Intel S3000AHLX ATX Server Motherboard LGA 775 Intel 3000 DDR2 667

Pros: I build servers for my clients and I use this board in many of the servers I build. I have had no problems with this board so far and have sold around 10 to 15 servers using this board. It is a good low cost solution and when installed with other parts that have been certified by Intel to work with this board you should have no problems with it either. Dealing with electronic equipment you can always find a DOA unit if you go through enough pieces. I have had good luck with Intel boards and that is all I use.

Cons: None

Overall Review: Always check Intel’s website for compatible parts on the model board you are using so you don’t run into any problems with hardware conflicts. I have found that if you don’t pay close attention to this you may have a bad experience with your hardware not working as it should. You may think it is DOA when it is really a hardware conflict or incompatibility.

Pros: It is a motherboard.

Cons: Intel support was terrible. I spent 4 hours on the phone with Intel to find out that my board was defective. What was frustrating was that the check only took 4 minutes. (See Other Thoughts below)

Overall Review: If you buy this board the first things you need to do is update BIOS and then ENABLE iAMT in the BIOS. If you do not get a configuration screen for iAMT configuration before OS load you got a bad board.

Pros: Great features for the entry server market.

Cons: Like other reviews the AMT function of the board does not respond properly, further if you install a LSI SAS (Serial Attached SCSI)Host Bus Adapter the system hangs and will not finish the loading of the bios. Intel Tech support was fairly unhelpful. Hopefully it is just a bad board that can be replaced quickly and efficiently.

Overall Review: This motherboard needs an extended ATX case which is not compatible with standard ATX cases.

Pros: The board is stable and supports most new 775 processors, the stability of the board is 100% with thee listed drivers on Intels web site. Good entry level server board for my clients upgrading from legacy PIII or earlier P4 boards.

Cons: The only ones I have is the bios upgrade is some what a pain, but the best way is to boot to a USB flash drive and upload the bios that way.

The other Con I have you have to use the raid drivers found on the intel support site. You can’t use any other newer ICHr intel raid drivers with this board or the board will randomly lock up every 2 or three days.

Overall Review: Made a nice little Voice mail server with a pair of WD Velociraptor drives mirrored.

Pros: Many neat accessories. Great CD manuals and utilities. Supports all CPU under 775 socket.

Cons: DOA – Problem with Video on board. looks liek synch problem. Asking for replacement from the great NewEgg.

Overall Review: I will post it again when I actualy get to install the board.

Pros: Stable. Good CPU support.

Cons: Takes a full 7 minutes to POST. I understand that it is a server not a gaming board but still… Thermal solution on the NB is garbage. Almost burned out the NB the first time I turned it on.

Overall Review: Overall this is not a bad server board I just don’t think that it is worth the money. I will admit I am biased against anything made by Intel. I never considered myself an AMD fanboy but rather just anti-Intel. Everything made by Intel that I have ever owned was just not worth the money in the end. Someone else makes all of their stuff for cheaper and none of Intel’s products are any better than the cheaper competitors products. I wouldn’t recommend against this board, however I wouldn’t put a solid recommendation on it either.