e_dogg

Awhile back, I ran into a bunch of data corruption issues with my WHS box. So I sent the motherboard (Asus M3A78-EM) in for Asus to inspect it and they did some repairs to it. One of them was to the "modular network jack".

Well, I recently received the mobo back from RMA and finished putting it back together tonight. I turned the machine on and now, no network.

I need to use the box within the next few days so I don't have time to wait another month for the RMA process. I'm going to go to Fry's tomorrow to pick up a new mobo (probably a Gigabyte this time).

When I install it, what do I need to do in order to get it up and running? I know that a mobo replacement typically requires an OS reinstall. Are there any special steps I need to take for Windows Home Server?

__________________

Gizmo

A different mobo could certainly warrant a new install. Best bet is to boot into safemode, remove any and every driver you can find, and then reboot. Even then, there may be some latent motherboard drivers running in safemode that'll give less than perfect performance.

e_dogg

Cool, thanks.

I'm ok with doing an OS reinstall. I just don't want to accidentally lose any data. Will there be any issues with user permissions? I've copied all of my data off of the box so I can copy it back over. But some data is in the various "users" folders - will just copying the data over cause problems?

__________________

DuckieHo

If the chipsets are close, you don't need a reformat.

There's an ECS 740G for $33 AR. You won't need to reformat moving to that. As a bonus, it comes with an Atheros NIC.

__________________
To answer most of your questions: (1) a fridge cannot cool a PC (2) 64-bit OS for over 3.4GB (3) If a PCIe card fits, it should work (4) Resolution, not screen size (5) If you have a question, it is not news (6) Report, not respond to Spam (7) Single-Rail/Non-Modular PSUs are not always better than Multi-Rail/Modular

e_dogg

That's good to know - thanks! The mobo I have is a 780G chipset. Would a 740G, 760G, or 760GX require a reinstall?

I saw your deal post about that a few days ago. How is the ECS brand? They've always seemed a bit sketchy to me.

Unfortunately, though, I'm not going to be able to order online. I need to have the server up this weekend so I'm going to stop at Fry's on the way home from work.

I'm planning on getting a Gigabyte mobo this time. The DS3L I have in my sig rig has been very stable for the year or so that I've had it. I'm pretty disenchanted with Asus now, since this is the 2nd mobo that's returned from RMA with problems.

After looking at their site, I see the following Gigabyte options. I'm not sure what the differences between all of them are so I've got a little research to do.

Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-DS2H

Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-US2H

Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-UD2H

Gigabyte GA-78GM-S2H

Here's their list of AM2+ motherboards. And here's their list of AM3 motherboards. Are there any suggestions that I'm overlooking?

The only thing I really care about is reliability. My server isn't going to be overclocked or anything. And it's going to run headless. So I just need something that will run and not break like my Asus did.

__________________

DuckieHo

You should not need to restall with any AMD 7-series chipset.

My ECS 740G has been running 24/7 for over year. It also has an Atheros NIC as opposed to a Realtek NIC.


Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-DS2H = 780G, SidePort memory, 0/1/10
Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-US2H = 780G, 0/1/10/JBOD
Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-UD2H = 780G, SidePort memory, 0/1/10/JBOD
Gigabyte GA-78GM-S2H = 785G, 0/1/10/JBOD


Why not a cheaper 740 or 770 chipset?

__________________
To answer most of your questions: (1) a fridge cannot cool a PC (2) 64-bit OS for over 3.4GB (3) If a PCIe card fits, it should work (4) Resolution, not screen size (5) If you have a question, it is not news (6) Report, not respond to Spam (7) Single-Rail/Non-Modular PSUs are not always better than Multi-Rail/Modular

e_dogg

Excellent.

Ok, that's good to know. I've always thought of ECS as a cheap-o brand with cheap-o parts and low quality. And I've viewed Asus and Gigabyte (though, Asus has fallen from grace in my mind) as being much better than ECS.

Would I be better off getting a PCI network adapter rather than using a built in NIC?

I didn't see any of those on the Fry's website. The closest is this BioStar A760G M2+ which doesn't seem to have great Newegg reviews.

I'm less concerned about cost and more concerned about quality and durability. If I have to spend $100 on an extremely solid mobo that's not going to crap out on me, I'm ok with that. The extra cost is completely worth not hearing "honey, the server isn't working again" anymore.

__________________

DuckieHo

If you want to get over 85MB/s, you will probably need a good PCI or PCIe NIC.

I would go with the Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-US2H then. It has extra copper to reduce thermal cycling stress and solid VRM caps.

__________________
To answer most of your questions: (1) a fridge cannot cool a PC (2) 64-bit OS for over 3.4GB (3) If a PCIe card fits, it should work (4) Resolution, not screen size (5) If you have a question, it is not news (6) Report, not respond to Spam (7) Single-Rail/Non-Modular PSUs are not always better than Multi-Rail/Modular

e_dogg

Cool, thanks. It looks like they have that one in stock in my local store.

I also might pick up a NIC and gigabit switch if they have some on sale.

__________________

DuckieHo

You can get an Intel PRO/1000 PT for ~$20-35 on eBay. I doubt Fry's has any quality NICs.

__________________
To answer most of your questions: (1) a fridge cannot cool a PC (2) 64-bit OS for over 3.4GB (3) If a PCIe card fits, it should work (4) Resolution, not screen size (5) If you have a question, it is not news (6) Report, not respond to Spam (7) Single-Rail/Non-Modular PSUs are not always better than Multi-Rail/Modular