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Thread: Budget Low Power Mobo - Home Server

  1. #1
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    Budget Low Power Mobo - Home Server

    What would be the best choice for a low Power Mobo for a Linux (ubuntu) Home Server, cheaper the better. Looking at AMD as mobos seem to be cheaper and they still offer a good range of 45w Single/Dual core cpus, would mainly be used for media streaming and downloading.

    Current guess is a AMD740g would be the best with a 45w Athlon/Sempron CPU followed by the 690g.

    I would like 3xSata minimum.

    Seen tests where sub 31-35watts at idle is possible for the 740g (full machine) with the 690g being 5-10 watts more.

    Are the any other motherboards that would meet these requirement, like an old geforce series board?

    Only asking really as deals on 740g/690g are thin on the ground

    Don't want a miniitx, atom, via board and am looking at £170-200 for the complete build:-

    Case
    PSU - already bought
    mobo
    CPU - thinking of a Sempron LE-12XX
    2x512mb RAM PC5300 (have spare)
    1tb WD Green
    No DVD drive

    Once again looking for a nice cheap solution but want to get a rig that idles at 40 watts or less so I can justify this over a NAS and have more functionality
    HTPC1 - Coolermaster CM330, E2180 + Zalman 9500AT, GA-P31-DS3L, 2x1Gb PC6400 , Antec Earthwatts 430w , Fujitsu 2.5" 40gb HDD, 8600gt, Hannspree 32" LCD TV - Kubuntu 8.04

    HTPC2 - Silverstone TJ-08, Asus 690g, Athlon LE1300 + OCZ Vanquisher, 2x512mb PC5300, Dell 350w PSU, Fujisu 2.5" 40gb HDD, 8600gt, Toshiba 33" CRT TV - Ubuntu 8.04

    Laptop- Lenovo T41, Pentium M 1.6ghz, 768mb PC2700 RAM, 40gb HDD - Ubuntu 8.10

    NAS - Dell Case, Jetway J7F5 Mini-ITX, 1gb PC5300, Enermax Pro 82+ 425w, 1TB Hitachi - FreeNAS 0.69 on 256mb CF

  2. #2
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    • CAT-THE-FIFTH's system
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    Re: Budget Low Power Mobo - Home Server

    There were brand new OEM 780G boards on sale for under £30 from a UK Ebay seller a few weeks ago!! They were made by a company called AFox which is a part of Foxconn.

    I think that you maybe able to save some money by looking on Ebay for the processor. You maybe even able to get a new one for a good price.

  3. #3
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    • CAT-THE-FIFTH's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Less E-PEEN
      • CPU:
      • Massive E-PEEN
      • Memory:
      • RGB E-PEEN
      • Storage:
      • Not in any order
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVEN BIGGER E-PEEN
      • PSU:
      • OVERSIZED
      • Case:
      • UNDERSIZED
      • Operating System:
      • DOS 6.22
      • Monitor(s):
      • NOT USUALLY ON....WHEN I POST
      • Internet:
      • FUNCTIONAL

    Re: Budget Low Power Mobo - Home Server

    I would also check out the Intel Celeron M single core processors as under load they have quite low power consumption too!

  4. #4
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    Re: Budget Low Power Mobo - Home Server

    Im using an celeron E1200 on an NF610i board with ubuntu 8.04. Im not using the onboard video i have a seperate 6200TC but it works a treat. I run the CPU with a cheap akasa cooler completely fanless! Couldnt tell you the exact numbers but there are a lot of things you can do to reduce power such as switch off all the unused USB/Serial ports

  5. #5
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    • Maccer101's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Foxconn G33
      • CPU:
      • Q6600 + Scythe Infinity
      • Memory:
      • 2gb Samsung PC-5300
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung F1 + 250gb WD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • MSI 8800gt OC 512mb
      • PSU:
      • Corsair VX450
      • Case:
      • Antec Mini P180
      • Operating System:
      • Ubuntu 8.04
      • Monitor(s):
      • Samsung SW223BW + Dell 19"
      • Internet:
      • 10mb Virgin Broadband

    Re: Budget Low Power Mobo - Home Server

    Okay,looks like I'll keep trolling through ebay to see whats on offer.

