[SGVLUG] Low-power Gb server mobos

[Michael Proctor-Smith]

On Mon, May 19, 2008 at 11:35 AM, Dustin Laurence <dustin at laurences.net> wrote:
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> Since there was some discussion of mobos, low-power computing, and, I am
> thinking about how I might build a different sort of computer: low-power
> server, but without much in the way of performance compromises. Main
> requirements: Gb ethernet and large fast disks. My initial thought was
> Via, and a check says you can buy C7 boards with dual Gb ports and SATA
> II pretty cheap, but here's my worry: Gb ethernet does not equal Gb
> speeds, and the expansion slot on these boards is always PCI, which Gb
> ethernet easily saturates. My guess is that indicates the onboard
> ethernet controllers are hooked up to the PCI bus and is limited to PCI
> speeds.
>
> So my question: what do you need to get a small efficient board that can
> ~ really use it's Gb ports? Is that possible with a C7 board or something
> like it, or do you pretty much have to get a PCI-Express board with a
> desktop CPU and all the power consumption that implies to do it?

The real question is do you need a small form factor of just want low
power? You may want to see if the new Atom processors are put in a
desktop  socket or if a board with Gb ethernet comes into existence,
they are pretty sweet with 4W TDP per core.

Still no on-board Gb ehernet but a massive increase in cpu power from
an Intel Atom-based Mini-ITX motherboard
http://www.tranquilpc-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Motherboards.html

Also the intel chipset in that board is probably going to give you
better IO then the chipset on the via boards.