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    New build - motherboard replacement (and Hello!)

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    • S
      SilverJS
      last edited by

      Hi all!

      Brand-new poster, glad to be here!  I'm a tinkerer, familiar with FreeNAS (have two separate boxes right now), looking to build a PFSense box.  I have this computer lying around :

      MSI 785GM-P45
      Phenom X3 720
      Scythe Big Shuriken cooler
      Seasonic SS-300ET Power Supply
      8GB Kingston RAM
      Kingston 64GB SSD
      Silverstone ML03B Case

      Runs quite nice, and quietly - but I suppose I'll be told the newer hardware is MUCH more power-efficient, and that appeals to me too.  So, I'd like to request your help in selecting a new motherboard, with the express purpose of running PFSense.  The only requirement is, if at all possible, that I be able to re-use my memory (so, 240-pin DIMM-capable board).  For the rest, the case can take mini- or micro-ATX form factors.  I was

      Right now, my connection is 30Mb/s.  Certainly nothing earth-shattering, but I'd like to keep my options open if I want to upgrade later.  I have my two FreeNAS boxes on the network, 3 Windows 7 PC's, a PS/3, a Mac for the studio, two iPhones and one Android tablet (so far).  Streaming Netflix HD every day.  I'd like to keep the option of VPN'ing for when we travel and use public WiFi's and such.  I was looking at this board for starters :

      http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157513

      (I also have a PCI-E Intel NIC that I could use with this board, should I decide to buy it.)

      Thanks in advance!

      pfSense Rig : SuperMicro X8SIL-F with X3430 Xeon CPU, Shuriken cooler | 12 Gb ECC RAM | Kingston 64GB SSD | Antec VP450 P/S | Silverstone ML03B Case

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      • ?
        Guest
        last edited by

        Alix APU 1d4 $199
        Case + PSU + Board

        • 3 miniPCIe slots
        • 1 SIM slot for modem support
        • mSATA, modem & WiFi card support
        • silent and powerful enough for home usage

        Here in Germany one of the most used platform for pfSense SOHO setups and as a Bundle for 208 €
        Throughput ~735 MBit/s with enabled PowerD in pfSense.

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        • S
          SilverJS
          last edited by

          Web site says they're out of stock until end June…

          And wouldn't that be more expensive overall than just a motherboard?

          pfSense Rig : SuperMicro X8SIL-F with X3430 Xeon CPU, Shuriken cooler | 12 Gb ECC RAM | Kingston 64GB SSD | Antec VP450 P/S | Silverstone ML03B Case

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          • S
            SilverJS
            last edited by

            Or - should I just get a quad Intel nic card and be done with it…?

            pfSense Rig : SuperMicro X8SIL-F with X3430 Xeon CPU, Shuriken cooler | 12 Gb ECC RAM | Kingston 64GB SSD | Antec VP450 P/S | Silverstone ML03B Case

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            • ?
              Guest
              last edited by

              @SilverJS:

              Web site says they're out of stock until end June…

              And wouldn't that be more expensive overall than just a motherboard?

              But all in all enough for your needs and silent on top, also.

              @SilverJS:

              Or - should I just get a quad Intel nic card and be done with it…?

              Can also be a good choice, try buying a Intel i354-t4 or i350-t4 card then.

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              • S
                SilverJS
                last edited by

                What about the Pro/1000PT?  There's a fair bit of those on eBay right now for around 60-70$…

                pfSense Rig : SuperMicro X8SIL-F with X3430 Xeon CPU, Shuriken cooler | 12 Gb ECC RAM | Kingston 64GB SSD | Antec VP450 P/S | Silverstone ML03B Case

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                • E
                  Evad
                  last edited by

                  @SilverJS:

                  What about the Pro/1000PT?  There's a fair bit of those on eBay right now for around 60-70$…

                  The HP NC360T dual gigabit version works fine also. I have 6 of them.
                  May be a little cheaper on ebay. I see several listings from $9.99 to $20

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                  • S
                    SilverJS
                    last edited by

                    Thanks for that, didn't know about it!  Listings I see on eBay.ca roughly come up to half the price of the Intel quad card, so probably better to stick to that, I think - but appreciate the suggestion!

                    pfSense Rig : SuperMicro X8SIL-F with X3430 Xeon CPU, Shuriken cooler | 12 Gb ECC RAM | Kingston 64GB SSD | Antec VP450 P/S | Silverstone ML03B Case

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