Aceshardware

I'm looking to build a new server in the near future. I've decided upon using a Adaptec 3405 RAID controller that requires a PCIe x4 slot. I'm not looking anything in particular, but I'm giving preference to boards with have faster memory support, supports the new 45nm Intel Processor (particularly the e8400), expansion slots (PCIe 1x and to a lesser extent PCI), integrated NICs (I know most have one, but 2 would be nice), integrated video (not really an issue when I can get one for ~$30). I'm also not looking to spend a whole lot on the motherboard, unless it fits what I want well.

I've come across 3 motherboards that I'm leaning to, which are: ASUS P5K-VM, BIOSTAR P35D2-A7, and BIOSTAR TP35D2-A7. Are there other motherboards I should consider? I haven't really considered just plugging the card into a PCIe x16 slot, should I just go forget finding a motherboard with a PCIe x4 I like and just use a PCIe x16 slot? I seem to remember reading in a forum that some (or just one) motherboards that have multiple PCIe x16 slots has issues when something else besides a graphics card is plugged into one of these slots. Is there any truth to this statement? I'm sort of doubting it myself.

If you wouldn't mind running a single Xeon 771 in a 2S board there are some nice SuperMicro boards based on teh 5100 chipset that use DDR2 (up to 24GB in 5 slots IIRC)

Try it with any x16 Slot first, all the last (AMD) board tests that I have red worked with a non graphics card (x1 network card).

So I assume that the probability is quite high. It is just a bios issue. You may also ask the different support hotlines, maybe they know something :)

cheers

Opteron