answer me this ...

[hotdog]

I want to build a fileserver using an i3 cpu. I know it has onboard graphics so what is the best mobo to team it with (i.e cool and low powered).

I was looking at the H67 line of boards but i realise that these have onboard GPU - is it best to continue to look at these or should i be looking elsewhere?
It just seemed odd to buy a h67 if it has spec that i possibly wont use...

What would be my next option>

 

[Surveyor]

I want to build a fileserver using an i3 cpu. I know it has onboard graphics so what is the best mobo to team it with (i.e cool and low powered).

I was looking at the H67 line of boards but i realise that these have onboard GPU - is it best to continue to look at these or should i be looking elsewhere?
It just seemed odd to buy a h67 if it has spec that i possibly wont use...

What would be my next option>

The H67 boards don't have an onboard GPU.

They have outputs which use the integrated GPU on the processor.

 

[cmndr_andi]

The H67 boards don't have an onboard GPU.

They have outputs which use the integrated GPU on the processor.

+1

If you are building a file server then using the GPU that is included on the CPU and using a H67 (or H61) board seems like a good idea to me, as it is powerful enough, cuts down on costs and saves power - compared to using a discrete graphics card.

Also, I would imagine that the number of SATA ports on the motherboard are important for your file server. If you need more than are offered on the H61 or H67 boards then you may want to consider some of the Z68 boards, as some of these will have more (as they are higher-end boards).

 

[sypher365]

If your just after a fileserver have a look at HP Proliant Microserver 4 BAY this thread has a lot more info after cash back you should be able to get it for sub £125.

Alternativly look at a atom or fusion board with onboard cpu such as Asus AMD E35M1-M PRO AMD Hudson

The above options will give you a system you can put whatever OS/software you want on it to run if you want to do a little more in the future than just filestore but if you just want filestore a NAS (Network Attached Storage) such a synology box may do everything you want.

 

[hotdog]

Thanks that explains it to me a bit better.

I have seen the HP proliant link before but as i have loads of old but goods quality bits of kit i was thinking about going down this route for my file server :-

Kit in loft connected via cat6 - noise isnt an issue power is.

Celeron G440 (30) - i beleive this is really low pwered although no speedstep so idle power is not great, any thoughts?
Any low power H67 mobo
Cheap ddr3 ram 4gig
Eco 2Tb HDD
PSU,case and all the other gubbins i have including 2x320gig and 1x500gig HDD

What are your thoughts?

 

[alex24]

Get something like this instead, maybe a cheaper version. As you can see, it's still quite versatile, don't see the point in building a whole PC for a fileserver. It'll probably use more power if that's so important, so get a NAS.

 

[hotdog]

Street Price: £335 inc. VAT !

the pc build will be £150 max

 

[sypher365]

If you have other bits of kit and are set on building a system and mainly just need cpu/board/memory the fusion board with 4gb ram shouldn't cost more than £135 and will be low power.

Alternativly for a little more juice could go for a Llano build

AMD Llano A4-3400 2.70GHz (Socket FM1) £55-60
MSI A75MA-G55 AMD Hudson D3 (Socket FM1) DDR3 Llano MIcro-ATX Motherboard or ASROCK SKT-FM1 A75M-ITX M-ITX £65-70
Crucial Ballistix Sport 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Dual Channel Kit This Week Only Offer £21.59
Should still be just under £150 and low power again

But the HP microserver is best value for what you get and all you need to do is add harddrives and possible another stick of ram and your good to go.

 

[Hagar]

Western Digital Caviar Green 2TB SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache - OEM (WD20EARX) £63.98
(£53.32) £63.98
(£53.32)
MSI 880GMS-E35 AMD 880G (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard £51.98
(£43.32) £51.98
(£43.32)
AMD Athlon II X2 Dual Core 250 3.00GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail £44.99
(£37.49) £44.99
(£37.49)
Corsair Value 2GB (1x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Low-Voltage Single Channel Module (VS2GB1333D3) £14.99
(£12.49) £14.99
(£12.49)
Sub Total : £146.62
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £9.50
VAT is being charged at 20.00% VAT : £31.22
Total : £187.34