Hi end motherboard with on board serial port

[pla]

Hello

I'm building a new file server/workstation (no heavy graphics) and I'm looking for a hi end motherboard, preferably 1366 but 1155 is also a possibility, but due to some legacy SW it has to come with a on board serial (COM) port (USB <-> serial devices doesn't work...)

Must have's:
* On board serial port
* USB 3.0, preferably >= 4 ports
* 2 x 1GB LAN
* eSATA
* >= 16GB RAM

Cost is of no importance

Any idea's?

Thanks

 

[compulsivebuilder]

Does the port have to be on-board? Could you use a serial board in a PCI or PCIe slot?

 

[pla]

Does the port have to be on-board? Could you use a serial board in a PCI or PCIe slot?

Unfortunately it has to be on board. I have previously tried using a serial board in a PCI slot, but for some reason it didn't work.

 

[o1die]

Newegg has an ecs black deluxe P67-H2 A2-sli for $99.99 after rebate. Don't focus on the negative reviews. Most of them are from enthusiasts who need sli or expect every p67 board to overclock well. This board has everything you could want except the serial port. You can buy a pci card with one serial and one parallel port for $8.49 plus $2.49 shipping at zagall.com, listed on pricewatch under "controller cards-serial". This is your best option for a modern board and will work with any 1155 cpu. I've used ecs before, and they're customer service has improved. They are still the third largest maker of motherboards in the world, so they must be doing something right. I recommend the i5 2400 with it, since you don't overclock. If you are still leary of an separate pci card for the serial port, newegg has a basic shellshocker 1155 combo special for $244 this morning with a basic board with the serial port. It doesn't have any newer e-sata or dual lan ports you want. I still recommend the first option with windows 7. The card should come with some software to get it running properly.

 

[jaquith]

Many of the Server MOBO's SuperMicro & Tyan will have an onboard Serial port in LGA 1155 and 1366 and multi-CPU 1366, the 'problem' is most all don't have USB 3.0. The SR-2 LGA 1366 'high-end' has USB 3.0 but no serial.

Therefore, the next questions:
1. what type CPU? Xeon or Consumer.
2. is USB 3.0 add-on card acceptable?

 

[pla]

Many of the Server MOBO's SuperMicro & Tyan will have an onboard Serial port in LGA 1155 and 1366 and multi-CPU 1366, the 'problem' is most all don't have USB 3.0. The SR-2 LGA 1366 'high-end' has USB 3.0 but no serial.

Therefore, the next questions:
1. what type CPU? Xeon or Consumer.
2. is USB 3.0 add-on card acceptable?

USB add-on card is a possibility, but I would prefer not to.

I have so far found three alternatives. All three have on-board serial port, eSATA and USB 3.0, but none of them have more than one GB LAN. I think I will look some more.

The three are:
* ASROCK x58 Extreme6
* ASUS Sabertooth x58
* MSI x58A GD65

 

[tokencode]

There ar emany different qualities of USB to Serial adapters, are you 100% sure this is not an option? There are also TCP to Serial adapters that plug right into your network...

 

[jaquith]

...I'm building a new file server/workstation... preferably 1366 but 1155 is also a possibility...

The three are:
* ASROCK x58 Extreme6
* ASUS Sabertooth x58
* MSI x58A GD65

This is nothing that I would recommend, it's like using Pliers, instead of a Screwdriver, to unscrew a screw.

File Servers & Workstations are best suited with: Xeon, ECC RAM, and RAID {TLER HDDs}. Further, Dual LAN {Teaming} your Router MUST support that feature, and most do NOT and I've never seen broadband 'freebee' router with that feature.

ASRock X58 EXTREME6 - No Serial
ASUS Sabertooth X58 - No Serial
MSI X58A-GD65 - No Serial

Please clarify what's your version of "On board serial port"?

