Intel S5520HC

[Athoxic]

Hi everyone,

I will soon build my first FreeNAS server... super excited ! But also worried about all those specs. So I did my research and I begin to understand a lot about it (ECC, RAM needed, how-to RAID, etc.)

I've got a possible deal from a friend about his motherboard which is in real good condition. The Intel S5520HC. Seem like the bomb...

Quick Spec : http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121375
Long Spec : http://download.intel.com/support/m...9529013_s5520hc_s5500hcv_s5520hct_tps_r19.pdf

The only problem is the CPU needed is socket 1366, which seem hard to come by new. I read somewhere that the CPU is not as important as a the motherboard. So doyou think it's a good idea to just bought a (or two) small CPU from ebay or something ? Do you have some suggestions ?

Thanks for your time !

 

[HoneyBadger]

Depends on how much that board will set you back. It's also an SSI EEB form-factor board, so it won't fit in a conventional case.

Compare the total cost of the S5520HC with used CPUs to either a new build on a Supermicro X9 or X10 board as in Cyberjock's hardware suggestions thread, or a barebones Lenovo TS140.

The CPU isn't as important as the motherboard, true; as long as it's not really old like a 5400-series that would require older, power-hungry FBDIMMs. That board can at least use registered DDR3 so it would be a little less expensive to populate; it will also have a greater memory limit (192GB) if you decide to build a monster system down the road.

 

[Athoxic]

The total cost was way under the Cyberjock's proposition... (the deal for the motherboard was reaaaaally good). But you got me on form-factor... I haven't seen that and since I already got a case, I can't use that motherboard...

Damn !

Return to the research...

Thanks !

 

[marbus90]

Unless it's really cheap, I'd get a complete used system. There are a few offers on ebay with socket 1366 boards including RAM and CPUs. I've found them trough searching for supermicro 846E16 chassis. Make sure the board model ends on -F which come with integrated IPMI.

If there's an Areca card included, get another LSI 9211-8i or M1015 HBA and (cross)flash it to the P16 IT mode firmware.