@Timelord: The Supermicro X7DAL-E is ATX footprint, that's why me and Blackjack use it... the board also supports clovertowns and is a proven overclocker.

@Blackjack: I paid $430 or so for my X7DAL-E. If you found it cheaper, please post a link for the SETI community.

@ Reuben,


The X7DAL-E is quite a board; however, at the Supermicro Site, I saw this:

X7DBN

The X7DBN seems more in line with what the ASUS DSBF-D/SAS carries onboard. With one exception; however, and that is the Supermicro Boards don't seem to include the "SAS" - "Serial Attached SCSI" that is included on the ASUS DSBF-D/SAS. The ASUS also includes the 6 SATA 3G/s connectors like the Supermicro. Also, the X7DAL-E gives up the 32 GB Total RAM in favor of 24 GB Plus 7.1 Built in Audio... However; at this stage of the game, I don't really know anyone ready and willing to pay the $$$ for the full 32 GB of RAM that the ASUS supports, let alone the 24 GB Total RAM that the X7DAL-E supports... So, KUDOS to Supermicro for building a top notch board that includes just about everything minus the kitchen sink. 8-D

<EDIT: >

Also, I found this even more impressive board at Central Computers by Supermicro:

Supermicro's Site Specs:

X7DBE+ Dual Quad Board, up to 64GB RAM!!!

Central Computers' Link:

X7DBE+ $555.45

</EDIT. >


Quite impressive,

---

TimeLord04
Have TARDIS, will travel...
Come along K-9!
Join Calm Chaos

The Supermicro X7DAL-E and X7DAL-E+ motherboards have lots of great features, but one thing to watch out for is the fact that it only has six RAM slots, which is not a multiple of 4, so therefore if you plan on getting the interleaved dual-channel operation (what some call quad-channel mode), you can only populate slots 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A. If you later upgrade or populate 1B and 2B, you will lose the interleaved dual-channel performance. This makes the owner choose at that point which is more important: adding more RAM or the performance of the RAM (5 or 6 modules running in standard dual-channel operation or 4 modules running in interleaved dual-channel mode).

[Edit] Also, the reason why I didn't go with that board was, if you look at where the main ATX 24-pin power connector is at, it's right next to a heat sink. Where there's a heat sink, there's heat. Maybe it's nothing, but I'd be weary of having something hot next to the ATX power source. Could be cause for fire if it gets too hot.

---

@Ozzfan: The heatsink in question, next to the PSU connector, is not warm during a 4 core load.

Supermicro released another version of this board: X7DAL-E+
http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/Xeon1333/5000X/X7DAL-E+.cfm
I cannot find any changes between the X7DAL-E and +. Does anyone know the differences?

Finally, I purchased two more sticks of 667FSB RAM for my board. I will publish the results of testing here. If the RAM does not increase speed, I can just use it towards a new system.

---

Overclock with the MSI G31M3-L and Intel E8600 3.33Ghz
Intel D865GLC Socket 478 Motherboard
~How To Overclock The Eee ASUS 1005HA Netbook To 1.9Ghz~

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=203383111&SearchEngine=PriceGrabber&SearchTerm=203383111&Type=PE&Category=Comp&dcaid=15890
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Jon

Just try avoiding Buy.com. Newegg is a better option.

---

Domain name custume-server
Local Standard Time UTC +0 hours
Name ze
Created 19 Mar 2007 12:05:05 UTC
Total Credit 232.00
Recent average credit 21.77
CPU type GenuineIntel
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6400 @ 2.13GHz [x86 Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 6] [fpu tsc pae nx sse sse2 mmx]
Number of CPUs 2
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP
Professional Edition, Service Pack 2, (05.01.2600.00)
Memory 2046.48 MB
Cache 976.56 KB
Swap space 3938.95 MB
Total disk space 48.73 GB
Free Disk Space 11.33 GB
Measured floating point speed 1964.75 million ops/sec
Measured integer speed 4127.92 million ops/sec
Average upload rate 0.4 KB/sec
Average download rate Unknown
Average turnaround time 0.18 days
Maximum daily WU quota per CPU 100/day
Results 27
Number of times client has contacted server 37
Last time contacted server 20 Mar 2007 22:53:13 UTC
% of time BOINC client is running 86.6525 %
While BOINC running, % of time work is allowed 98.4504 %
Average CPU efficiency 0.875624
Result duration correction factor 0.708947

floating point speed 1964.75 million ops/sec
integer speed 4127.92 million ops/sec
is not bad and is cheap (600 € ) in lisbon + 2 grafic cards (N7600GT ddr3 )

custume (WebMaster/hacker)

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=203383111&SearchEngine=PriceGrabber&SearchTerm=203383111&Type=PE&Category=Comp&dcaid=15890
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Jon

Just try avoiding Buy.com. Newegg is a better option.

I'll second that, It's Newegg or nothing.

I've never had any problems with Newegg. And they're a good source of a-z for computer parts.

I was thinking about two others. Xoxide and CrazyPC also have good reputations. They have plenty of modding supplies, as well as cases and cooling. They just don't sell things like CPUs and motherboards.

---

Another vote for Newegg! They are my #1 source. Prices are good, service is good, and their RMA terms are very liberal.
I use Tiger Direct on occaision as well, their prices a a tad higher usually, but they have a shipping warehouse in the midwest that I usually get 1 day shipping from without paying for air freight.
But all around, Newegg all the way.

---

"Time is simply the mechanism that keeps everything from happening all at once."

Newegg.com is also very good at handling returns. :P

---

Overclock with the MSI G31M3-L and Intel E8600 3.33Ghz
Intel D865GLC Socket 478 Motherboard
~How To Overclock The Eee ASUS 1005HA Netbook To 1.9Ghz~