This is a Serial Port {DE-9}:

This is a PS/2 Port {Mini-DIN 6-pin}:

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

Right now very few of our "6" series board will offer support for serial db9. Of late what we have done is place a header on the board that you can connect a header to DB9 connection that will fit into one of the PCI outs on the chassis like this one http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=120-2708-BULK&cat=CBL. After taking a little time to look a bunch of the Intel® Boards right the only one that I saw was the DQ67SW that has this header http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/motherboards/DH57DD/DH57DD-overview.htm. Now I didnt go through every single one of the boards but I did check all of the x58s that we have.

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team

 

[jaquith]

^I/We are still trying to figure-out what EXACT "Serial" port the OP is referring??!!

Q - will an 'Add-On' Serial work exactly the same i.e. native onboard Serial?

I KNOW USB 3.0, currently, is not native {not matter how it's 'installed'} whereas an add-on USB 3.0 Card vs onboard non-native makes no difference.

RS232 DE-9 {correct name} = DB-9 {incorrect name} http://wiki.xtronics.com/index.php/RS232_DB9_pinout

 

[pla]

There ar emany different qualities of USB to Serial adapters, are you 100% sure this is not an option? There are also TCP to Serial adapters that plug right into your network...

Yes, I'm sure. I currently use a Digi PortServer TS 16 (TPC <-> serial) for all serial connections except the one which has to be connected to an on-board connector.

 

[pla]

This is nothing that I would recommend, it's like using Pliers, instead of a Screwdriver, to unscrew a screw.

File Servers & Workstations are best suited with: Xeon, ECC RAM, and RAID {TLER HDDs}. Further, Dual LAN {Teaming} your Router MUST support that feature, and most do NOT and I've never seen broadband 'freebee' router with that feature.

ASRock X58 EXTREME6 - No Serial
ASUS Sabertooth X58 - No Serial
MSI X58A-GD65 - No Serial

Please clarify what's your version of "On board serial port"?

This is a Serial Port {DE-9}:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/DE9_Diagram.svg/176px-DE9_Diagram.svg.png

This is a PS/2 Port {Mini-DIN 6-pin}:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped....svg/150px-MiniDIN-6_Connector_Pinout.svg.png

I should have been more clear. What I need (and what the motherboards mentioned supports) is a serial port header on the motherboard itself. I haven't seen an actual physical serial port (DE-9) on a motherboard for years.

I need two LAN connectors because I'm connecting to two physical, separate networks.

 

[jaquith]

I have a Server room stacked with LGA 1366 servers and most of them have DE-9.

Examples with I/O serial; no I didn't look for all the other 'stuff' - just illustrating Serial @ I/O is still around.
MBD-X8STI-F-O LGA 1366 -> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182173
MBD-X9SCM-O LGA 1155 -> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182254
MBD-X8DAH+-O Dual LGA 1366 -> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182176
etc...

You want a "COM port header" - the problems is as soon as Dual LAN + USB 3.0 was added - poof goes the COM.

MSI Eclipse Plus - http://www.msi.com/product/mb/Eclipse-Plus.html#?div=Detail
MSI Eclipse SLI - http://www.msi.com/product/mb/Eclipse-SLI.html#?div=Detail
Refurbished & Cheap -> http://www.bluewaveteck.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ECLIPSESLI-REFURB ; no USB 3.0, but otherwise has what you listed.

ECS X58B-A - http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Product/Product_Detail.aspx?DetailID=947&CategoryID=1&DetailName=Feature&MenuID=14&LanID=9#Socket 1366 ; no USB 3.0

 

[adellaci]

^I/We are still trying to figure-out what EXACT "Serial" port the OP is referring??!!

Q - will an 'Add-On' Serial work exactly the same i.e. native onboard Serial?

I KNOW USB 3.0, currently, is not native {not matter how it's 'installed'} whereas an add-on USB 3.0 Card vs onboard non-native makes no difference.

RS232 DE-9 {correct name} = DB-9 {incorrect name} http://wiki.xtronics.com/index.php/RS232_DB9_pinout

They do not work exactly the same. Tipically address and IRQ are assigned based on the slot on the mother board it is place in. I suspect he wants on board because he need the com poorts tyo have legecy resources assigned to it. It is the very same issue i'm having.