WHS 2011 Build: Motherboard Selection

[tpthatsme]

Hello Tomshardware Forum, I am ready to turn in my WHS v1 and build a new WHS 2011! I had all my parts selected and then discovered that many people have motherboard selection problems. It seems that motherboard manufactures aren't on board with WHS 2011 yet (officially). So, here it goes with the template:

Approximate Purchase Date: June/July 2011

Budget Range: $600-$800

System Usage from Most to Least Important: File server, media server, web server, ftp server (90% intranet, 10% internet)

Parts Not Required: SATA harddrives, monitor, keyboard, mouse

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com, amazon.com

Country of Origin: United States

Parts Preferences: Intel

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080 or better

Current Parts List::
Intel Core i5-2400S Sandy Bridge 2.5GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115075

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231275

CORSAIR CX500 500W ATX12V Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139018

ASUS DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Case (Micro-ATX or Mini-ITX; depends on the motherboard):
Lian Li PC-V354B
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112300
Lian Li PC-Q08B
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112265

I have looked the following motherboard manufactures and can not find any Windows Server 2008 R2 or WHS 2011 driver support: Intel, ASUS, Gigabyte, ASRock. I have read that if the motherboard takes Windows 7 64-bit drivers, then it will work... or if it is H67, it will work. However, I have also read that many people have problems finding driver support for the same H67 64-bit boards. Does anyone have a good suggestion for a WHS 2011 motherboard that has the following:

Micro-ATX or Mini-ITX
6 SATA 3.0 Gbps
1 eSATA
2-4 DIMM
HDMI
USB3
RAID 0,1,5

Thanks for all your support!

 

[curaven]

Hello Tomshardware Forum, I am ready to turn in my WHS v1 and build a new WHS 2011! I had all my parts selected and then discovered that many people have motherboard selection problems. It seems that motherboard manufactures aren't on board with WHS 2011 yet (officially). So, here it goes with the template:

Approximate Purchase Date: June/July 2011

Budget Range: $600-$800

System Usage from Most to Least Important: File server, media server, web server, ftp server (90% intranet, 10% internet)

Parts Not Required: SATA harddrives, monitor, keyboard, mouse

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com, amazon.com

Country of Origin: United States

Parts Preferences: Intel

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080 or better

Current Parts List::
Intel Core i5-2400S Sandy Bridge 2.5GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115075

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231275

CORSAIR CX500 500W ATX12V Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139018

ASUS DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Case (Micro-ATX or Mini-ITX; depends on the motherboard):
Lian Li PC-V354B
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112300
Lian Li PC-Q08B
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112265

I have looked the following motherboard manufactures and can not find any Windows Server 2008 R2 or WHS 2011 driver support: Intel, ASUS, Gigabyte, ASRock. I have read that if the motherboard takes Windows 7 64-bit drivers, then it will work... or if it is H67, it will work. However, I have also read that many people have problems finding driver support for the same H67 64-bit boards. Does anyone have a good suggestion for a WHS 2011 motherboard that has the following:

Micro-ATX or Mini-ITX
6 SATA 3.0 Gbps
1 eSATA
2-4 DIMM
HDMI
USB3
RAID 0,1,5

Thanks for all your support!

I can telll you what not to buy or you'll be stuck like me. ASUS. They flat out told me they will not support WHS 2011 on my P8P67.
I'm on my own personal crusade against anyone else having to deal with this.

 

[tpthatsme]

I can telll you what not to buy or you'll be stuck like me. ASUS. They flat out told me they will not support WHS 2011 on my P8P67.

Not all ASUS are the same I guess. All my drivers worked on my WHS2011 and I couldn't be happier. All the components I used are on Newegg's wishlist under Windows Home Server 2011 - tpthatsme. I used an ASUS P8Z68-M Pro board with an i5 2500K processor. I followed ASUS recommended RAM and everything is great.

Did all the drivers load upon installation? No. I had to update them individually. Anyway, I just wanted to put in writing on a successful home built WHS 2011 because I had a very hard time finding any information about motherboards that support WHS 2011.