Server motherboard...

[Gerr]

I am building a home server for several services...

Plex

NVR

NAS

Client backup

 

Currently, I have a Xeon E3-1231v3 with 32GB of DDR3-1600 (not ECC), and 11 HDD's though add-on SATA cards.  Right now, I have a spare MSI Z97 PC Mate motherboard that I am going to use for it.  I don't have a lot of money to spend on a proper server/workstation motherboard, but wondering if I should use a different/better mobo instead of that MSI?  If so, what do you recommend?

 

Mobo requirements...

Supports socket 1150 Xeon CPU's.

4 memory slots that support standard desktop memory.

PCIe x16 for basic graphics card.

PCIe x4 for SATA HBA card

2x PCIe x1 for a pair of server NIC's.

6-8 SATA3 ports with RAID support.

Don't care about on-board NIC's/sound cards, or chipsets as long as they support the above list.

 

My current mobo does support all this, but is a low-end Z97 board, so wondering if it can handle the 24/7 work load or if I should get something a little better?

[SLAYR]

It should be fine, the server boards are really only for the ecc support with good care motherboards can last for 10+ years, even running 24/7.

[xgn]

How about asrock e3c224-4L

z97 is consumer grade and not server

[Mikensan]

Properly cooled, that motherboard will last you. I've used a laptop as a server and another laptop as a firewall sitting on the floor in a closet for 2 years, never had an issue. You could even undervolt your processor to take some of the stress off if you wanted to but I don't think you need to. It's a newer processor with fancy features to idle very nicely.

 

The only benefits you'd get out of a server motherboard are IPMI, possibly support more RAM / second CPU slot, anddd ECC. Until you need any of those, I wouldn't really sweat it until you have more money saved up.

 

Otherwise I'd say your setup can handle what you want.

[Gerr]

6 hours ago, xgn said:

How about asrock e3c224-4L

z97 is consumer grade and not server

At that price, I would just spend a little more and get the Asus P9D, which would be my ideal solution, though expensive.

[Gerr]

5 hours ago, Mikensan said:

second CPU slot

Socket 1150 mobo's don't support multiple CPU's, not even using Xeon's.

[Mikensan]

12 hours ago, Gerr said:

Socket 1150 mobo's don't support multiple CPU's, not even using Xeon's.

One less reason to buy a server grade motherboard. Honestly didn't pay attention to which cpu you were using.