Need help chosing AM2 mother board / Heatsink combination

[HolyBastard]

I am currently in the process of bulding a Linux server based on the AM2 Platform.
Almost everything is settled down except for motherboard and the heatsink that will go on top of it.

Here are the main components I have chosen:

• Case: Antec P150
• PSU:Antec Neo HE 430W (Included in the case)[
• HDD: SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD403LJ (Suspended )
• CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Brisbane (65W TDP )
• MEM: WINTEC AMPX 2x512 PC2-6400
• DVD: Do not really know wich company to go but I guess they are all fine

Here is what I am looking for in the motherboard

• 4 Sata Port
• At least 1 IDE Port (for DVD Drive
• Integrated Nvidia Graphic Processor (for Linux)
• No Fan
• Bios Undervolting a plus but not required
• Fits a relatively big Heat Sink (without modification)

Here is what I was looking at right now

GIGABYTE GA-M61P-S3 Socket

• Integrated Graphic GeForce 6100
• Full ATX
• 4 RAM Slot

ASUS M2NPV-VM

• Integrated Graphic GeForce 6150
• Micro ATX
• 4 RAM Slot

ABIT NF-M2 nView

• Integrated Graphic GeForce 6150
• Micro ATX
• 4 RAM Slot
• Fitting a Scythe Ninja requires a little bending of the capacitors

ASRock LiveNF6G-DVI

• Integrated Graphic GeForce 6100 or 6150
• 4 Ram Slot
• Micro ATX
• Seems it supports undervolting

The Heatsinks I was looking at are:

• Scythe Ninja
• Scythe Mine
• Thermalright Ultra-120
• Big Typhon (Seems monstruously heavy at 820g)
• Non-Tower Heatsink?

My Objective is not to run the CPU Fanless. If running with a fan will not really change the noise level i do not mind. I am trying to minimize cost though so the Ultra-120 is a bit more expensive if I have to add a fan.

Also, I do not want to need to bend fins of the heatsink or cut something out and I would prefer if I did not have to bend some of the capacitors on the board. I also need at least 2 RAM slot cleared so I can remove the ram stick easily if need be.

EDIT: Added the ASRock Live to the list

Thanks in advance for your help!

[jaganath]

Here is what I am looking for in the motherboard
- 4 Sata Port
- At least 1 IDE Port (for DVD Drive
- Integrated Nvidia Graphic Processor (for Linux)
- No Fan
- Bios Undervolting a plus but not required
- Fits a relatively big Heat Sink (without modification)

Asrock NF6G-DVI ticks all these boxes. With undervolting you may even get away w/ stock heatsink.

[ronrem]

I've liked Asus in ther past-but am now real inclined to go Gigabyte next time-and that 61P is especially neet. I like that the S series boards are all solid capacitors now-less apt to have background hum sneak into my audio.

[HolyBastard]

Hehe thanks for the input. I may go for the Gigabyte even if it doesn't have undervolting as it will leave more room to put a big heatsink ( I hope so). Having a 6150 would be nice but I guess it is not that usefull since the machine will run in console mode most probably.


I looked for the Asrock but couldn't find it anywhere. Someone know a store that has it in stock?

[vanhelmont]

Your cpu choice happens to be the same as mine (on order, not yet received)
and I'm going to cool it with an Arctic Cooling alpine64 92mm. I used the same on a Athlon 4000+ system I built about a month ago, and besides being cheap, it is quiet and sufficient for these processors that don't dissipate a lot of heat (unless you are planning to overclock it, then you might want something more). There's a spcr article on it in the cooling section, http://www.silentpcreview.com/article640-page1.html

[HolyBastard]

Your cpu choice happens to be the same as mine (on order, not yet received)
and I'm going to cool it with an Arctic Cooling alpine64 92mm. I used the same on a Athlon 4000+ system I built about a month ago, and besides being cheap, it is quiet and sufficient for these processors that don't dissipate a lot of heat (unless you are planning to overclock it, then you might want something more). There's a spcr article on it in the cooling section, http://www.silentpcreview.com/article640-page1.html

Have you tried to run the fan at 5 volt using the 4000+ underload? If this is indeed a good performer I could actually undervolt my processor and reduce the noise to a minimum while keeping the cooler small enough!

That would be nice!

[jaganath]

I looked for the Asrock but couldn't find it anywhere. Someone know a store that has it in stock?

without knowing your location we can't help w/ that. You can add it in your profile.

[HolyBastard]

hehe sorry, I'm in the US (well not yet but I will be)

[WallStreet]

hehe sorry, I'm in the US (well not yet but I will be)

You can find it here.