    Original plan was to go intel but prices seem a bit silly at the mo, will keep my options open see what deals I can get. This project isn't a big rush so I can take my time having fun trying to find bargains.
    HTPC1 - Coolermaster CM330, E2180 + Zalman 9500AT, GA-P31-DS3L, 2x1Gb PC6400 , Antec Earthwatts 430w , Fujitsu 2.5" 40gb HDD, 8600gt, Hannspree 32" LCD TV - Kubuntu 8.04

    HTPC2 - Silverstone TJ-08, Asus 690g, Athlon LE1300 + OCZ Vanquisher, 2x512mb PC5300, Dell 350w PSU, Fujisu 2.5" 40gb HDD, 8600gt, Toshiba 33" CRT TV - Ubuntu 8.04

    Laptop- Lenovo T41, Pentium M 1.6ghz, 768mb PC2700 RAM, 40gb HDD - Ubuntu 8.10

    NAS - Dell Case, Jetway J7F5 Mini-ITX, 1gb PC5300, Enermax Pro 82+ 425w, 1TB Hitachi - FreeNAS 0.69 on 256mb CF

  6. #6
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    • CAT-THE-FIFTH's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Less E-PEEN
      • CPU:
      • Massive E-PEEN
      • Memory:
      • RGB E-PEEN
      • Storage:
      • Not in any order
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVEN BIGGER E-PEEN
      • PSU:
      • OVERSIZED
      • Case:
      • UNDERSIZED
      • Operating System:
      • DOS 6.22
      • Monitor(s):
      • NOT USUALLY ON....WHEN I POST
      • Internet:
      • FUNCTIONAL

    Re: Budget Low Power Mobo - Home Server

    There is are brand new AFox(part of Foxconn) branded G31 motherboards for under £30 on Ebay. Also you can get Celeron M420 and M440 processors for under £20 too.

  7. #7
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    • Maccer101's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Foxconn G33
      • CPU:
      • Q6600 + Scythe Infinity
      • Memory:
      • 2gb Samsung PC-5300
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung F1 + 250gb WD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • MSI 8800gt OC 512mb
      • PSU:
      • Corsair VX450
      • Case:
      • Antec Mini P180
      • Operating System:
      • Ubuntu 8.04
      • Monitor(s):
      • Samsung SW223BW + Dell 19"
      • Internet:
      • 10mb Virgin Broadband

    Re: Budget Low Power Mobo - Home Server

    Arrgh! Now I'm not sure what to go for:-

    AMD 690g + Sepmron LE-1xxx

    OR

    G31 + Celeron 4XX

    not easy to find power consumption data as I would just pick the lower of the 2

    Just found out that the WD Greens aren't waranteed under linux due to the heads parking too frequently, looks like a Samsung drive instead (extra 3-4 watts) or maybe a Hitachi (don't know much about these though)
    HTPC1 - Coolermaster CM330, E2180 + Zalman 9500AT, GA-P31-DS3L, 2x1Gb PC6400 , Antec Earthwatts 430w , Fujitsu 2.5" 40gb HDD, 8600gt, Hannspree 32" LCD TV - Kubuntu 8.04

    HTPC2 - Silverstone TJ-08, Asus 690g, Athlon LE1300 + OCZ Vanquisher, 2x512mb PC5300, Dell 350w PSU, Fujisu 2.5" 40gb HDD, 8600gt, Toshiba 33" CRT TV - Ubuntu 8.04

    Laptop- Lenovo T41, Pentium M 1.6ghz, 768mb PC2700 RAM, 40gb HDD - Ubuntu 8.10

    NAS - Dell Case, Jetway J7F5 Mini-ITX, 1gb PC5300, Enermax Pro 82+ 425w, 1TB Hitachi - FreeNAS 0.69 on 256mb CF

  8. #8
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    • CAT-THE-FIFTH's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Less E-PEEN
      • CPU:
      • Massive E-PEEN
      • Memory:
      • RGB E-PEEN
      • Storage:
      • Not in any order
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVEN BIGGER E-PEEN
      • PSU:
      • OVERSIZED
      • Case:
      • UNDERSIZED
      • Operating System:
      • DOS 6.22
      • Monitor(s):
      • NOT USUALLY ON....WHEN I POST
      • Internet:
      • FUNCTIONAL

    Re: Budget Low Power Mobo - Home Server

    The Celeron has probably higher idle power consumption but lower peak power consumption than the Sempron.

    You may also be able to undervolt the processors so this maybe another avenue to follow.

    Silent PC Review would be a good place to start as they have power consumption and noise figures in their reviews:

    http://www.silentpcreview.com/

    Their forums also are quite informative!!

  9. #9
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    • CAT-THE-FIFTH's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Less E-PEEN
      • CPU:
      • Massive E-PEEN
      • Memory:
      • RGB E-PEEN
      • Storage:
      • Not in any order
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVEN BIGGER E-PEEN
      • PSU:
      • OVERSIZED
      • Case:
      • UNDERSIZED
      • Operating System:
      • DOS 6.22
      • Monitor(s):
      • NOT USUALLY ON....WHEN I POST
      • Internet:
      • FUNCTIONAL

    Re: Budget Low Power Mobo - Home Server

    Scan are doing some 780G and G41 motherboards for around £50 on Today Only:

    http://www.scan.co.uk/TodayOnly/Index.aspx

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