First let me thank all of you for posting your trials and tribulations......I have gained a considerable amount of knowledge from this community.

 

I have been lurking for quite sometime, and going back and forth over some issues.  I am running out of space in my current array. So, I am finishing the ordering process.  My last concern is CPU.  I don't have the cash for a XEON.  I want to stay in the I3 - Pentium neighborhood.  My goal for this box is to run the "holy trinity" (read that somewhere about SB, SABNZB, and CP), as well as PLEX and Airvideo.  So I am going to have some transcoding needs from the CPU, but I am not looking for more than 2X streams at any given time. 

 

Can I run a GXXX (Sandy) on this board and be happy with my requirements? Or am I better served with the a I3-2105? 

 

As of today:

 

CASE: Fractal Design XL

MB: X9SCM-F-O (the current newegg deal pushed me over the edge);

PSU: TX650 V2

RAM: Kingston 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) ECC Unbuffered Server Memory Model KVR1333D3E9SK2/8G

Drives:  3TB RED / 4X 2TB WD Greens / 500 GB Cache

 

My initial gut reaction is to order the I3-2105 that is on sale as of today at NewEgg. Can I get away with the smaller GXXX cpu (ie 630 or 850) and be happy? Figured if I am unhappy with performance, that GXXX chip would give me access to flash the board to VER2.0 and move to a IB food group, no?

 

Additionally, how loud are the current SB intel coolers?  Once I figure out where I can buy Scythe products again, maybe NCIX in CAN, I will replace with better cooler.  Just curious.....

 

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated....Thanks again. 

 

 

 

 

Figured I'd jump in here as no one has replied and I do have some experience in exactly what you are trying to do.

 

Going with a SB Gxxx CPU will work fine for the "holy trinity", although I think when it comes to Plex it will be borderline when it comes to transcoding more than one concurrent stream, assuming you are referring to transcoding to 2x HD (720p or 1080p) streams.  You don't say what kind of transcoding, so I'm assuming here.  I think you'd be better served with the i3-2105 in the long run if you can cough up for it now.  You can check my sig for my build, I'm running an i3-3220T and have no problem transcoding multiple concurrent HD streams.

 

If you were to go with the Gxxx, yes it should give you access to flash the firmware of the mobo and move to an IB CPU.  That said, if the mobo will not accept an IB CPU with it's current firmware (assuming as I know nothing about the SM mobos), how can you go straight to an IB CPU?

.... That said, if the mobo will not accept an IB CPU with it's current firmware (assuming as I know nothing about the SM mobos), how can you go straight to an IB CPU?

 

Unless it's old stock (which it might be if sold on special offer), the mobo should come with a v2.x BIOS already flashed.

 

However, that was one of the factors which persuaded me to purchase the X9SCM-iiF mobo - it has been stated that all retail production of that board came with v2.x BIOS.

I've been lurking for some time as well, and can't make a decision on the mobo or case. 

 

In reading other threads, is there not memory available to take the X9SCM-F-O to 32GB or is it just too expensive of memory?  Also, for the X9SCM-IIF, what's the memory you are using?  Amazon has the IIF for about $168 right now, but reading the bios flash issues makes me think twice (issue being the v2 cpu I would purchase would not be recognized and mobo unflashable.  And is there another board I should consider in the same price range where getting the memory to 32GB is not an issue?

 

Is there an alternative 20-24 case like the Norco but preferred even if it is more expensive?  I like inexpensive, but wanted to be sure there isn't another case in the neighborhood (+200) that might be better.

 

By the way, I'm going to run esxi with several VMs and take advantage of many of the unRAID plugins.  I got mid way through my AMD conversion only to realize the mobo does not support passthrough, so I'm starting fresh. 

 

Thanks.

Jeff

In reading other threads, is there not memory available to take the X9SCM-F-O to 32GB or is it just too expensive of memory?

 

Yes, of course 32GB is possible - see here.  The question is, doo you need it?

 

Also, for the X9SCM-IIF, what's the memory you are using?

 

Essentially the same as for the X9SCM(-F).  I'm using two KVR16E11/4HC modules.  Remember that if you use an Ivy Bridge cpu, you can go to 1600Mhz.

