Hi. After some debate raised on compatible SATA RAID cards which unraid supports, Im thinking maybe (just maybe) it would be better to replace the mobo with a compatible mobo, which does the following:

 

1). Fully supports unraid, ie: NIC, SATA interfaces, WOL, maybe a onboard VGA...(Not a requirement, but would be great)

 

2). Would be better if it could support a AM2/3 CPU. I have a AMD Athlon II X2 Dual Core 240 2.8GHz CPU (Or just an AMD, I'll buy a compatible CPU if need be). AMD are value for money and for unraid use, but if it led to buying an Intet CPU for this functionality, I would have to consider this.

 

3). Most importantly, it has to sport the most SATA interfaces, Im thinking like 10 or 12 (Me thinks 12 is wishful thinking), but 12 disks would be the most I'm planning to run.

 

I could settle for a PCIe SATA RAID controller, but if I could just buy a AMD compatible mobo which has these attributes, it would seem better to use onboard SATA interfaces, directly on the mobo. Is this an overkill? Should I just buy a PCIe 16x SATA RAID controller? Your thought....

 

Thanks.

get a 2ndhand asus m3amvp and populate the 4 pcie slots with raid cards

 

the amd sb600/650 is pretty crap imo, just sell up and go intel

I don't want to have a AMD/Intel CPU debate here , I am Intel man, still am, but for unraid, why bother with Intel, both AMD and Intel can do the same job and for unraids processing power, to be use an Intel would be like using a V8 in push bike (my opinion I think). It looks like a good board that you suggested, but only has 6 SATA port, but it has x3 16x PCIe slots out weighs the shortcoming. I'm still keen for direct SATA interface ports on the mobo, but it looks like to be a mirage in the dessers, from my googling I did on it today.

yeah but youre after features. we know that any modern cpu is overkill for unraid. intels current ich had 6 sata native while the sb600 only has 4. the sb750 has 6 but you wont find it on midrange boards, let alone something slightly cheaper.

 

the _only_ desktop board i know that has 10 sata prts (that will work as plain sata ports) is teh ga 680 dq6, but its an old board which sucks power like no tomorrow.

I just had a look at the GA-N680SLI-DQ6, it is sweet board, but it doesn't seem it is in production anymore like you mentioned  . I'm using the GA-MA770-US3 board and it only has 1 16x PCIe. I can't get confirmation wither it supports a 16x PCIe SATA controller card.

SB700 supports 6 sata ports as does its replacement the SB710. Get a SB710 if possible. Anymore and it means the M/B manufacturer has added a sata device onboard.