So I have an i5 2500k lying around after I bought an i7 3770k for around 130$ as part of the Intel Retail Edge program.

 

What direction should I go with it?  I currently have a great unraid setup that I've been using for over 2 years.  That server is running a Supermicro - X7SPA-HF with an Atom processor.  It does everything that I've wanted to do until now- I want to start using Plex and that poor Atom doesn't have the power to transcode anything.

 

I'm thinking about virtualizing my unraid install.  If needed, I can swap the i5 with my i7 and use that as the processor in a new server.  Any recommendations for mobos etc (I'd love another board with IPMI)?  Is anyone running a similar, virtualized setup? 

IPMI comes with a server board and chipset...which in turn requires ECC memory, which your i5 or i7 does not support.

 

If you want to do ESXi and use vt-d your i5 does not support that either...your i7 might (most likely).

Edit: ...does not either, see: http://ark.intel.com/products/65523

 

A good 1155 desktop board, that is confirmed to support vt-d is the ASrock B75-Pro3-M.

If you want to stay wth the mini-ITX form factor, this is an excellent board to update an X7SPA system with:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131841

 

... and would work very nicely with either of your CPU's.

 

IPMI comes with a server board and chipset...which in turn requires ECC memory, which your i5 or i7 does not support.

 

If you want to do ESXi and use vt-d your i5 does not support that either...your i7 might (most likely).

Edit: ...does not either, see: http://ark.intel.com/products/65523

 

A good 1155 desktop board, that is confirmed to support vt-d is the ASrock B75-Pro3-M.

Damn, that's a major bummer.  Guess I'll just use the 2500k to upgrade my HTPC (which will end up being overkill).  If anything, I'll run Plex on the HTPC.

 

Thanks a lot guys for the help as always.  Guess Virtualization is out of the reach (price wise) for now.