Motherboard for Headless Mini-ITX Home Server?

vertexx

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Apr 2, 2013
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Does anyone know of a mini-ITX LGA 1155 motherboard that will boot without a GPU (headless)?

I'm in the planning stages for a home server that will run multiple VM instances. I'm looking to use the Xeon E3-1230 V2, because it's the cheapest 8-thread CPU available.

I know the Intel DBS1200KPR Mini-ITX server motherboard will (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121743), but I have no need for ECC memory support, and I'd like to spend less than that on a motherboard for home use.

Are there any other options that anyone knows of?

Thanks!
 
Solution
Gigabyte has ITX boards with dual LAN if that's a priority. They also support Xeons. It also supports WOL BTW, most boards do. I have one, but I don't think I've ever seen an option in the BIOS to allow the board to boot if no video is detected. I don't know for sure, but I think a board might throw out POST or beep codes with no video detected.

I guess you could also find some cheap @$$ video card and install it just so you can boot. eBay, or newegg open box/refurb.

vertexx

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Apr 2, 2013
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Thanks for your response. I was actually looking at that ASROC board, but I wasn't able to determine from the manual, etc, on whether or not there is any setting to do so. I have a question into their technical support - hopefully I'll get a response on that.

Otherwise, I'll definitely consider the 1245V2, but at that point, I'm wondering if it would be better to just get the entry level I7.

I was also looking at the Intel board. There are some other features that might come in handy for a home server - dual LAN, wake-on features, etc. But I'm a little new to this as it will be my first server build (and I'm a project management guy - not a IT hardware pro).

I'll post the response I get from ASROCK if I get one.
 
Gigabyte has ITX boards with dual LAN if that's a priority. They also support Xeons. It also supports WOL BTW, most boards do. I have one, but I don't think I've ever seen an option in the BIOS to allow the board to boot if no video is detected. I don't know for sure, but I think a board might throw out POST or beep codes with no video detected.

I guess you could also find some cheap @$$ video card and install it just so you can boot. eBay, or newegg open box/refurb.
 
Solution

vertexx

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Apr 2, 2013
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Ok - thanks. That's what I'm thinking will happen probably with any of the consumer boards.

I checked the manual for the Intel server board, and it does specify a BIOS option to enable boot into the OS with no VGA - but I guess that's a server board for you and why it's priced at $160.

I was trying to leave the PCIe slot open for a future RAID controller - plus, like you said above, the 1245 is just another ~$40.

Thanks for your help.