I am after a motherboard around which I can base an unraid system in a Norco RPC-4224 case.
This means being equipped one way or another for 24 drive connectivity.
The case exposes 6 mini SAS connectors, so in unraid circles, it tends to be the case that a pair of supermicro AOC-SASLP-MV8 PCI-E (x4) cards accounts for four of these, and the other two are handled by SAS->4-way SATA breakout cables, into SATA on the motherboard. A further SATA PCI-E card can account for any stragglers should the mobo have <8 SATA connectors.
So. What I'm after is a motherboard which is
a) Dirt cheap (~£50)
b) Has two 4x capable PCI-E slots.
c) Has eight onboard SATA ports OR six ports and an additional 1x PCI-E slot for a 2 port SATA card.
The closest I have been able to find is the ASROCK M3A770DE, which satisfies a) and b), but has only 4 onboard SATA ports. The discontinued Jetway JHZ03-GT-V2-LF would do it, but cant be had, and I would prefer 8 onboard SATA ports to save from having a third card in there. Any and all suggestions are of course gratefully received!
This means being equipped one way or another for 24 drive connectivity.
The case exposes 6 mini SAS connectors, so in unraid circles, it tends to be the case that a pair of supermicro AOC-SASLP-MV8 PCI-E (x4) cards accounts for four of these, and the other two are handled by SAS->4-way SATA breakout cables, into SATA on the motherboard. A further SATA PCI-E card can account for any stragglers should the mobo have <8 SATA connectors.
So. What I'm after is a motherboard which is
a) Dirt cheap (~£50)
b) Has two 4x capable PCI-E slots.
c) Has eight onboard SATA ports OR six ports and an additional 1x PCI-E slot for a 2 port SATA card.
The closest I have been able to find is the ASROCK M3A770DE, which satisfies a) and b), but has only 4 onboard SATA ports. The discontinued Jetway JHZ03-GT-V2-LF would do it, but cant be had, and I would prefer 8 onboard SATA ports to save from having a third card in there. Any and all suggestions are of course gratefully received!