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    Pfsense custom build help $450 budget from ($200)

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Hardware
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    • S
      switchman
      last edited by

      I agree, if you are going ECC anyway, go with the MBD-A1SRI-2758F-O.

      Get a good mini-itx case.

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      • L
        lweddin1
        last edited by

        One is a mini-itx board and the other is micro atx. The Micro is only stated to use ECC and non ECC. It also has two pci slots.8x & 4X along with 7 USB ports 2.0 only

        while the mini-its has usb 3.0 and can only use ECC and has 1 pic slot 8x

        Mini-Itx
        http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/Atom/X10/A1SRi-2758F.cfm

        Micro-Atx
        http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/Atom/X10/A1SRM-2758F.cfm

        The A1SRI-2758F is DIFFERENT from the A1SRM-2758F

        I just bought this on Amazon "I couldn't found it on Newegg….. Now I just need to find the ram I want along side a good wireless card. Please any suggestions on a card and ram???
        http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GO9E61K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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        • K
          kroberts
          last edited by

          I bought this one, which I don't think has been mentioned yet:  http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/Atom/X10/A1SRM-LN7F-2758.cfm

          The advantage is 7x Intel nics, 6 of which can be failover pairs.

          The disadvantage is a single PCIe v2 4-lane slot.

          I chose 16gb ecc registered memory as 2 8gb sticks, so I can upgrade to 16gb.  I intend to run pfSense as a VM and use the remaining CPU for other VMs.  If there is still available performance and not enough RAM I can double it without wasting money on these sticks.  Also according to my manual this board has a minimum configuration of 8gb in 2x 4gb sticks.

          I also have an OCZ Vector 150 240gb ssd and a 500gb spinning rust drive.

          Gotta say though, I more than doubled your "bigger" budget.  Not a lot of peripherals but they pack a punch right to your bank account.

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          • L
            lweddin1
            last edited by

            @kroberts:

            I bought this one, which I don't think has been mentioned yet:  http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/Atom/X10/A1SRM-LN7F-2758.cfm

            The advantage is 7x Intel nics, 6 of which can be failover pairs.

            The disadvantage is a single PCIe v2 4-lane slot.

            I chose 16gb ecc registered memory as 2 8gb sticks, so I can upgrade to 16gb.  I intend to run pfSense as a VM and use the remaining CPU for other VMs.  If there is still available performance and not enough RAM I can double it without wasting money on these sticks.  Also according to my manual this board has a minimum configuration of 8gb in 2x 4gb sticks.

            I also have an OCZ Vector 150 240gb ssd and a 500gb spinning rust drive.

            Gotta say though, I more than doubled your "bigger" budget.  Not a lot of peripherals but they pack a punch right to your bank account.

            Thats cool on " doubled: budget. I came into this project not knowing what cost would be. But anyways back to my topic I got my motherboard picked out now I just need to get some quality ram. Once I get everything I will post pictures & I am sure you will see me around asking the questions.

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            • S
              switchman
              last edited by

              Did you look at the tested Ram?
              http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/atom/x10/a1srm-2758f.cfm

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              • K
                kroberts
                last edited by

                @lweddin1,

                You'll see me around asking questions too.  I started first but if your router project is in the fast lane you'll probably finish first.  I have lots of honey-do's and other projects that are keeping my c2758 in the 'assembled but no operating system' state.

                @switchman,

                More important than the tested RAM IMO is to look in the owner's manual and check the supported memory configurations.  As I said earlier, my board (not the OP's chosen board) supports a minimum of 8 gb.

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                • S
                  switchman
                  last edited by

                  Agreed on looking at the manual.

                  I also like Crucial memory

                  http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Supermicro/a1srm-2758f

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                  • K
                    kejianshi
                    last edited by

                    I'd love it if you could get mushkin ram.  Its never ever been flakey, finiky or failed me.  Alswys just works.  Not sure if they sell it for your box or not but I suspect yes.  They do server ram and do it well.

                    (couldn't find any low profile ram with mushkin for that  )-:

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                    • K
                      kroberts
                      last edited by

                      One thing about my board is it takes standard sized sticks. And when I got it the ecc registered memory was only about $4 more per stick than non-ecc for 8g sticks. Which brings me to another idea.

                      When I was shopping I noticed that there wasn't much difference between 4g and 8g sticks. I don't know exactly how fast the c2758 is but a 64g max memory and support for VT-x gives me hope that it will support not only a full pfSense install but also a few other VMs.

                      If you have the cash and bigger sticks aren't much more than littler sticks you might consider going to more memory. It won't hurt anything to be sure.

                      I don't have a favorite brand of memory but I do stick to the folks who have been doing it awhile and google for problems before buying a specific stick.

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                      • L
                        lweddin1
                        last edited by

                        @kroberts:

                        One thing about my board is it takes standard sized sticks. And when I got it the ecc registered memory was only about $4 more per stick than non-ecc for 8g sticks. Which brings me to another idea.

                        When I was shopping I noticed that there wasn't much difference between 4g and 8g sticks. I don't know exactly how fast the c2758 is but a 64g max memory and support for VT-x gives me hope that it will support not only a full pfSense install but also a few other VMs.

                        If you have the cash and bigger sticks aren't much more than littler sticks you might consider going to more memory. It won't hurt anything to be sure.

                        I don't have a favorite brand of memory but I do stick to the folks who have been doing it awhile and google for problems before buying a specific stick.

                        I am just going to pick up found it on Amazon for cheaper. On newegg they are $187
                        http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-2x8GB-10600-KVR1333D3E9SK2-16G/dp/B0064R7LH8#customerReviews

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                        • M
                          messerchmidt
                          last edited by

                          ecc on intel will be expensive. Probably past your budget point.

                          cheaper on amd if you use am asus board, which tend to support ecc. They tend to use a bit more power, but will save you a lot.

                          just add intel nics from ebay or such.

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                          • L
                            lweddin1
                            last edited by

                            I got my Motherboard and Case still waiting on the hard drive and the ram.

                            I with with 16GB of ECC kingston
                            http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0ZX2C36260&cm_re=KVR1333D3E9SK2--20-139-979--Product

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                            • K
                              kroberts
                              last edited by

                              From amazon? I got my ssd and ram from amazon, more than $500 worth of hardware came in an envelope in my mailbox. I was a little bent.

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                              • L
                                lweddin1
                                last edited by

                                @kroberts:

                                From amazon? I got my ssd and ram from amazon, more than $500 worth of hardware came in an envelope in my mailbox. I was a little bent.

                                The ram is from Amazon, I will post an update on what the package comes in. The hard drive is from Newegg.

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                                • M
                                  messerchmidt
                                  last edited by

                                  the people at the freenas forum went all anti Kingston after they messed around with their part numbers. most recommend crucial now. what i used on my freenas build

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