SUPERMICRO MBD-C2SEE-O LGA 775 Intel G43 ATX Intel Motherboard

 

$69.99, no promo code or MIR

 

Definitely lacking in features compared to most SuperMicro boards, but wow is it cheap!  One PCIe x16 slot and one PCI x4 slot means that it can run two of the SuperMicro AOC-SASLP-MV8 cards for 22 drive support!  Pair it with a Celeron 430 for a nice low power server.  Also has a regular USB port directly on the motherboard.  Did they make this specifically for unRAID?

 

Biggest disadvantage is lack of IPMI.  Still, for this price, I don't think that's much of a complaint.

Thanks for the heads up. I need to replace my current UnRaid MB, since I stole it from our bedroom HTPC.

 

Anyway, does anyone know if this board works with a Celeron E3200 or E3300 CPU? Both are the same price at NewEgg($52) and only $10 more than the C430($42). I plan on using some extras and think I'll need more over head than a C 430 would provide. I looked up the boards specs here. I didn't see the E3000 series listed, but don't really want to spend $69 for a E5400. I got the CPU list here at NewEgg.

 

Any advise would be great, as I was looking at AMD based boards til this deal came up. I'd like to use it since I believe it is a board that LimeTech uses in some of their servers. This machine needs to be stable and responsive, since this will be the proof of UnRaid to my wife. I need her to have a good impresssion since I plan to go for a Norco 4220 build, once she's convinced. Just for info... this board+CPU will likely not be used in the final 20 disk build, if that matters. I'll likely use a second key for that beast.

Yes it works with a Celeron E3200. I've tested a E3200 in my C2SEA which is the same board minus a couple of features. They share the same bios.

Great I didn't really see any reason it shouldn't, but thought I should ask the experts. You have my gratitude, sir.

 

Thanks,

Michael

I plan on using some extras and think I'll need more over head than a C 430 would provide.

 

Out of curiosity, what extras would require a jump from the Celeron 430 to the E3300? I only ask because I am trying to decide between those two CPUs as well. I haven't decided if my unRAID tower is going to be running 24/7 yet, but if I do run it full-time I imagine the difference in wattage (35W vs. 65W) could make a significant different in annual electricity cost.

 

Any input from the crowd on this topic?

Good motherboard, but really picky on the RAM... make sure and look at the RAM compatibility list..

I plan on using some extras and think I'll need more over head than a C 430 would provide.

 

Out of curiosity, what extras would require a jump from the Celeron 430 to the E3300? I only ask because I am trying to decide between those two CPUs as well. I haven't decided if my unRAID tower is going to be running 24/7 yet, but if I do run it full-time I imagine the difference in wattage (35W vs. 65W) could make a significant different in annual electricity cost.

 

Any input from the crowd on this topic?

 

Something like the Handbrake add-on or running VMs on the server.  Anything CPU-intensive will benefit from a dual core CPU.

 

If you want the best of both worlds (low power usage yet ample processing power when it is needed), go for an i3-530 or 540.  You'll also need a completely different motherboard.

Out of curiosity, what extras would require a jump from the Celeron 430 to the E3300? I only ask because I am trying to decide between those two CPUs as well. I haven't decided if my unRAID tower is going to be running 24/7 yet, but if I do run it full-time I imagine the difference in wattage (35W vs. 65W) could make a significant different in annual electricity cost.

 

Since the E3x00 is a 45nm part and the 430 is a 65nm part I suspect the idle power consumption for both parts to be very similar. The greater processor headroom is what you are buying. I measured 31 watts at the wall for a C2SEA with a E3200 with unRAID booted with no drives attached and no cards plugged in. This was with a 80+ power supply, so probably about 65% efficiency at that low of an output. Thus the processor and motherboard were consuming about 20 watts. Add any load and the E3200 incremental efficiency will be better than the 430. I wish I had a 430 to test under identical conditions, but I'm not quite curious enough to see who wins the efficiency battle and by how much. I can't imagine the difference is more than 3 or 4 watts.

 

I agree with Rajahal that the i3-530 (or G6950) offers even greater processor headroom and excellent power efficiency since they use a 32nm process. The problem is you are still paying a premium for the processor and motherboard right now, but that is changing.