What I am looking to do is build a lab at home. Intel Quad core (could be more than one socket) dual nics esata built on raid (min 6 drives with raid5) (could go with a controller) 16gb ram (min, could go to 32) Anyone have any good suggestions for a quad core mother board to run 2008 server on? I have been researching site and there is very little help about 2008 drivers, etc from the manufacturers. Thanks

You are referring to the Server 2008 HCL, which isn't posted yet. When it is, it will be here: http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx Chances are, that any server based motherboard purchased new today will be supported. If you're worried, dont buy until RTM.

Hi, Thanks for posting here. For the motherboard compatibility and performance, I suggest you do some research on the corresponding providers' website. Here, I would like to share my researches with you for your convenience: Intel EM64T or XEON (32/64 bit) processor which can install 32 bit or 64 bit Windows. IA64 Intel chip is required to install Itanium SKU. http://www.intel.com/cd/ids/developer/asmo-na/eng/dc/64bit/index.htm AMD64 is the name for AMD's x86-x64 architecture. http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_9331,00.html A latest driver update was found in the following page: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=N&ProductID=2070&DwnldID=14518&strOSs=164&OSFullName=Windows%20Vista*%2032&lang=eng For thecompatibility information, please refer to: http://winqual.microsoft.com/HCL/ProductDetails.aspx?m=v&g=s&cid=&sv=d955xbk&f=&pn=D955XBK&oid=49 The hardware requirement for "WorksWith" Windows Server 2008 logo is defined as follows in the Test Framework doc provided at http://microsoft.mrmpslc.com/InnovateOnWindowsServer/WorksWithLogoProgram.aspx. Hardware requirements for installing Windows Server 2008. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb905370.aspx I hope this helps. Thanks. Best wishes --------------Morgan Che Microsoft Online Community Support

What motherboard/chipset etc.did you finally decide on?I have been told by ASUS tech support that all the recent Intel and nVidia chipsets will refuse to run a server OS on a desktop motherboard but AMD did not [at least not yet] restrict this. I am trying to verify just what mobos this all includes.It is at minimum true of actual Intel mobos as I have read exactly that on their website though they claimed it was a lack of drivers rather than flat out blocking which is what the ASUS guy told me they now do. Said nVidia had to also because of Intel for some reason but I forget what that reason supposedly was. Thanks,Dave

To the hardware vista would be the same as server 2008 and there are no motherboards that would restrict you from installing a server OS. They may not officially "support" server software but Vista SP1 is the exact same OS as Server 2008. Use vista drivers if they dont list specifically for server 2008.Mike Crowley: MCT, MCSE, MCTS, MCITP: Enterprise Administrator / Messaging Administrator

Thanks. I will hopefully Monday hear back form that ASUS guy and find out what the heck he is talking about and get some sort of reference if he still claims this.Dave

I wouldn't even bother to tell him you're running server 2008 - I would just ask about vista support then do whatever you want. They are just going to read from their screen "they don't support server" Mike Crowley: MCT, MCSE, MCTS, MCITP: Enterprise Administrator / Messaging Administrator