[binwiederda]

Hi there,

I'm trying to do build my own fanless (not silent, fanless!) Linux-compatible (=nVidia GPU) media pc / home server with at least 3 drives (1 SSD for the OS, 2 HDD in a RAID1) -- see this thread for details (the thread sort of left the original topic ...).

There are not many fanless mainboards with nVidia GPU and more than 3 SATA ports (= I found one!), so I'm trying to decide between those two options:

1) Jetway NC98-525E-LF
Tests here (from 2010, 2011): tomshardware.com, madshrimps.be
Pro: 4 SATA ports, fanless (though a fan is suggested), good reviews, no need for a PCIe SATA expansion card
Con: Who is Jetway?!, few results on search engines, Linux compatibility unclear, no optical audio out

or

2) Asus AT5NM10T-I or Zotac IONITX-S-E (2 SATA ports) + a PCIe SATA expansion card, e.g. the HighPoint RocketRAID 2300 PCI Express SATA II
Pro: Well-known manufacturer, fanless, works with Linux, optical audio out
Con: PCIe expansion card needed (Linux compatibility unclear), feels wrong buying a new mainboard and having to expand it right away

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!

[binwiederda]

Really, nobody?! :-(

[PANiCnz]

The ASUS board uses the NM10 chipset so won't do HD well, probably worth avoiding.

Nothing wrong with Jetway they are more well know for their ITX boards and not so much for their mainstream ATX & uATX boards etc

Perhaps the ASUS with a passive discrete video card would be an option?

You can get SATA controllers in the mini PCIe form factor, so removing the wifi card on the Zotac might be an option.