:
I'm considering upgrading my HP N54L and have been look at the ASRock C2750D4I. I've also been toying with the idea of going a little further and getting a board that one of the newer i3s will sit on.
The reason I am looking at one of the newer i3s is because some of them support ECC memory and I need this for ZFS.
I'd like suggestions for mobo/CPU combos, requirements:
- I'm trying to keep it as low power as possible. The N54Ls CPU is 25w, the C2750 is 20w and for example, the i3-4370T is 35w. I don't really want to go above this if it can be helped bearing in mind the nature of a NAS being on all the time. Even though I do occasionally shut it down, it gets a lot of use.
- I'll be running 8-10 SATA drives so I need either SaS ports or a lot of SATA ports on board, or ideally, room to put a decent PCI card. The more bandwidth the better.
- I use 2 GLAN ports on my N54L (added extra Intel card in addition to on board LAN) so I would ideally want 2 LAN ports, preferably more - or room to expand in addition to any SaS/SATA cards.
- as mentioned above, ECC is a must due to ZFS, I'd ideally like the board to be able to take 64GB but I don't think any of the i3s that support ECC allow more than 32GB (even though that Avoton will accept 64GB :-S) - I could live with this but it's not ideal.
- I really like the look of of the Silverstone D380 case, which would fit the mini ITX board that the Avoton sits on well. It may well be that I can't keep it as small as a mini ITX but I'd like to keep it as small as possible.
I'm not saying I'd completely rule out an AMD CPU, after all the N54L has one in it- but I haven't come across a magic AMD combo... They're either gutless, or will give you a heart attack when your power bill comes in. If anyone has any AMD suggestions I'd certainly look. Equally, I'd consider Xeon's if they're as low TDP as possible (in this case it's likely to be 45w).
Some of these ideals might conflict- that's why I'm after input.
Thanks