Hello,
Posting here as this is essentially about choosing an HTPC motherboard but not for an HTPC ;D.
I’m looking for a motherboard+CPU to replace my Celeron 700MHz-based Debian home file/data server + router, motivations being move to full disk encryption and noise/power reduction. It currently comprises 512MB RAM, 2*SATA WD RE via PCI card, built-in 100Mbit and PCI card Gbit NIC, and a CD reader which I hardly ever use, all in a full ATX case.
Put another way, my requirements seem to be something forgettable for another 5-10 years which has/is:
(1) Enough horsepower that the 256bit AES and minimal database/other plaything duties are not going to be a bottleneck, given 2-3 clients maximum;
(2) Fanless;
(3) Low power;
(4) 1*Gbit NIC, and 1*100Mbit NIC, possibly via add-in card;
(5) At least 2 SATA ports.
Bonuses would be:
(6) More SATA ports or IDE;
(7) Spare PCI slots, just in case;
(8 ) A nice long warranty.
The Intel D510MO seems as if it will satisfy (1) to (5) nicely, but not (6) unless I get a PCI express card, not (7), and I’m not sure about (8 ). Some boards seem to focus on expandability but have less powerful CPUs (although I think VIA’s Padlock hardware acceleration can be exploited for 256-bit AES?); others seem to deliver lots including nice graphics, which is of course irrelevant to me.
What do you guys think?
.