 

Amazon has the IIF for about $168 right now, but reading the bios flash issues makes me think twice (issue being the v2 cpu I would purchase would not be recognized and mobo unflashable.

 

If you want to use an Ivy Bridge (V2) processor, then the iiF is your best bet.  It has been said that all production (retail) iiF boards left the factory with a V2 BIOS.

 

Yes, of course 32GB is possible - see here.  The question is, doo you need it?

 

Essentially the same as for the X9SCM(-F).  I'm using two KVR16E11/4HC modules.  Remember that if you use an Ivy Bridge cpu, you can go to 1600Mhz.

 

If you want to use an Ivy Bridge (V2) processor, then the iiF is your best bet.  It has been said that all production (retail) iiF boards left the factory with a V2 BIOS.

 

I don't think I need all 32GB now, but I will be running my whole house htpc (sagetv) and tinkering with a slew of other test VMs, plus unRAID (sab, sb, crashplan, etc).  I don't need it but I want it. 

 

Thanks for the information and taking the time to answer me.  Very helpful and much appreciated. 

 

 

Just wanted to inquire about your intention on running Plex and transcoding.  Does everything require transcoding with Plex or just certain types of file formats?  I've been interested in running Plex , however my media library is 95% ISO files, which Plex cannot handle directly at least.  Can they be "transcoded", on the fly, to a format that does work with Plex?

 

I'm just in the process of putting together my second box, as I've outgrown the 12 drives my first box can handle.  I'll be getting a new motherboard as well.  I was just going to get another Celeron CPU , but should I be able to actually use Plex, that would affect my CPU decision.

A couple of comments ...

 

r.e. the initial question:  Go with the i3.  An i3-2105 scores 3794 on PassMark's CPUMark ... the BEST of the Celeron G's scores 2808 (G1620), and they start as low as 813 (G440).

 

For a bit more you could go with the i3-3225, which scores 4382 on PassMark ... nearly double a typical G2xxx Celeron.

 

I've never heard anyone wish they had a slower CPU    ... but a lot of folks wish they'd bought just a bit more "horsepower" !!

 

 

r.e. putting 32GB in the X9SCM-F-O  ==>  You can; but I wouldn't.    On boards that use unbuffered RAM you'll have a notably more stable and reliable memory subsystem if you limit the bus loading to two double-side modules (and 8GB modules are all double-sided).    If you want really large amounts of memory you're better served by using a board that supports buffered (registered or FBDIMM modules) memory.    Buffered modules present one "load" per MODULE ... unbuffered modules present one load per CHIP (16 or even 32 loads per module).

 

One redeeming thing with the X9SCM-F-O ==> it at least uses ECC RAM, so if you DO choose to use 4 modules, at least any single-bit errors will be corrected, so the reliability will still be fairly good ... just not as good as it would be with just two modules.

 

As this is somewhat of an old thread brought back to life, I might as well throw in NewEgg's "Outlet" were they currently have a X9SCM-O "open box" deal going. It caught my eye:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182254R&Tpk=x9scm&IsVirtualParent=1

Priced at $148 with an additional 15% using EXTRASAVINGS it would come out to $125.80 with $3.19 shipping. This seems like a pretty good deal, SuperMicro-wise.

 

How does this board stack up against the -F? I'm tempted, but I'm happy with my Atom-based Turbo Encabulator!

 

Happy Shopping!

As this is somewhat of an old thread brought back to life, I might as well throw in NewEgg's "Outlet" were they currently have a X9SCM-O "open box" deal going. It caught my eye:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182254R&Tpk=x9scm&IsVirtualParent=1

Priced at $148 with an additional 15% using EXTRASAVINGS it would come out to $125.80 with $3.19 shipping. This seems like a pretty good deal, SuperMicro-wise.

 

How does this board stack up against the -F? I'm tempted, but I'm happy with my Atom-based Turbo Encabulator!

 

Happy Shopping!

 

 

It's the same as the -F in every respect except it does not have IPMI. For me that would be a deal killer with a board like this but it's up to you whether you care about IPMI.

IPMI is like a Microwave oven was many years ago ==> you didn't think you needed one UNTIL you had one 

 

... when our Microwave died last year, my wife was upset that it took me 6 HOURS to replace it 

 

IPMI is similar ... once you've had a board that has it, you'll never want one without it !!