Current gold standard in ATX/Micro ATX MBs with ECC?

[tucansam]

I need to add an 8-port SATA controller (and eventually two) to my server, and it looks like I need to upgrade my MB to do so.

 

Might as well spend the money and get a true server-class board with ECC support.

 

Lots of options out there.  I don't do anything on unraid except unraid, no need for transcoding, SAB, etc,. or a high end CPU.

 

Couple of PCIe x8/16 slots would be nice.  ECC support is a must.  Onboard SATA, well, if I'm going to run a pair of controllers, is there any benefit to using onboard?  Might as well use the breakout cables and clean the inside up to promote airflow.

 

Any suggestions on the current gold standard (budget gold standard, lol) in server-class motherboards?

 

Thanks.

[garycase]

"Budget gold standard" ==> ECC but still unbuffered 

 

I'd go with any of the SuperMicro Haswell boards:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007629%2050001655%20600452057&IsNodeId=1&name=SuperMicro

 

(The primary difference is the specific set of expansion slots -- so be sure the board you choose has what you want.

[garycase]

is there any benefit to using onboard?

 

Gives you a few more SATA ports, and saves a bit of bandwidth on the PCIe expansion bus.    But there's no speed difference as long as you're using expansion cards with enough bandwidth to handle the drives you're connecting.

 

[prostuff1]

I still prefer the X9SCM-iiF as it has more PCIe slots in it than the newer X10 boards.

 

The X9SCM-iiF with an intel G1620 should give you more than enough power for plain unRAID

[garycase]

Agree the Ivy Bridge boards are also excellent, if you don't mind not having the "current" gold standard